Daddy Daughter Ball

Our ward puts on an annual Daddy Daughter Ball, and it was something to blog about!

I got to help with the planning and decorating, but we will get to that in a moment.

From the first time it was announced until the day it arrived Hannah asked several times daily how long until the daddy daughter ball. She was simply beside herself with excitement by the time it arrived!

It is a very formal occasion, so she decided to wear her Elsa dress, since it was "the most fancy one" she had.

I was trying to get her to look at me and not prance around, so I told her she was going to miss it and that the ball had started.. that all the treats might be gone before she got there...(I'm so mean!) and this is the face I got:

Here is Hannah with her handsome date!

What a lovely pair :)

When they got there there was a booth outside where they had to write their names on a piece of paper (so they could get announed upon entry to the ball). 

Hannah wanted to write her own name, so Daddy let her (and then wrote both their names so the announcer could read them on the other side of the paper).

The theme was winter in Paris, so all of the decorations were geared toward that end :)

Upon signing in, the girls each got a passport to wear around their neck:

The back side had a picture to represent each activity to do inside, where they would get a stamp to mark the completion of each. (Each of the stations had a sign with the same symbols next to it, so they knew what each was!)

Upon entering the church building, the foyer was transformed into a lovely outdoor wintery scene... cobblestone path and all!

The path led them all the way to the entrance to the ball.

This would also be the back drop for the photo booth a little later :)

As they entered, they handed their name card to this French man, who announced their arrival :)

They then came in to the grand ball room, complete with the grand chandelier!

Toward the back of the ball room were some cute corners with park seating :

And a darling disguise for the DJ table!

 Outside of that, on the other side of the gymnasium, were the food tables, dressed as shops, and the tables done very cafe style.

So pretty and romantic!

Notice the sign that matches the passport symbols :)

This is the candy shop, where they got to fill a bag with all kinds of candies displayed in all sizes and shapes of jars... so cute!

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The young women were helping out all over, and all dressed the part!

Here's Hannah filling up a huge bag of candy!!! Lucky day!

 

Then right next door was the bakery shop... super cute and filled with beautiful and delicious little treats!

The funny thing about all the young women helping out is that they all know Hannah and Hannah knows them! It was like having her "friends" (code for babysitter) helping her at each station!

Next up was the food!

Here is the drink table that sat in the middle of the 2 food tables, each holding identical food to make things flow better.

 

So much to take in, but what a special date with her daddy!

I have never seen an event so extravagant- but it was BEAUTIFUL!

After a bite to eat, the Hokey Pokey, and a very short effort at musical chairs Hannah went around to the rest of the stations with her daddy. 

Like a good date, he let her lead and do exactly as she pleased.. and even missed the "daddy's only" round of musical chairs... which was hilarious, and quite competitive.

She got her nails painted:

And so did Brooklyn! Fun to see our friends we invited :)

While still drying, they did the "street art" station!

Here they pick a drawing and get to paint it in or chalk it in.

Hannah picked the bike :)

Such talented artists!

Next up was the balloon station.

Sadly, I didn't get any pictures of the balloon guy, but he was AWESOME! 

Hannah picked an octopus, who you can sorta see in the photo booth pics :)

Oh, and I couldn't help but snap one of our buddies!

To top it off, was all the dancing!

They did a STUPENDOUS job with the dancing, and did some fast songs, some slow songs, some line dances, and even some "special" dances :)

It took the dads a minute to get warmed up...

  

but after a bit...

and some charm from their ladies...

they got their groove on!

The dance floor became a hopping place in no time at all!

  

For this "special" song, the girls all sat in a circle of chairs facing out and the dads all walked around snapping in time to the song "My Girl".. and when it got to the chorus they stopped and sang on one knee to the girl in front of them :)

After that there were some free for all dances to classics like Taylor Swift and What the Fox Say  :)

Hannah had a blast dancing with her daddy!

They even did a slow waltz to "Across the Sea" in French!

And Hannah learned that her daddy has got some great moves on the dance floor!

When all was said and done, they left hand in hand... having had the date of a lifetime!

And when the fun is done, they are left with the memories, the pictures and the movies!

Enjoy!

It is so cool to be in such a fun and dedicated ward. It is also fun to see Hannah and her daddy growing a bond that will last the rest of her life.

I love these two, and I'm glad I got to tag along on their date so we can have some pictures to remember it by!