Lilli’s Farewell to Her 20’s Birthday Party
Jennison’s party built around a sparkly dress and being crowned the “bee’s knees.”
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Lilli Jennison, award-winning Creative Director of the Atlanta Jewish Times, may be ready to leave her 20’s behind, but she is enamored with the looks and sounds of the 1920s.
On Oct. 5 at her sister, Micah Staley’s, Brookhaven house, Jennison celebrated the end of a decade with friends and family. Actually, Lilli was not original in her choice of themes and recalled, “Micah had a friend, who did a ‘Gatsby’ theme when she turned 30, about 10 years ago. I have been wanting to do this theme since then! I thought it was cute – kinda a ‘farewell’ to 20’s. I wanted to do a ‘Death to 20’s Funeral,’ but my mom said, ‘No’ haha!”
The party décor was in tandem with the Roaring Twenties: bunches of feathers, gold and black accents with strings of pearls … lots of pearls. Since Lilli was the star, the room was surrounded with photos of her at all ages; but her favorite touch was a big head, her head, on a stick!
Lilli said, “My sister had them made of her for her graduation party earlier this year; and I said I wanted one of my head!! So, I was so happy to see they made ‘me’ some, too.”
Music streamed throughout from a playlist of songs from the 1920s, like “Putting on the Ritz,” and songs from “The Great Gatsby” soundtrack. Lilli looks back at guests decked out in top hats, feathers, boas, and even more pearls.
The guest of honor’s dress was “vava-voom” in very sparkly gold and black tones. Lilli spotted it at Macy’s and immediately fell for it as being very “on theme.” Her mom and aunt organized party favors of mugs and plates patterned with bees, which read, “You are the bee’s knees” with a sign in 1920s slang. Harkening back, the “bee’s knees” was an expression used to describe “something (or someone) that was excellent, much liked, top notch, really cool, or highly admired.”
The main event was a Mexican “make your own taco bar” from Willy’s. Dessert was an elaborate Publix cake for the guests (and a separate dairy-free cake for Lilli). Family friend and bartender Natasha Clark kept busy mixing strong martinis and mimosas. Jennison’s mom hired a caricaturist on site, which was reminiscent of Lilli’s bat mitzvah making that a special connection.
But wait! Jennison, who graduated from The Weber School in 2013, jumped the gun. She’s not yet 30. She recalled, “The party was supposed to be a surprise. My family had been planning it for a year. I knew there would be a celebration, but I was told it would be in December. I won’t name names, but the surprise got spoiled. But I am so happy … because I saw the dress a month before and knew I wanted it! If the party was a surprise, I wouldn’t have been able to wear the dress.”
Jennison was also very excited that her best friend of almost 20 years was able to come and spend the night after the party. Jennison recalled, “We had big plans Sunday to play pickleball, but we were so tired that we stayed home and finished a puzzle that she bought me as a present.”
Lilli will spend her real birthday on St. George Island romping with family, her dog, Bagel, and her dog nieces, Sammy and Maggie. She is very excited for a relaxing Thanksgiving, birthday, and Black Friday shopping in Apalachicola.
Lilli says, “30 is the new 20. I don’t think 30 is a scary age. It’s just another age. I don’t feel any differently. Looking forward to a year filled with family, friends and my sweet dog, Bagel. Cheers to a healthy and happy new chapter.”
Mom Risa, emoted, “Lilli has really come into her own as a talented and creative woman. She is strong and incredibly special.”
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