Fairy Birthday Party Tips & Tricks

All the magical details from a fairy-themed birthday celebration for a little one turning Bibbidi Bobbidi TWO! From the menu and party favors to entertainment and more—everything you need to bring the enchantment to life.

Whenever I plan an event, I love sharing all the behind-the-scenes details with my readers—no gatekeeping here! My goal is to make it easier for others to host fun, memorable gatherings by helping take some of the guesswork out of the process. Decision fatigue is real, and it can often get in the way of bringing your original vision to life.

So without further ado, here’s a look at all the magic that went into Ainsley’s fairy-themed second birthday party!

Related Posts:
– DIY Toadstool Backdrop with Door
– Easy DIY Fairy Wands

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

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Fairy Birthday Party: Tips & Tricks

Decorations & Set-Up

Decorations play a big role in bringing a party theme to life. I originally envisioned creating giant silk flowers and turning my yard into a whimsical scene straight out of Alice in Wonderland. But as the party date drew closer, I decided to pivot toward decorations that were more achievable within the timeframe.

Most of the setup was done the day before the party. The kids’ table was a low picnic-style table with a rug underneath, creating a cozy spot for them to sit and eat. For the adults, we had two round tables with chairs, as well as our outdoor lounge furniture for more relaxed seating. Delicate butterflies were attached to trees and furniture, as if they had just fluttered in and landed there, adding a magical touch to the space.

Yard Decor:
– Giant Toadstool Backdrop w/ Fairy Door (DIY — all the details on how I made this here)
– Small Toadstools (DIY — Dollar Tree punch bowls painted & placed atop wood logs)
– Giant Silk Butterflies (Amazon – white, pink & violet)
– Large 3D Butterfly Stickers (Amazon)
– Fairy Wings displayed in a Wood Crate (Amazon, wood crate from Joann’s & stained)

Kids Table Settings:
– White Scalloped Plastic Plates (Amazon, reusable)
– Fairy Paper Napkins (Amazon)
– Plastic Milk Bottles w/ Straws (Amazon)
– Mini Cake Stands w/ Dome (Amazon, placed fruit snacks inside)
– Transparent Floral Embroidered Tablecloth (Amazon)
– Mini Toadstools (DIY — Dollar Tree punch & cordial cups, hot-glued together then painted. Same punch cups on Amazon, and cordial cups on Amazon)
– Picnic Table (DIY — recycle a bed frame sides for the top & table legs from Amazon)

Lunch Menu

It was fun scouring Pinterest for menu ideas to enhance the vision for our fairy birthday party. Ultimately the menu came down to two things: 1. Kid-Friendly & 2. Foods that could easily be given a whimsical twist.

Fairy Birthday Party Menu:
– Butterfly PB&J Sandwiches (used a butterfly cookie cutter for the shape)
– Fruit Salad (this recipe is always a crowd pleaser! Sliced white grapes, strawberries & blueberries with an agave-lime drizzle, topped with a bit of lime zest)
– Butterfly Pasta Salad (bow tie pastas, diced bell peppers, quartered cherry tomatoes, chopped broccoli crown, & chopped salami mixed with Italian dressing, shredded parmesan cheese on the side)
– Cheese Sticks
– Fruit Pouches
– Fruit Snacks (Annie’s Bees, Bugs & Butterflies)
– Charcuterie (an array of salami, jack cheeses, crackers, nuts, & preserves)
– Smoked Tri-tip, thinly sliced
– Garlic Rolls (Costco has some AMAZING rolls in their bakery right now)
– Cake
– Pink Lemonade (In one drink dispensers I added edible glitter to the lemonade for added magic! I left the other lemonade regular for anyone weary of the glitter.)
– Juice Boxes & Bottled Waters

Party Timeline

As guests arrived, kids were immediately invited to pick out a pair of fairy wings to wear and keep. It was such a fun way to kick off the party and added to the whimsical atmosphere right away. We also had the toadstool fairy door set up, which quickly became a hit. The kids jumped into imaginative play, turning it into a house, a shop, or whatever magical world they dreamed up.

My goal was to have food ready before guests arrived so they could grab lunch as they got settled. But, true to form, I ran a bit behind. Once everything was finally ready, everyone was invited to help themselves at the buffet.

I watched the kids’ table to know when it was time to start the next activity.

Kids’ Entertainment

As kids finished eating and grew restless, I knew it was the perfect moment to start the scavenger hunt. The “fairy garden scavenger hunt” a dual purpose. First, it gave the kids a fun way to explore the yard and find their treasures. And secondly, it allowed me just enough time to clear the kids lunch table and set-up the fairy garden craft.

Fairy Scavenger Hunt:
– Fairy Wand (DIY — this didn’t necessarily go into the garden, but it was another favor for the kids to find & take home)
– Mini Fairy or Mini Dragon (Amazon)
– Shiny Butterfly Stickers (Amazon)
– Sparkly Rock (DIY — rocks from my yard that I spray painted with glitter paint)
– Pixie Dust (Amazon)
– Toadstool & Mushroom (DIY — small wooden mushrooms from Amazon I painted)

After finishing the scavenger hunt, the kids gathered at the fairy garden craft table to create their party favors. We used plastic pots designed to look like terracotta, each filled with a foam insert to hold the faux flowers in place. To hide the base, we topped the foam with faux moss, giving each pot a more natural look. The kids could choose as many—or as few—flowers as they liked to build their own magical gardens. Once they were happy with their arrangements, they added their treasures from the hunt to complete their creations!

Fairy Garden Craft:
– Plastic Pots (Dollar Tree)
– Foam Inserts (Dollar Tree)
– Faux Flowers (Dollar Tree)
– Faux Moss (Amazon)

That wrapped up our planned entertainment, but the kids continued to run around and play outside long afterward. The setup let parents relax and chat while kids made friends and dove into imaginative play!

Party Favor

Instead of goody bags, kids enjoyed their party favors throughout the event as part of the activities. In total, each kid received a Fairy Wand, Fairy Wings and personalized Fairy Garden. I think activities or consumables trump trinkets anytime you planning on providing a party favor.

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Conclusion

I hope there is something you were able to take away from these Fairy Birthday Party Tips & Tricks. Remember to Pin this post for when you are ready for next steps.

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