Henry MASTERED His First Year! Let’s Host: A Masters Themed Birthday Party
This post contains affiliate links and ads. Affiliate links and ads support my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your ongoing support!How fast a year can fly by! Earlier this month we celebrated Henry’s FIRST birthday! Ever since we had a due date, knowing that our sweet third baby would be born near the annual Masters Tournament, we knew that — boy or girl — the baby’s first birthday would be themed around The Masters.
We are a golf-loving family and The Masters is an annual tradition we look forward to each year. We love the traditions, the food, the beautiful scenery and the excitement of the competition. Being such an institution, there is so much inspiration to draw from when it comes to planning a party. From the colors, to the food, we had so much fun planning the details and hosting our family and friends to celebrate Henry’s first year.
If you love celebrating The Masters, I hope you enjoy the inspiration from Henry’s birthday party. Many of these elements can be adapted for a watch party, luncheon or party themed around The Masters tournament.
Inspired by the prestigious Masters Golf Tournament, we strived to bring the spirit of Augusta National Golf Course into our home. To help recreate the atmosphere, I focused on the simple elements the tournament is known for: the green and yellow color scheme, the iconic menu items, the emphasis on the beauty of nature, and of course, golf-themed details!
Today I’m sharing all of the details from the party so that you can create your own Masters party. Whether it’s for a first birthday, a 70th birthday or simply a watch party with friends, you can use these ideas to create a fun and welcoming atmosphere that celebrates the tradition and competition of The Masters Golf Tournament held each year at Augusta National Golf Course.
You can shop links to make planning your own party super easy and you’ll find my modern etiquette tips sprinkled throughout!
The Invitation
A good invitation will set the tone of the event and give guests a glimpse of the celebration to come.
I instantly fell in love with this hand painted water color invitation designed by Kristen Nicholls Art (found on Etsy). Once I purchased the template, Kristen quickly updated the invitation with the information I provided. I was then able to get them printed at Staples and off into the mail.
When it comes to invitations, you can use paper or digital options, but I like to suggest paper invitations for more formal, or milestone, celebrations.
Aside from the pertinent information like the time, date, location and RSVP information, the invitation made it clear that we would be celebrating Henry’s birthday with a Masters inspired party, which let guests know that it would be a fun afternoon that would leave them feeling the spirit of Augusta National Golf Course.
MODERN ETIQUETTE TIP:
If you receive an invitation that states “RSVP”, it means that host is asking you to respond letting them know if you can or cannot make the event. If there is “by date,” RSVP as soon as possible. RSVP is French for “répondez s'il vous plaît” which means respond, if you please. Responding to the invitation helps the host to plan for the appropriate amount of food and other items needed for a successful event.
The Menu
One of the keystone pillars of The Masters experience is the iconic menu of food served over the weekend of the Tournament. The food is just as famous as the players, with the simple sandwiches, traditional staples, and inspired Champions Dinner Menus making news headlines year after year.
Between the traditional menu of food found at the concession stands to the personalized menu of the Champions Dinner, there was a lot to be inspired by, and a lot to inspire your next party, too.
We kept the table full of food that our guests could help themselves to throughout the party. There were finger sandwiches and sliders, the iconic pimento cheese, and additional foods inspired by what you would find if you were attending The Masters yourself.
For drinks, we highlighted The Azalea Cocktail using the official Masters recipe with garnishes speared on cocktail picks featuring club heads and golf balls. In addition to the cocktail (which could also be enjoyed sans alcohol!), we stocked the fridge with domestic beers, Arnold Palmer, and of course, soda and juice boxes for the kids.
MODERN ETIQUETTE TIP
When hosting a party, it’s important to keep food allergies and restrictions in mind. As the host, you can ask your guests if they have any allergies to be aware of so that you can plan accordingly. For larger parties, the host may want to ensure that there are options that will satisfy most requirements. Including allergy-free items, veggie items, and gluten free items can help make sure there is something for everyone.
The Decor
After the food, The Masters Tournament may be best known for the legendary green jacket, the stunning azaleas and the yellow flags found at each hole. Decorating for a Masters themed party is an exercise in highlighting tradition, celebrating the fresh blooms of early Spring and championing the country club aesthetic.
I knew I wanted to focus on a color palette of green and yellow, with a touch of navy blue for our sweet boy. Overall, we kept the decorations simple and focused on the details.
The star of the show was a beautiful potted Azalea that I procured through our local flower shop, The Flower Alley. Their team helped me design a gorgeous centerpiece and I was absolutely thrilled with how it turned out!
I also used some paper party decorations, assembled a green and yellow balloon arch, and printed out monthly milestone photos of our sweet Henry. For the food cards, I hand-painted a simple scene recalling the greens and the iconic yellow golf flags using watercolors.
For additional centerpieces, I picked up some simple daffodils from Trader Joes which were paired with themed cocktail napkins and golf ball chocolates.
We had roughly 15 other children at the party and they all went home with a bubble wand and a sweet note that said “Thanks For Playing A Round With Me!” from the same design suite as the invitations.
When it comes to decorations, simple is often sweet! I like to focus on the details and used as much inspiration as I could from the actual tournament. In a world of insane “Pinterest Parties”, don’t let over-the-top decor hold you back from hosting a party. Some fresh flowers and a few balloons is more than you need!
The Style
I LOVE to dress to a theme and if you’re hosting a Masters Party, you can certainly suggest a dress code for your guests to join in on the fun!
While we didn’t specify a certain dress code for our party, our family did have fun coordinating around The Masters theme.
I opted for a casual “AMEN” t-shirt while Henry sported his khakis and a custom handmade sweater in hues of green and yellow. My husband wore his favorite green golf shirt and our older children dressed in casual golf wear as well.
If you’re hosting a Masters party and want your guests to dress for the occasion, consider suggesting a dress code on the invitation. Golf Club Casual, Country Club Chic, Green Jacket Optional are all fun dress codes that impress an elevated, sporty look perfect for the event.
You can shop my Etsy Idea List here.
MODERN ETIQUETTE TIP
A Dress Code communicates to the guest the expectation for appropriate attire. In the workplace, that might look like “Business Casual” but in a social setting, dress codes are often used to underscore the formality of the event, or to invite guests to dress in a particular theme that will add to the ambiance of the setting. As a host, communicate your dress code clearly and include it on the invitation. As a guest, do your best to follow the dress code and know that your effort will be appreciated!
The Fun
Since we hosted the party during the actual Masters Tournament weekend, we had built in entertainment with the ongoing competition playing in the background.
To add to the fun, we also set up a game of Bucket Golf in the backyard, which was a huge hit for guests young and old alike.
Watch Party Bingo, Closest to the Pin and other backyard games like Croquet are also great options to add an element of entertainment to the party. The important thing is to keep people engaged, whether that’s with conversation, games, or a unifier like watching the tournament.
MODERN ETIQUETTE TIP
For a party to be successful, it’s important to have a loose agenda that will lend a structure to the party while still being flexible enough to inspire fun and connection. As a host, it’s your duty to keep the party moving and to provide opportunities for your guests to engage with you and others. Plan a few activities to keep people entertained and don’t be afraid to speak up and direct your guests to keep the party moving.
Planning and hosting a Masters Themed Birthday Party for our sweet Henry was an absolute joy from start to finish. There is so much to be inspired by and to celebrate his first birthday surrounded by dear friends and family was everything we could dream of and more!
We are looking forward to hosting a Masters Watch Party next year and making the Masters Tournament Weekend a tradition in our own family.
I hope our party inspires you to host your own Masters party, whether it’s to celebrate a milestone birthday or simply to gather friends and family to celebrate a unique tradition.
Do you enjoy watching The Masters? Leave your questions or comments below. I’d love to help inspire you to host your own party!
