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Butterfly Party Supplies
Butterfly parties are annually popular with young children, particularly girls. Butterflies are attractive and almost magical insects that often feature in fairytales, illustrations in fantasy books, and just on the outside of doll’s houses; so a butterfly party should please any young girl who loves fairies and princesses. However, butterfly parties have recently become more popular with adult women; the latter’s butterfly party supplies are typically understated – and there are no loot bag supplies provided for adult guests.
Planning a butterfly party should not be too difficult, no matter what the age of the birthday girl; once the theme is decided upon, then the planner should organise a list of butterfly party supplies needed. For a little girl’s party, items such as birthday cake and party favours will have to be included, while for an adult party, there might be a range of games that can be included, as well as a long list of alcohols and cocktails.
Invitations should be a priority on the list of butterfly party supplies, no matter what age the party is aimed at; children’s party hosts can either make their own butterfly-shaped invitations, or buy invite packs with a butterfly theme – there should be about 20 invitations in a pack. Adult hostesses may choose not to have a butterfly invite on the theme (and they may choose not to issue paper invites, sending invitations by phone or mail instead), but there are of course many delicate and restrained invitation cards with butterflies on them – one of these could be used.
Butterfly party colours are traditionally pastel pinks and purples, with other colours taking a step back – party balloons should definitely be in pink, unless they are mylar balloons shaped like butterflies or with butterfly images on them. The parent may also choose to have “Happy birthday” banners featuring butterflies; if they are feeling adventurous, they could stage the party area as a butterfly paradise – big crepe flowers, butterfly hanging cut-outs, some streamers hanging from the ceiling as vines, or bunched around the room in the shape of caterpillars; they could also curl up pieces of white fabric, such as sheets, and make these into butterfly ‘cocoons’ – the children can play in these while waiting for the rest of the guests to arrive. Adult hostesses may also choose to decorate their party area with pink balloons; she may also like to buy some pink butterfly garlands to go around the walls of the room, and perhaps one or two butterfly lanterns (parents can also add these at strategic places in the room).
Finding butterfly party supplies tableware is not that difficult – there are many places which retail cups and plates with butterfly patterns on them. Parents may wish to have the more exotic butterfly patterns, which often feature realistic ‘portraits’ of butterflies; but adult hostesses may choose instead to have a simple and understated plate and cup design - assuming that she chooses to purchase paper tableware at all. Parents may also add to the number of butterfly party supplies tableware items with napkins, table covers, and butterfly-shaped centrepieces. Food can be served in dishes which also feature butterflies, or are in the shape of butterflies.
Food provision depends very much upon the age of the person hosting the party; children will often be satisfied with modest finger food buffet dishes such as sandwiches, sausages, or biscuits – the sandwiches might be arranged in the shape of butterfly wings, and sausages can be made to look like caterpillars by adding ‘antennae’ at the front from savoury items. Adults, of course, will probably not want to eat finger food; they can be served ordinary dinners; if it is late at night, almost no food need be provided, but drinks should be served instead.
Children or adults might like the designer butterfly cupcakes, for instance; or they may enjoy simple fairy cakes with the ‘wings’ lifted from the tops, as mothers have made since the beginning of baking. Children will also expect a butterfly birthday cake; these can be bought from a local bakers, or made at home using sponge cakes and icing; there are a variety of websites illustrating how to make cake designs such as butterflies, so a few clicks should help any adult wondering how to put together such a thing. An alternative to making a butterfly shaped cake is to have a plain sponge decorated with plastic butterflies (and maybe piped icing caterpillars).
Children who attend modern parties regularly expect to receive partying gifts, or loot bags, at the end of the party. These traditionally contain a piece of the birthday cake, a toy, and another kind of treat; parents can purchase butterfly party supplies loot bags already packed with these items; they often are sold in sets of 8 – much like the tableware – so parents should be careful about buying the correct amount for the number of children attending the party. Parents wishing to keep a closer eye on the butterfly party supplies budget might consider packing the bags themselves; there are a wide range of butterfly toys, from wooden magnets in butterfly shapes to wands or tiaras topped with butterflies. Party favours can include nail varnish or bubble bath (maybe with the butterfly theme on their labels), chocolate butterflies, or sticker strips. Adult women holding butterfly parties are under no such obligation to provide loot bags, although they may of course wish to send their guests home with a ‘thank you’ gift; here there are two options; the hostess can buy butterfly party supplies favours or toys as she would with a children’s party, or she can buy chocolate butterflies, bubblebath liquid, or other kinds of ‘adult’ favours. Whichever direction she chooses, she should of course be sure to buy as many favours as there are guests.
Planning and holding a butterfly party should not be too difficult; the best parts of the party will probably be decorating the party room and serving the food/drinks. Putting together an organised list of butterfly party supplies, and what needs to be done to make the party happen, can help hostesses to keep track – but once the list is done, discard it and have fun!
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