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Neon and Neutral So Glad You Were Born Party Idea

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Need a fun party theme idea? Throw a So Glad You Were Born Party! The neon and neutral color scheme make it feel youthful and fun. It works for any age and this theme is a great way to really play up what you love about the guest of honor.

A pool in a backyard area decorated with neon and neutral party decorations.
Browse these fun birthday party ideas.

A Creative Party Idea for Adults

It can be really hard to figure out a theme for an adult birthday party. So I went with a color theme instead. Neon and neutral are the perfect colors for a party.

What does that mean? It means pairing bright neon colors like yellow, pink, orange, and green with more subdued neutral tones like beige.

And instead of calling it a birthday party, I decided to instead use “So Glad You Were Born,” which is directly inspired by Shanna Murray’s poster on Oh Happy Day.

Related: Toast and Jams Brunch Party Idea

This is my favorite party to date. I know I say that about all of them but this one was ridiculously fun and personal.

I created little vignettes around the party space of all the things she loves or that remind us of her. And they all had to fit the neon and neutral scheme because I am that OCD.

While I had two party themes in this party, of course, you can just go with one if you prefer.

Personalized Decor with Neon Colors

A neon paper fan from a birthday party above a "welcome" sign.

Along with the color scheme, I decided to use the letter “E” all around the party to further personalize the event for the guest of honor.  

I was able to make large letters for a big visual impact while still being able to keep the costs down by purchasing small sheets of Styrofoam and having my Dad cut them out with a saw.

A few coats of spray paint were all they needed. We also reused some plywood from a previous party to make some of the smaller ones.  

Neon party decorations from a birthday party.

The guest of honor is a lover of many things. We tried to incorporate a lot of those through the party decorations.

And we customized everything we could with neon yellow and neon pink spray paint with pops of beige accents.

Overhead shot of neon details from a party that include an air plant, erasers and calculators.

She loves office supplies and spreadsheets so what better way to show that than with spray-painted calculators and bright erasers.

Party details from a birthday party with a neon and beige color scheme.

For other pops of color I used tall cylinder vases filled with neon pink ‘Easter Grass’ (I’m calling it that because I have no idea what that stuff is actually called…) and topped it with an air plant.  

In other areas I put flowers in empty glass jars I had collected and spray painted on stripes in neon yellow and pink to jazz them up.

Images of party decoration details from a birthday party.

I wanted a way to share some photos and mementos from her life and needed a simple way to display them.

I found these two really large frames at a thrift store and used colored cording to wrap them.  

TIP! Thrift stores a great way to find things to decorate your parties inexpensively. From glassware to sheets you can use for tablecloths, don’t forget to browse!

I borrowed some photo albums and memory books and pulled out some of the best treasures I could find, including her DMV written test from when she was 15, report cards and school photos.

I made copies of each item then using neon-colored zip ties attached them to the cording.

Fun Guest Book Ideas

Picture frames on an outdoor table in front of a fireplace.

We did two versions of a guest book. We set up a station in one area of the party where guests would be relaxing so they could easily do one or both of the ideas.

Collage of images from a birthday where party goers are filling out the guest book ideas.

We set out some colorful note cards and pens so that people could write a sentimental message for her to read later.

We also had a personalized plate option. We set out enamel paint pens and a blank white plate for people to sign and make small doodles.

Party Food

A close up of snacks and decor details from a birthday party.

Pretzels and kettle corn were set out for a little snack. These types of foods are easy for guests to grab.

We also had a company come who made smoothies and funnel cakes. It’s a great idea to outsource some of these types of things to help take some tasks off your plate.

When you use a specialty vendor, it helps to make the party even more memorable.

A woman's hand holding an "e" shaped sugar cookie with pink sanding sugar.

We also made sugar cookies with the guest of honor’s initials and the pink sanding sugar kept it on the theme.

We also had a birthday cake and cupcakes but I didn’t get a photo unfortunately.

Details

A group of women at a birthday party.

We requested that everyone dress in neons and neutrals to add even more color to the party.

A stack of painted books with a cupcake on top next to bottles of water.

I really love how these books turned out. I spray-painted them and created silly book titles that also represent the guest of honor.

I had a friend with graphic design skills create cool patterns in neon and a neutral that you saw around the party on pennant banners. She created the banner that hung behind the pool that lead to the look of all the other signage at the party.

And to top that off, she created water bottle labels and cupcake flags. Boom. Anytime you can use an original design, the party feels more custom and stands out to the party guests.  

Note: I am beyond grateful that the amazingly talented Jackie Culmer, photographer extraordinaire, said she could come and take some pictures before the guests arrived. If you haven’t checked out my post of one of Jackie’s parties from a few days ago, go see it now!

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14 Comments

  1. Thank you SO much for the inspiration!!!! It’s a good friend’s 40th birthday in 3 weeks and you’ve really saved the day! She’s hosting the party so she knows of some things. I went with her to Party City yesterday to pick colors. We tried a bunch of options and finally I suggested pink and yellow (gave your blog credit =). and she LOVED it. So that’s all she knows. 4 friends are I are going to make the ‘frame collage’ (a neighbor was throwing away a huge light ‘box’ that is perfect), the huge letters (I happen to have plywood), a friend is making the cookies, little vignettes – owls, B Aurther, mustaches, wonder woman, david bowie, armadillos (we also live in Texas =). Thank you sooooo much!!!
    I’m now on the hunt to find neon pink ‘easter grass’… not having much luck and neon yellow zip ties.
    Thank you sooooo much!!!!!!!! Counting the days to the party!! Thank you!

    1. Sharon Garofalow says:

      Yeah!! I’m so glad you like this idea! Please share pics when the party is done. I’d love to see how your friend was represented. :) email me! Cu****************@gm***.com

      1. Wow!!! OK, you seriously saved the day! The party was a HUGE hit!!!
        I asked a friend to take pictures… the celebrating started pretty quickly so I don’t think she did it for me =). We did ‘B’ cookies exactly like yours, I grabbed a frame-thing from a neighbor who was throwing it away for the frame collage. I couldn’t find yellow zip ties (I chked 2 stores and googled to no avail =), so spray painted mini clothes pins. I spray painted 3 gnomes (she loves gnomes) and owls pink and yellow (looked at Micheal’s and Home Depot, Lowes had the best spray paint). We also used disco balls.
        For a center piece, I spray painted those twiggy things and pink tissue paper at the bottom (searched and searched for that bright pink ‘grass’ you have to no avail), put them in a large glass vase, spray painted the twigs yellow used more pink spray painted mini clothes pins and put photos of her on.
        OH!!!!!!! And the birthday girl has a thing about armadillos so a friend made an AMAZING red velvet armadillo cake.
        You seriously made my day, month, whatever! About 5 people told me I should plan parties. Ha!!!!! I gave you credit each time. I would consider it… but seriously, I have NO idea how one could do it without charging $1,000. Its a LOT of time and money! =) But its sooooo fun for a friend!
        xx

  2. Cupcake Carrie says:

    LOVE what you did for Erika!!! The details are amazing and I can see Erika through the party details. SUPER cute and fun!!!

  3. insane in the membrane! I am obsessed with that yarny thing!!!! I'm back! We should play soon! I was gone for so long! You are just rad. RAD. really really RAD!
    xo

  4. With Style and Grace says:

    WOW!! love LOVE every detail of this party – the colors and the photography, awesome!! I like the idea of using tape to "write" on the food containers, very cool. Nice work my dear, as always.

  5. Bella Joviality says:

    Love it!! The neon colors and details are fabulous!

  6. Go Against The Grain says:

    oh wow I love the bright colors!

  7. Jessica Johnson says:

    um can we be best friends? i have lots and lots of scrapbooks. SO freaking cute!!!! all of it. dying over here!

  8. Anna Elder says:

    amazing little details!

  9. A Blissful Nest says:

    Just darling! Love it!!

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