50s Diner Soda Shop 1st Birthday

Max's 1st Diner Birthday Party was a GREAT turn out and everything came together better than I had envisioned it. I am OBSESSED with everything 50's related so of course this was a very fun party for me to style and plan!

STATIONERY / DECORATIONS:
Being a graphic designer I created the Max's Diner logo, invitation and party decor myself. The collection included an invitation, food and drink table tents, menu boards, soda jerk hat labels, birthday wishes receipt cards, a 1st birthday chalkboard sign and favor tags which can be found in my Etsy shop!
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LizBasseyStudios?ref=hdr_shop_menu

The AMAZING wooden diner sign was created by my neighbor. She has a laser cutting machine that took my vector diner logo and turned it into a real working sign! She cut out every letter and painted, then glued them onto the marker board. She cut out circles and placed our backyard lights we had laying around to light up the arrow. We then mounted it to a pvc pipe, spray painted it silver and stuck the pole into an umbrella stand. It looked great behind the food tables! Thank you again Beth!

I made a backdrop holder out of pvc pipes and draped a black and white checkered plastic backdrop over it to place behind the food table. It needed a little something extra so I created a 1st year banner to hang using old 45 vinyl records, 12 pictures of Max for each month of his first year and teal ribbon.

I went to our local ice cream shop and was able to score some soda jerk hats that we passed out to guests. I created a Max's Diner label and stuck them onto the hats.

The tables were decorated with ice cream soda centerpieces displaying red and white carnations, cello and soda shop glasses, placed on top of vinyl records found at our local goodwill store. I actually scored some pretty good records that guests took home :) I also found some old fashioned Coca Cola napkin dispensers and napkins on eBay to place on the tables.

A Wurlitzer Jukebox life-size cardboard stand-up stood by the stage as we played 50's music through the speakers in the hall. Really helped set the mood :)

The present table was set up with a 1st Birthday Chalkboard sign showing fun facts about Max's first year, Birthday Wishes Receipt cards guests could sign for Max's scrapbook and of course starlight mints :)

I set up 3 tables in the middle of the room for the kids table and placed retro vintage food car boxes at each setting including a pair of cat eye or wayfarer style sunglasses, a blow up guitar and a mini coca cola drinking glass. The kids looked adorable in their glasses and had fun rocking out to the music with their guitars!

I also set up a play zone off in the corner with a bunch of toys to keep the kids entertained.

FOOD/DRINKS:
Lunch was catered by In and Out Burger consisting of Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers and French Fries. Boy did the guests love that! We also created a soda bar featuring old fashioned Coca Cola bottles along with cherry, vanilla and chocolate syrups for a real soda shop feel. I found some cute Coca Cola wax paper cups on eBay for the guests to make their soda creations in. Menu boards were displayed with all the food items being served as well as recipes for making popular 50's soda creations.

A Penny Candy bar with retro candy was displayed on a candy cart my amazing father built for our wedding. I also used the old melting records over a glass bowl in the oven trick to make some sweet rippled bowls to place the candy in, as well as my apothecary jars. I found cute red and white striped bags at Party City for the guests to place their candy in.

Of course we can't have a 50's diner soda shop party without milkshakes! We set up a milkshake station and ended the party with cake batter milkshakes with whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry on top! Yummo!

SPECIAL TOUCHES:
I borrowed my grandma's handmade poodle skirts she used for talent shows at Mather AFB decades ago for guests to wear. It was the perfect flare for the party :)

• What People Ate

  In and Out Burger Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers, French Fries, and Penny Candy Bar (Retro Candy)

• What People Drank

  A Coca Cola Soda Bar along with cherry, vanilla and chocolate syrup. I also added other soda flavors.

• Desserts

  Cake Batter Milkshakes with whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry

• Party Favors

  Max's Diner Soda Jerk hats and Retro Vintage Food Car boxes at each kids setting including a pair of cat eye or wayfarer style sunglasses, a blow up guitar and a mini coca cola drinking glass.

• Activities / Games

  Candy Bar, Blow-up Guitars, Kids Toys and 50's music to dance to.