Hadley’s Graduation Party

Bringing a Pinterest Dream to Life: Hadley’s Literary Tea Party Graduation Celebration

When Jess first reached out to us at Soirée Wedding Planning, we had just about one month to bring her vision for her daughter Hadley’s graduation celebration to life. While a month may seem like a short timeline for a custom event, we immediately got to work turning ideas into reality. Hadley is an accomplished student whose achievements extend far beyond graduation. As editor of her school’s newspaper and recipient of numerous literary and academic accolades, her celebration deserved to be every bit as thoughtful and unique as she is.

The venue itself presented an interesting challenge—and an exciting opportunity. The event was hosted inside a medical spa and hair salon that also featured a party room. During our initial tour of the space, I worked closely with Jess to understand how we could transform the unconventional venue into an elegant setting for a sophisticated graduation celebration. Jess had curated a beautiful Pinterest board filled with inspiration, and together we refined those ideas into a cohesive event design. The chosen theme was a Fancy Tea Party, perfectly reflecting Hadley’s love of literature and academic accomplishments.

One of the highlights of the event was the stunning custom dessert display. We partnered with Tip Top Cakes to create a beautiful book-shaped cake that paid tribute to Hadley’s literary achievements. The display also included colorful cupcakes adorned with edible flowers, adding a whimsical and elegant touch to the tea party aesthetic.

To create a memorable focal point, Jess designed and built her own backdrop, which was beautifully enhanced by balloon installations from Poppin Parties. The combination created a picture-perfect setting for guests to celebrate and capture memories throughout the day.

The catering team from Hy-Vee embraced the tea party theme in a creative way by serving charcuterie selections in tea cups and saucers that Jess personally sourced for the event. This thoughtful detail elevated the guest experience and tied the entire design concept together. The floral arrangements were another labor of love, created by Jess herself. Her personal touches throughout the event made the celebration feel incredibly meaningful and special for Hadley and their family.

On the day of the event, I arrived in the morning to oversee setup and ensure every detail was in place. Throughout the celebration, I remained available to check in and make sure everything ran smoothly, allowing Jess and her family to focus on enjoying the day and celebrating Hadley’s accomplishments. This event is a wonderful example of how collaboration can create something truly memorable. Jess brought incredible vision and creativity, and we were honored to help guide the planning process, connect her with talented vendors, and transform an unconventional venue into a beautiful tea party celebration.

Congratulations, Hadley! Your hard work, leadership, and achievements are inspiring, and it was a joy to help celebrate this exciting milestone.

Vendors:

Planning & Design: Soirée Wedding Planning
Invitations & Signage: Allegra Iowa City
Catering & Bar: Crosspark Hy-Vee (Danyelle is amazing!)
Rentals: Unique Events
Balloons: Poppin’ Parties Co
Client provided linens, tissue paper backdrop, macaron tower, bars, and all the pretty flowers!