Viva La Vivi! A Beautifully Designed Outdoor Birthday Bash

The party theme was a "combination of a bunch of elements," Joni says. "I really thought 'Viva La Vivi' sounded really fun, and it was originally going to be a fiesta, but then we also brought in some Peter Pan elements and whatever else seemed to fit!"

"We set out several toddler-sized tables (we somehow have quite a few play tables on hand)," Joni says. "We added in a couple of low benches, and my dad custom built a really adorable eight-foot-long banquet table! The tables were set with bamboo plates and forks, pink and white straws, a wooden necklace, and a feather headdress."

"I loved the little toddler-height tables with the lights strung all around," Joni says. "It felt really magical, and it was special that everything was just their size. The long banquet table was stained a pickled white, and the other tables were covered in kraft paper to keep a consistent, natural feel."

"I made the little wooden necklaces as party favors," Joni says. "I bought the beads here, and then painted them and strung them together."

"I adored the flowers," Joni says. "I found cans I liked, cleaned them out, and then my friend Lindsay Coletta added the flowers. You could just as easily add flowers (or succulents would be lovely, too) yourself. It makes for sweet little inexpensive arrangements."

Another toddler table, with Ikea pillows as seating.

A few lucky guests got to sit inside the tepee!

A DIY "Viva La Vivi" sign sat behind the cupcake table. "Vivi's only request was pink cupcakes, so that is what we had!" Joni says. "She thought that was really awesome and having all her friends in one place made her really happy, too."

The backdrop mimicked the invitation design.

"The food was pretty simple," Joni says. "Vivi's only request was cupcakes, so we had strawberry cupcakes, fruit, chips and salsa, hot dogs, and coffee to keep the grown-ups warm. I kind of like not overstressing about the food! The kids are easy to please, so I like to keep that simple and make the rest feel like magic."

"My uncle bought Porky the pig and let us borrow it," Joni says. "The kids loved it, and you had to put in a dime for a ride. Someone was on it all night!"

"This was the first year Vivi really understood what was going on, and she was a ball of excitement the whole day," Joni says. "You can't help but be caught up in the boundless excitement of a newly minted 3-year-old!"

"We strung lights up everywhere to add to the magic and to keep it bright enough after the sun set," Joni says. "When it got dark, we turned on Peter Pan. The kids were completely mesmerized and cuddled up on fluffy rugs and blankets and munched on their hot dogs and cupcakes. The curtains around the screen are from our playroom."

How cute are Vivi and her little friends?!

"It was really sweet seeing all the kids watch the movie," Joni says. "They were completely enthralled, and it's always special as a parent to see your child loved by her friends. It was neat to watch them all sit huddled together, with their feathers in the air, watching Peter Pan."