When Jaime’s 40th birthday approached, wife Sarah decided an intimate Moroccan themed surprise dinner party would be the perfect celebration of this important milestone! She pulled together a magical night with friends and family, hosted in their backyard, and nailed the Moroccan theme! If you’re looking for a festive party theme for an important event this summer, look no further! We’re going to take you behind the scenes at this party and provide you with plenty of colorful inspiration to throw a shindig to remember!
I absolutely love throwing parties at home! They instantly produce a feeling of intimacy and warmth because home is comfortable – it’s the place you gather with the people you love! I’m sure it’s one of the reasons Jamie’s Moroccan 40th Birthday Party was such a success – the setting on a summer night was idyllic! Just take a look at the beautiful backyard where the low dinner table was set up… incredibly inviting!
Are you ready to dive into the beautiful bohemian details of this party? Let’s take a look at all the Mediterranean inspired elements that came together to make this unique party theme come to life!
Moroccan Party Decor
When I think about Morocco, gorgeous textures, geometric patterns, bright pinks, corals, turquoises and blues come to mind. I think of hanging lanterns, golds and brass, exotic florals and luscious drapery. You’ll see many of those details woven throughout this party. In fact, Sarah set the stage for her guests, by choosing a bright geometric pattern for the party invitation, which encouraged guests to wear “festive attire” – so fun! (You can find a similar Moroccan tiled party invitation on Etsy here.)
When guests stepped into the backyard, they were greeted with a Welcome Sign highlighting the food and drink for the evening – we adore the clever use of a vintage mirror here, don’t you?
You’ll also notice how designers Greenhouse Picker Sisters brought the inside out by creating intimate seating areas around the backyard with rented vintage furniture in bright colors. Adding layers of textures with blankets, pillows and side tables with lanterns and florals really adds to the old world ambiance.
The dinner table was set low for relaxed seating on blankets and pillows in the middle of the yard under strings of soft lights. Moroccan brass lanterns lined the center of the wood slat table, intermixed with florals and brightly colored crystal drinkware.
Each table setting reinforced the Mediterranean, bohemian feel of the event with golds, geometrics and shades of blue. You can recreate this look at home with these stunning gold scalloped charger plates and Moroccan inspired napkins.
When you think about florals for your Moroccan themed party, the wilder the better! Exotic, brightly colored florals arranged in unique containers around the party will help you keep with the bohemian vibe of your event. We love the flowers placed in this old wooden Coca-Cola crate, the loose arrangement in a wire basket and the flowers flowing freely out of the gold lantern.
Moroccan Party Food & Drinks
It’s easy to keep the party theme going when it comes to food and drinks! You can design your own menu or hire a caterer or personal chef like Sarah did to put together an array of delicious Mediterranean cuisine.
Creating a signature party drink is always fun, so for a Moroccan themed party, focus on a spiced cocktail or put a twist on a mint iced tea. We like this Moroccan Spiced Mint Tea Julep Cocktail – might be worth a try! The signature drink at Jamie’s party was called Cuke from Marrakech – sounds good to me!
Zacki’s Culinary Creations served an array of mouth watering appetizers and dinner entrees for Jamie, Sarah and their friends.
The party setup also include a self-serve bar, which is always a good idea and keeps things simple for the hostess! This stunning geometric bookcase was repurposed as a serving board and featured glassware, cigars and photos of the birthday boy throughout the years. A handy bar cart placed nearby allowed guests to fuel up for the night.
You can’t have a milestone birthday without a special cake! This simple, Funfetti cake, designed by The Baking Pixie, was decorated with a pennant banner reflecting the party’s color scheme and topped with bright blue “40” candles!
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Although we don’t have pictures, Jamie and his guests enjoyed entertainment from a belly dancer late into the night and the party was a roaring success! We hope this surprise Moroccan Themed 40th Birthday Party has inspired you to create an exotic oasis in your backyard this summer! Grab our Party Planning Checklist to help you plan your next event with ease and be sure to Pin this post for later party planning!
Featured Vendors
- Photographer: Mikkel Paige Photography
- Caterer: Zacki’s Culinary Creations
- Personal Stylist: Sarah O’Grady
- Cake Designer: The Baking Pixie
- Invitation Designer: Paperless Post
- Design and Decor: Greenhouse Picker Sisters
