If you follow me on Instagram then you may know that a couple of weeks ago I hosted a surprise rustic backyard party for my hubby’s 35th birthday. I started planning a few months ago and keeping the secret was BRUTAL and exhausting! The One Room Challenge back patio makeover was partly a disguise so I could have a reason to hurry him along to help me finish the patio in time for the party!! The joke’s on him! 🙂 About 10 family members flew in from up north as well as friends from South Carolina and Kentucky totaling about 50 guests. We successfully kept it a secret and when he pulled in the driveway home from work, he was completely shocked! I love planning a good surprise, and this one is my best yet!
Here are some fun shots from the day taken by my amazing photographer friend Ashlee!
Waiting impatiently for his arrival!
The money shot! Look at that face!
Too surprised to close the car door 😉 
That’s his mamma he’s hugging there. Be still my heart. 
Haha!!
I think it’s safe to say everyone’s cheeks hurt from all the cheesin’ we were doing. 
Rustic Backyard Party Decor Ideas
Here’s the scoop on decor, food and entertainment. First of all, I had 4 strands of 60′ string lights hung in the backyard for ambiance and to provide light after sundown. Similar to that of an area rug in a room, the lighting really defined the space and set the stage for where I positioned all the other furniture and decor. 
I rented rustic farm tables, folding chairs and whiskey barrels that I used as cocktail tables with bar stools sprinkled throughout the lawn. 
Citronella votive candles not only added a nice touch but helped to ward off the bugs. 
Even a rustic backyard party for a guy deserves florals! My friend Gayle with Florist Fire cooked up these awesome arrangements with sprigs of herbs, eucalyptus and pampas grass mixed in with the white and yellow flowers. 
A bounce house is great for kid-friendly parties and for food I hired a BBQ food truck to come out and serve everyone dinner. The food truck was amazing becuase it was one less thing for me to worry about and guests had fun walking up to order from the truck. And the food was delish! Best idea ever! Of course, there was also a self-serve bar complete with plenty of adult beverages for guests to choose from. 
Lawn games like corn hole and giant Jenga gave guests and the kiddos something extra to do. 
And last but not least, a live musician for entertainment! Ever since buying our house we’ve talked about utilizing our big yard for a huge party with live entertainment and I’m stoked we finally did it! 
There ya have it! My surprise rustic backyard party for my hubby!
In case you’re local, all the vendors I used were fantastic! String Lights / Rentals / Musician / Food Truck / Bounce House / Florals / Photography
