joyeux anniversaire

Champagne Birthday: For my twin's sister's champagne birthday, I hosted a French themed soirée. A champagne birthday is when you turn the age of the day of your birthday, in this case Christine was turning 28 on the 28th October. Champagne was the drink of choice and all sorts of cakes, tarts, cheeses and quiches were served that would make even Marie Antoinette proud!

REAL GOOD PARTY ADVICE
We hosted the party in the afternoon, that way a full meal was not expected, and drinks could be limited to champagne, wine, beer and soft drinks.

Instead of ordering costly flower arrangements, flowers were purchased and arranged in stunning glass vases and silver compotes, then decorated to look like corsets with ribbon and crystals to hang like jewellery.

Hatboxes were not only used for decoration and to create height on the table, but as cake stands, by simply adding wax paper between the cake and lid.

Miniature bottles of champagne were served together with straws, therefore preventing lots of half empty bottles of champagne- and no glasses required. Leftover bottles were given as additional favours for guests to enjoy at home.

In addition to the baked goods, we served a cheese platter for those without a sweet tooth and substantial tummy filler!

The theme tied in with the décor of the dining room as the pictures on the wall are French posters of Moulin Rouge and the overhead light fitting is a chandelier.

For the birthday cake, a croquembouche (French puff pastry balls filled with custard and decorated with spun sugar) was served. This tied in with the theme and it is an easy cake to serve as one is meant to eat a puff as is, no plates or cake forks required.

TABLECLOTH, SILVER CHAMPAGNE BUCKET, HIGH TEA TRAYS, CRYSTALS IN GOOD COMPANY
WIRE MANNEQUINS MR PRICE HOME
CROQUEMBOUCHE CAKE AND HATBOXES ANNICA'S DELI
ORGANZA BAGS, RIBBON AND FLOWERS FLOWERSPOT
BAKED GOODS LA PATISSERIE