Elegant Garden Party Celebrating for The Kentucky Derby

Happy May!  It is one of my favorite months since it is my birthday month.  And wow May is a busy month with Star Wars Day on May 4th, Cinco de Mayo on May 5th, The Kentucky Derby on May 6th, My Birthday on May 8th and Mother's Day on May 13th! There is so much to celebrate this month!  I am so excited to share our Elegant Garden Party Celebrating The Kentucky Derby.

I rode horses as a child and I still love everything equestrian themed. I was originally going to plan a traditional Derby theme with all red roses.  Then I found these amazing Kentucky Derby printables from Hostess with the Mostess.

My Favorite Details from The Kentucky Derby Party

• The entire printable collection by Hostess with the Mostess
• Flowers Trophies
• Moss runner and backdrop

Kentucky Derby Decor

The printable collection had so many different designs.  I selected clean modern square plates and utensils with just a pop of gold.  To the utensils I added a strip of washi tape in a similar water color pattern.  I used a different printable at each place setting.  It was so hard to pick just one.  It is a great mix and match collection with watercolors and roses.  For an extra pop of color I used mini mason jars for a single flower to tie in our garden party theme.

I debated about setting the table with my traditional derby glasses.  I opted for these fun stemless wine glasses.  Half say Cheers and the other half have polka dots on them.  I added the straw flags to these gold foiled straws.  I might still be drinking out of one of them now.

For the centerpiece I was inspired by Andressa at Twinkle Twinkle Little Party who recently shared her own flower arrangement.  I normally buy one or two types of flowers and stick to similar flowers to make arrangements easy to assemble.  For the Garden party I knew I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone.  I went flower shopping with my assistant, my daughter which pushed me even further out of my comfort zone since I needed to include the flowers she selected as well.  I used a floral foam in the trophy and topped it with a win printable.  I wanted to add some additional greenery so I added a mini boxwood wreath under the trophy.

For the table runners I stuck with my theme of mixing up patterns and did two runners in opposite directions.  A black and white runner and a moss runner.  I love how everything pops with the two different backgrounds.

Kentucky Derby Bar Cart

What is a derby party without drinks?  I pulled out my trusty bar cart and loaded it up with lots of goodies.

I am not a bourbon drinker so instead of making the traditional Mint Juleps I made Wine juleps.  To make them you simply muddle the mint, add in wine, ginger ale and ice.

I wanted to include pops of red roses since they screen derby party.  I made these super easy horseshoe in red roses.  To make it I simply cut out the horse shoe shape.  Then I took fake mini red roses and removed the stems.  Hot glued them onto the paper.  I love the way it turned out.

When I saw these mini strawberry cupcakes at Target I knew I had to have them.  They fit the colors and to tie in our theme.  I took the straw flags and cut them shorter attached them to a tooth pick and make food flags with them.  

What is your favorite element of the party?

Pin for Later: Kentucky Derby Garden Party