Kerri turns 21
August was such a wonderfully busy month and it started with my youngest daughter, Kerri, turning 21!
To have 6 grown children is slightly surreal, as it feels like just yesterday that they were all little, running around barefoot outside building mud pies and climbing trees. Now, most are well into their twenties and starting their own families.
Fun mamma sa was also started when Kerri was 9 years old, only 2 years older than what Hamish is now and you’ve all watched her grow over the years.
So many of the activities and crafts I shared where first shared with her and Ronan as my models with an old Blackberry phone on my Facebook page of 100 followers.
We’ve come a long way since then …..and so has she.
Happy Birthday
This year, Kerri’s birthday fell on a Monday and I planned a family breakfast for her at The Pink Piano, in Tablebay Mall.
Our family is really large and we make a crowd all on our own without the need go add extra guests, but we invited Kerri’s closest friend, Caroline, as well.
Getting ready
I love planning events, even more so those for my own family.
In the lead up to her birthday I envisioned a princess boho theme, which was both graceful and represented the innocence of youth.
After discussing it with her, a theme of pink and white was decided….and ….we all knew I was throwing in a tiara.
We also had some increadibly generous sponsors come on board to help make her magical day even more special.
Dress: Luna Grey
Sash: Champagne Occasions
Flowers: Kleine Marie Florist
Gift: Build a bear
The Pink Piano
I wanted to host a small breakfast for my family to celebrate Kerri’s 21st in a space where she could feel like a princess so I knew that the Pink Piano would be perfect.
I was not disappointed!
Sonya and her team set up an amazing table setting and I couldn’t have envisioned it any better.
With such attention to detail from printed menues to little colouring in books for Hamish and my granddaughter.
Everything was on point!
The iced biscuits at each table setting added to the ambiance and as always service and food was amazing.
The menu included a choice of toasted sandwiches or breakfast buns with choice of hot drink or coldrink. ( because nothing says party princess like pink cappuccinos)
As a desert we did macaroons on the table. Everything looked almost too good to eat.
A simple floral arrangement with happy birthday balloon was placed on the table with a lovely bottle of sparkling grape juice.
The long table was a great way for us to gather and celebrate kerris 21st year.
Dress
Her dress was a gorgeous white boho inspired maxi dress with the most delicate eyelet embroidery throughout, adding to the femininity and grace of the theme.
Kerri looked gorgeous as the dress complimented not only her figure but her skin perfectly.
You can read more about her dress here
Sash
To truly admire her age and personalise the day, Champagne Occasions, personalised a hand made Pink satin Sash for her.
I love this keepsake, and as a memory keeper this goes down on my list of special touches every birthday needs.
Read more about her sash here
Crown
Naturally I couldn’t let such a gorgeous outfit and special occasion go without a crown.
Originally I envisioned a floral crown of small white flowers around her head bit then I saw a glistening delicate crown on Lamay website and knew it would be the right accessory for the morning.
Flowers
When Kerri was a baby I started buying a single rose for every birthday. It was something I had wanted to do for Tammi, but finances as a single mom, never allowed. Somewhere life happened and flowers became less of a birthday must have for both the girls and I.
However, every young woman should receive flowers and get to feel special . I reached out to Kleine Marie Florist, who brought my birthday wishes for her to life with the most beautiful soft pink and white bouquet of roses.
Brent and Hamish took a drive out to their farm in Stellenbosch and collected these and we surprised her with them on the day.
Is there anything better than starting a birthday with fresh flowers?
Read more about Kleine Marie here
The party
With so much preparation, all that was left was to gather together and celebrate.
As always much of our family, including the birthday girl was late. Which gave me ample time, as the family photographer, to grab a few photos and finalize the seating.
Eventually everyone arrives and ordered, chatting away as we waited on our food and caught up. With everyone grown, living their own lives, we certainly do not get together as often as I’d like which is why birthdays are always so special and a great time to gather my kids in one space.
Birthday gift
However, our suprise for Kerri hadn’t ended yet.
Hamish had wanted to go to Build a bear and make a special princess bear for Kerri.
When Kerri was born her father gifted me a handmade teddy, that she being a baby wouldnt let go of. When I got divorced, it was the only thing I kept. Not because he had gifted it to me but because it was her first snuggly toy. I later passed this on to her in her teens. We had also made her a ballet birthday Build a bear for her fifth birthday, with an I love you voice track that she still has and I really loved the idea of adding another special keepsake bear to her collection.
And so Build a bear sponsored Hamish the opportunity to make the cutest birthday bear for his sister, which we dropped off at her later that afternoon
You can read about his experience here.
In conclusion
In conclusion it was a lovely party for a special birthday. A huge thank you to the brands who came on board to help to spoil Kerri and being my vision to life.
After all…..you only turn 21 once!