This past weekend I had the pleasure of decorating and hosting my cousin’s graduation party. She is finally a mastered social worker, so a celebration was a must. The weather could not have been any better for an evening with family and friends. We wanted to keep things simple, allowing nature to set the scene, with a few touches of blue and green tassels hung to keep the tablecloths in place, and the current peony and rose bushes in the background. In honor of our Portuguese culture and Portugal Day weekend, we filled Portuguese beer bottles in varying sizes with monochromatic carnations, that looked so lovely grouped together they resembled roses.
To keep the bugs, we filled mason jars with lemon balm leaves picked from my garden, lemon slices, a few dashes of citronella oil and a votive. The lighted up beautifully at night, along with the glow in the dark mason jars were spread around as ash trays, for the smokers.
Guests were greeted with my cousin’s delicious summer sangria, to fill their personal mason jar cups and bag of alma mater M&M’s. Outdoor sofas, blankets, and a hammock were used to sit back and enjoy the night.
There was a photo area, where guests wrote what was on their mind and snapped pictures, hashtag included. A simple and fresh array of foods were spread, including this favorite cookies and surprise Bob Marley themed cupcakes for my birthday. Games, laughs, and smiles carried through the night, making for a perfect graduate ending.
