genus: vintage carnival-style birthday bash
type: birthday party
locale: varian orchards
we love birthdays. and rustic barns. and design. put all these together and we’re pretty much over-the-moon. so when we began to plan little darling’s 5th birthday celebration we longed to have it in a barn. not only because we are secretly on a hunt to find one of our own [secret’s out!], but we knew it would be the perfect setting full of character and charm for us to twirl her vintage carnival-style birthday bash.
we love to go antiquing and flea marketing. we spent the summer finding curiosities and salvaged items to use and repurpose in our style, not only for the party, but for our studio [a post about those finds soon to come!]. being a designer & graphic artist, the party vibe is set, for me, with the invitation. it’s the first glimpse for guests to delight in the style and tone for the gathering. we designed the invites for our birthday carnival to be a nod to vintage circus posters… something whimsical & fun, interpreted in a modern way. something that would excite all her sweet friends when they opened the mailbox. and the paper tube mailers styled in metallic gold tape, accented with a mod chevron pattern make us swoon. a lot.
from the ticket tape streamers & rustic lanterns to the metallic gold circus animal cake toppers & fabric billowed across barn beams, we loved every moment of creating and designing this carnival birthday event for our little darling. it was truly a memorable evening shared by family & friends to celebrate the beauty of who she is and all the wonderment she brings to our lives.
and we are so grateful to our talented & cool photographer friends, Mallory + Justin, who captured all the party details [including the birthday girl and us] with their mad skills behind the lens.
carnival ride? that’s right! we took a ride on the trolley through the apple orchard, peaking at the highest lookout point to watch the sunset. pure bliss.
>> design and styling by A LA MODE designs
>> photos by Mallory + Justin
>> barn & orchard at Varian Orchards