Mandy's 30th Birthday Bash! {Event of the Week}

{Name} Mandy Mangrum
{Hometown} Flowood, MS
{Event Site} Summertree Clubhouse, 100 Woodgreen Drive, Madison, MS 39110

{Tell us about the occasion for the event?} Mandy’s “Saying good-bye to the 20’s” 30th birthday party.  I always have some sort of birthday celebration but I knew I wanted my 30th to be a blow out.

{What inspired your event location and theme?} Most people would assume the idea came from The Great Gatsby movie but actually I was inspired by the movie Fever Pitch.  In the movie, Drew Barrymore’s friend throws a 1920’s themed party and ever since seeing that scene I have been planning my own 1920’s themed party.  The location was great because it was easy for everyone to get to and the aesthetic of the building lent itself to the style of the 1920’s.

{What inspired your color scheme/flowers?}  My inspiration for the color scheme and décor details came from my dress, as well as, “The Flapper Murder Mystery” storyline from www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com.  I had my heart set on finding a mint colored dress, probably from seeing one on pinterest, another form of inspiration in the planning process.  For the record, a mint 1920’s style dress is not easy to come by.  Thanks to the “Gatsby Lady” on etsy.com I was able to get exactly what I was hoping for, and, as luck would have it, Alter’d State had a perfectly matching headband that I added feathers and a vintage pin to.   The murder mystery was set in the “Half Moon Club” so there were several crescent shaped moons added into the details of the room.

{What’s your favorite event detail? Is there a story behind it?}  My favorite detail was the gold and silver spray painted wine bottles with the white and peacock feathers sticking out.  They were so easy and inexpensive yet looked so classy.  The idea came from pinterest and I was so afraid it would turn into a “pinterest fail” but I was pleasantly surprised by how nice they looked! 

{What was your favorite part of the event planning process?} My favorite part of planning was the murder mystery.  I kept that part of the party a secret until the last minute.  Once guests RSVP’d that they would attend, I emailed them this second invitation along with details of the murder mystery.  The murder mystery was set up so that no one would know who the killer is, not the killer or me.  I love a surprise!  The only information I knew were the characters profiles, which were available for all party guests to read online.  I chose who would play certain characters based on their profile information.  Most of my guests felt that I assigned them the perfect character to play. 

{What was your favorite moment of the event day?} Seeing all my friends dressed in 1920’s attire.  I think my face lit up every time my eyes landed on a new arrival.  Everyone was dressed to the nines and looked amazing.  My décor was simply the backdrop to all the glitz and glam of my guests.

{Your favorite picture from the event day?} My favorite picture is probably the one of all the guys.  I fully expected the girls to get into dressing up but the guys really impressed me in their 1920’s attire.

{Photographer} Lindsay Vallas with Lindsay Vallas Photography
{Event Planner} Not a professional, just me with help from my mom
{Venue} Summertree Clubhouse
{Any Additional Vendors} Reservoir Wine and Spirits, Cakes n’ Candles, www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com, GatsbyLady on etsy.com  (https://www.etsy.com/shop/Gatsbylady)