“Umm…can we get a table for…50?”  Birthday dinners can get out of hand quick due to the sheer amount of people you must invite.  You meet so many new friends in college that planning your birthday dinner can be overwhelming.  Birthday celebration plans require a certain finesse in order to please all of the guests and more importantly, the birthday girl.

The main concern about the birthday dinner is making sure that all of your different friends get along.  Your high school friends may not know some of your suitemates or housemates.  However, different friend groups usually mesh well at dinners because they all love the birthday girl. Your old friends may not instantly declare your new buds as their future bridesmaids, but they will at least be polite.  If your group cannot fit at one table then there is always the option of planning a besties only dinner.  Invite only your closest friends to dinner and then gather a bigger group to party with later that night.  Heaven help the group whose friends are feuding.  If you are in this situation, have the pair work it out themselves.  Hopefully, they will put aside their problems for the greater good -aka the birthday girl.

Another question is whether or not to pay for the birthday girl’s dinner.  Instead of getting her a gift, one person can pay for the girl.  If everyone has already gotten her a small gift then payment is not really necessary.  Also, always have the wait staff sing to the guest of honor and bring out a yummy treat.  It will make for a great picture and, let’s be honest, we live for pictures.  It will also embarrass, I mean make the birthday girl feel special.  One Mexican restaurant near my campus brings out a gigantic sombrero for the birthday guest and a decadent treat of fried ice cream.  Sadly, you do have to return the hat.

As a special touch, I always bring along my birthday tiara.  It has been my prize possession ever since I got it from Claire’s for my 16^th birthday.  The tiara’s peeling silver paint proves it has definitely seen some love.  In my opinion, a birthday dinner is not complete unless the birthday girl’s head is adorned with a sparkling headpiece.  Not everyone appreciates the tiara, which is like a neon sign that screams, “I am the birthday girl!”, but I always offer it! 

Two of my good friends turn 21 soon and I am gearing up for the adventure.  I mastered the art of the birthday dinner, but I am new to the circus that is the 21^st birthday.  I have the guest list and dinner reservations covered, but someone else might have to dream up the 21^st bucket list.  So perfect that Facebook birthday invite complete with a hilarious and slightly inappropriate group picture, and sit back and wait for the RSVP’s to roll in.

1.     Fashion Icon: I don’t really have one! I go for anything girly and preppy. For a high fashion brand I love Marchesa. Their dresses are like artwork!

2.     Thing you are looking most forward to about being a Design Consultant: I want to tell all of the girls in my sorority about Emma Graham Designs because its clothes are perfect for a cocktail, game day, or Carolina Cup! Being a writer, I am also excited to blog!

3.     Favorite Emma Graham piece (new or old collections): Dayna Sears skirt and the Jordan Dress

4.     Plans after Graduation?: I want to work at a fashion magazine in New York City 

5.     Favorite thing to do on a Saturday?: I would like to get lunch with my friends and go shopping at the mall. The mall closest to school just opened a Forever 21, which is the perfect place to find affordable going out clothes!

6.     Dinner for 2 or party with 100? Probably a party with 100 because I definitely would be in the middle of the dance floor! I also love chatting with lots of different people.

7.     Heels or Flats? Even though I’m short I still go for flats. They work better with my hectic lifestyle and can still be really cute. I love flats in bright colors and with bows.

8.     Twitter or Facebook:? Facebook because I love posting pictures of me and my friends and seeing pictures of everyone else! 

9.     2012 New Year’s Resolution?: School is always been very important to me so last semester I found myself missing out on some fun time with my friends. I still work hard but I take more time to have fun in college!

10. What’s #1 on your Ipod Top 25 Most Played Songs Playlist?: Levels by Avicii! It is such a good pump up song! I actually played it this morning as I got ready for class so I would be motivated to have a good day!