I think you can find party inspiration anywhere. (Did you check out my inspiring bike ride?) So while my focus here is always on children’s birthday parties, I also like to feature — and style — parties for adults. You never know what is going to light that fire for you.

So I was tickled pink (as my grandmother would say) to find this submission from Jessie of A Stylish Affair by Jessie. She created this 49th birthday party for a fella, and kept all the touches masculine and preppy.

I love the combo of navy, white and blue — and of course, the use of grosgrain ribbon. The overall look is clean and crisp, and while this party was styled for an adult, I think it could make a great boy’s party, or even a boy-girl party if you swapped pink for the khaki.

Dessert Table

My favorite element is the wood monogram used as a backdrop. You usually see these on front doors, but they are so charming, why not bring them center-stage?

Jessie’s dessert table is a study in symmetry. Instead of a cake in the center, she uses flowers. Anchoring (ha!) the flowers are two crates doing double-duty: they each hold two-tiers of cupcakes and the beverage dispensers. And since this is a party for adults, lucky Jessie gets to break my “no candles” rule and use candles in votives as well as in two lanterns — cute!

Mason jars just seem to work for any occasion, don’t they? If you don’t want to overload a dessert table with sweets, adding your beverages to the table is a great space-filler.

Dining Tables

I love for you to invest in a white linen tablecloth (and since they start at about $9 at sites like TableClothFactory.com or LinenTableCloth.com, they really aren’t that much of an investment.) Jessie dressed her tablecloths up with navy and white striped grosgrain ribbon, books, and hydrangeas. Since she used these elements on all tables — welcome, dessert, and dining — the entire party has a cohesive look.

A little rope around the vases adds an easy and inexpensive nautical touch.

Activities

Jessie says, “For the entertainment, there was a DIY photobooth set up with props and disposable cameras. The guests loved posing for pictures! We also set up a ring toss and everyone had fun with some mad libs!”

Thanks to Jessie for sharing her party! If you have a party you’d like to submit (you don’t have to be a professional), please contact me.

Vendor Credits

• Event styling, coordination, printables, floral design & photos: A Stylish Affair by Jessie
• Custom wood monogram: Custom Cut Monograms
• Black & white cookies: Publix