Every kid is special, and on their birthdays, parents want to make them feel extra special. These are the memories of childhood, that we all cherish for lifetime. Some time societal circumstances force us to come with creative ideas to do the same. Birthdays are meant to be celebrated, even if we must bring them outside our living room.
During this quarantine era, when indoor celebrations have moved outdoors, I arranged a small outdoor birthday party for my daughter with just her classmates and few close friends. Something that feels special for her, at the same time everyone can follow the social distancing guidelines.
Certainly, shutdown is not going to stop the celebrations!
Planning outdoor decorations for kid’s birthday party
During the quarantine time most people were not able to do traditional birthday celebrations, like they usually do. As a result, yard signs became popular choice as it at least made the person feel a little special. Yard sign companies were busy, and it took me some time to find the vendor available on my preferred date. This is when I started looking a month in advance. I thought that I was starting early, but soon learnt that it was not early enough.
Happy Birthday Yard Signs
Yard sign companies have different option with respect to colors, child’s interest, hobbies, common themes, etc. Usually you have quite a few options to pick from. My daughter was asking me for a Unicorn Birthday, so I selected the colors for the yard sign as per that theme. I also picked a few add-ons such as picture frame and pink glitter hearts for effect.
Initially, I was just planning to have a birthday yard sign on her birthday, and do cake cutting outside. My plan was to just have a drive by birthday party, with her friends joining from their cars. By the time party day came, the communal guidelines were much more relaxed. Most folks felt comfortable standing outside their cars and joined the celebration in the front yard while maintaining the distance with a face covering. So, I needed more than just the yard sign to make an impression.
How to decorate with Balloons?
When it comes to celebrating kid’s birthday, it is incomplete without balloons. For young kids, balloons are a must have for any birthday celebration. While ordering the yard sign I realized that I am are running late, so started looking for a balloon decorator also. If you are just planning to do some helium balloon then that you can probably do at home by buying balloons and helium gas tank form any party store.
How to find the right balloon decorator?
In my case, since the shops were still closed, I chose to hire a balloon decorator. Since I have never hired a balloon decorator before in this area, I had no idea. I reached out on a local Facebook group and got a few referrals. After checking out the Instagram handles for the referrals, I picked a few to talk to. I sent them the picture of my front yard and asked them for ideas with pricing. Picked this one after several consultation.
How to Decorate with Balloons without Helium?
Balloon decorater and I, decided on using a 12 ft garland and a 10 cluster balloons of 5 each. Cluster balloons were spread out in the yard. Garland was installed on the front porch as a backdrop to yard sign and cake table. Balloons used in the garland were air filled. In hot weather balloons pop when they touch grass, so decorator used helium for clusters over the grass.
Combined effect of the yard sign and balloon decorations was absolutely eye catching. Every passing car slowed down to admire it. Lot of people clicked pictures, I guess for their future parties.
It was interesting to see all the passing cars slow down during the day to take a glimpse of the décor outside the house.
How to decorate cake table for Birthday?
Cake table is a centerpiece of any birthday decoration. It is usually in the center or main location and catches everybody’s attention. It also creates a first impression regarding finer details of the overall party arrangements.
For the cake table decorations, I ordered a banner and a unicorn flower backdrop and unicorn theme colored banners.
Along with that I used some runners and cake stands that I already had at home. To attach the banner, I simply tied 6 ft wooden dowels to the table legs.
While making a layout, you can go high-low-high or low-high-low. In high-low-high the centerpiece remains low, while the side decorations (at the end of table) are the tallest. Vice versa for low-high-low configuration.
I used lowest-high-low-higher-low-highest for my table arrangement. First low piece was cookies on the table surface itself, then I put the low high cake stand for first tier of cupcakes. Next little high then that cake stand for the second tier. The tallest cake stand was used for the cake display. I ended with the flower display on the other end of the table. Fresh flowers always give a nice finishing touch add freshness to any decoration.
I prepared cupcakes and cookies, along with the cake. Individual size portions work best for the display.
My daughter wanted a black forest cake, so the base was eggless black forest, but for the icing, instead of using the whipped cream.
I used butter cream. Because in outdoor party, the whipped cream does not hold shape for long. Since this was for a kid’s birthday party, I used an alcohol-free kirsch syrup. For the filling between the layers, I used preservative and artificial flavor free Chukar cherry pie filling.
I find it more convenint and elegant to use a birthday banner on the cake rather then writing on it.
For the cupcakes, I used eggless hot milk recipe, which is my favorite and cupcakes stay moist for a long time. Cupcakes and cake were eggless, and the cookies were homemade sugar cookies.
Snack Boxes and Drinks To Go
Since it was a quarantine, I was planning that here friends will join from the car only. I decided on making a snack box, that I could just pass along in the car. Almost like a picnic box. Each box contained a cupcake, cookies, curry puff pastry and a return gift.
Every item was individually packed also before putting in the box. I used a candy paper gift bags for pastries, small individual box for cupcakes and cookies were in a clear plastic cookie bag. I picked a very attractive box design instead of just a white box, to grab all kid’s attention.
Similarly, for the drinks, I wanted to be something that kids can take along with them. Also, I did not want to use artificial or store-bought drinks. So, I got these 10-ounce milk bottles, with a colorful lid in which you can put a matching straw.
The reasoning behind selecting the glass bottles and paper straws was to be more environmentally friendly. Not all bottle lids come with a hole for a straw, so check carefully. For the drink I decided to make pink strawberry lemonade, to go along with the theme.
To keep the drinks cool and for add effect, I also added some fancy ice cubes in the tubs. These fancy ice-cubes I used fresh fruits and fresh flowers.
The fancy ice cubes became the talk of the party. Kids were so fascinated that everybody wanted one.
Party Finger Food Ideas
Originally, in the plan I had a snack box and take along drink in plan. However, as the day came close, and quarantine restrictions were relaxed, it was obvious that I needed to prepare some simple finger foods. So, I decided to add some cucumber tea sandwiches to the menu. To make these tea-time sandwiches, I used multigrain bread, with a cheese spread flavored with avocado cilantro mint chutney and topped with pickled cucumbers instead of English cucumbers.
Tea time cucumber sandwiches were served on a 3 tier crystal serverware alongside other items. To serve cake, I selected an elgant white square plastic plates with rose gold border and rose gold fork. This added a nice little fine touch to the event. To match up with the plates, party napkins also had a gold border.
Lastly! Don’t forget to keep a close watch on the weather. In our case sun was shinning with full glow.