“I love to throw parties! In another life, I would be an event planner.” A business development manager by day and a stylist for jewelry company Stella & Dot by night, Kelly Wenzel, McKinney mother of two, combines her creative spirit and savvy business skills when it comes time to party. And the one she threw for her son Cooper’s first birthday has become legendary.
So what inspired this imaginative mom to bring the circus to town (and into her backyard) for Cooper’s big celebration? “My husband, Brent, and I wanted to do something traditional but nothing like a typical party—something grand that Cooper would look back on years from now and never forget.” Keeping this in mind, she set out to create an event that parents, kids, siblings and the birthday boy would love. Once the vision for a circus celebration (complete with a large backyard tent) came together in her mind, Wenzel got to work turning that vision into reality with the help of Stacey Murdoch, creative director for The Wildflower Floral Designs. “She’s a dear friend of mine and was the event designer for my wedding five years ago … she can [make any event look like] a million bucks without breaking the bank!”
Murdoch custom-made the invitations and provided all the decorations. The tent, rented from Ducky-Bob’s, was filled with a lounge area for parents to relax, and rugs were placed on the ground for little crawlers to enjoy. Streamers and hula-hoops hung from the ceiling to give it that “three-ring-circus” look and balloons were placed everywhere with red, yellow and light blue streamers leading the way into the backyard. The kids’ tables were lined with red plastic chargers used as plates and baby stuffed elephants from IKEA.
Wenzel and Murdoch found little wooden elephant pull toys for the party favors with a note thanking guests for coming to Cooper’s Big Top Birthday. Le Gateau Bakery made the cupcakes and smash cake, which not surprisingly was topped with a baby blue elephant. “We even had blue elephant straws for the frozen lemonade vodka drinks that Margarita Adventures provided for the parents!” Nachos, sugar peanuts, grilled cheeses and pigs in a blanket were offered to guests courtesy of Catered by Kristin as well as a snack and candy bar with “The Incredible” sour cherry balls, “The Dazzling” yellow M&M’s, “The Amazing” goldfish and Cooper’s “World Famous” animal crackers. “Brent said he will never forget the details and how every little thing tied together.” Wenzel used Blended Paper for the cups, napkins and monogrammed water bottles and Courtney Miller of Courtney Leigh Photography snapped photos of the celebration. A clown and puppets kept the kids entertained while parents and adults relaxed and chatted while enjoying frozen drinks and eats. “There were around 75 to 80 guests that came. We had so much fun!”
The circus celebration was a success, and the birthday boy loved every minute. “Cooper never sits still…ever, but that day he was in complete awe. Brent and I will never forget his sweet face when he ‘waddled’ his way into the tent! He just had the biggest eyes that matched the biggest smile in the world. He sat through the entire puppet show and clown performance snacking away on treats!” When it’s daughter Hadley’s turn to celebrate her first birthday, one can only imagine what’s in store for the soon-to-be birthday girl.
