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PLANNING A SPECTACULAR 40TH BIRTHDAY BASH WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS

While many people of a certain age celebrate their 40th birthday more than once, Colleen Foster wanted to make her "first" 40th something special—which for her meant an unforgettable bash at her Bridgehampton home, meticulously planned down to the floral design, tableware and her black Stella McCartney dress. "I originally wanted to go away for a quiet, romantic birthday," she says. "But friends suggested I needed to plan a big party. The whole thing could have turned into a lame barbeque if it wasn't for Sophia."

Sophia is New York City-based event planner Sophia Crokos, who was recommended to Foster by a mutual friend. Initially, Foster envisioned an intimate gathering in her barn, which she was soon to begin converting into a guesthouse. (Foster bought the estate last year from Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker and hadn't yet finished redecorating it.) Her simple plans changed after talking with Crokos, and a theme emerged—blue, white and green hydrangeas based on the bushes around the yard—with several stages: cocktails around the pool, dinner and dancing in the barn. "I had an idea," Foster says, "but Sophia had a vision."

"Colleen wanted her party to be simple and elegant, yet celebratory and non-pretentious," Crokos says. "The barn was the perfect place to have a fun yet sophisticated birthday party for 50 of her dear friends." Guests received word of the party by an invitation Crokos designed—a small, square card with a blue hydrangea in the center and text in wasabi green.

With the theme and basic color palette in place, Crokos hired Claire Bean, of Claire Bean Floral and Event Design in Westhampton, to oversee floral arrangements and décor. Foster's single directive was that she wanted green flowers. Bean delivered with green hydrangea, Santini mums, cymbidium orchids, roses and kangaroo paw arranged in Venetian blue-colored vases of varying sizes—gifts that the guests could take home with them.