Katie Cook and her family have a long-standing tradition of celebrating the birthdays of loved ones not only as a way to honor family customs but also as a gesture of appreciation and respect for their family. Inspired by this tradition, Katie, a devoted Jane Austen fan, decided to celebrate her 40th birthday with an elegant Regency style ball.
“I wanted to throw this party to gather everyone I love in one place,” Mrs. Cook shared in an interview with The Epoch Times, “I have a special love for Jane Austen’s works.”
With the strong support of friends and family, this mother of four carefully selected a beautiful venue to create an unforgettable night for everyone.
Mrs. Cook, a professional marriage and family counselor, comes from a family with a deep agricultural tradition, where both she and her husband work in rice farming. They reside in Northern California with their three sons and one daughter.
After graduating from university, Mrs. Cook pursued further studies in International Relations at the University of California, Davis, and embarked on her global travels.
“I’ve taught English in Thailand and worked in various organizations in Africa,” she recalled, “My husband and I have also lived in Nepal.”
During her time in Nepal, she helped establish an organization that provided care for girls rescued from abuse, an experience that led her to find her calling. She later obtained a Master’s degree in Counseling and became a professional counselor.
In between managing their rice farming business and counseling work, the Cooks also personally educate their four children at home.
Expressing their love for their children through maintaining family traditions, these traditions are passed down through generations like the rice farming legacy.
One of these traditions is birthday celebrations, starting from breakfast in bed, the family gathers from the moment the birthday person wakes up to sing for them.
In addition to celebrating each birthday, the Cooks also mark certain milestone birthdays for their children that they deem significant.
“So, when our children turn 5, we have a tradition where only my husband and I take them out for a little surprise. I tell them how precious they are to us,” Mrs. Cook said, “For my daughter, I gave her a mini crown and some Christian books that talk about how she is God’s treasured possession and His deep love for her.”
Although the Cook children are not yet ten years old, the Cooks already have plans for when each child turns 10, where they will take them on a special trip. And when they reach their sweet 16, one of the parents will take the birthday child on an overseas adventure.
“I believe celebrating important milestones in life and honoring each life is very important, as it helps remind them of their own value and dignity, as well as God’s precious love for them,” Mrs. Cook expressed.
For Mrs. Cook, birthday celebrations hold special significance. Approaching her 40th birthday, she and her family decided to do something out of the ordinary to mark this significant milestone.
This family is no stranger to hosting themed parties – whether it’s a 1960s Mad Men-themed party or a Downton Abbey-style event, they have had their share of memorable gatherings.
Therefore, in planning her 40th birthday celebration, Mrs. Cook started discussing details with family and friends six months in advance.
Her idea of a Regency era ball received enthusiastic responses from everyone.
She then began planning, renting a historic room in town with spacious windows, sturdy beams, and elaborate chandeliers.
As for attire, Mrs. Cook’s mother is a seamstress, originally planning to tailor outfits for the family. However, upon finding reasonably priced ready-made clothing on Amazon, they opted to purchase the outfits instead.
After trying on six different evening gowns, Mrs. Cook ultimately chose a blue floor-length dress paired with white evening gloves.
As the celebration draws near, the Cook family is increasingly excited about the upcoming event.
“My children love their costumes,” Mrs. Cook shared, “My daughter’s outfit was also purchased on Amazon. She can’t resist trying it on every few days, and accessorizing with various necklaces.”
Realizing that many of the 80 guests may not be familiar with Regency-era dances, Mrs. Cook asked her sister, who is skilled in dancing, for help.
“My sister and another sister demonstrated the dance steps on stage,” Mrs. Cook recalled, “Then we divided into two lines to start practicing. With everyone’s collective effort, everyone quickly grasped the steps and guests thoroughly enjoyed dancing.”
The ball held on March 9 was a delightful feast, featuring a Regency-era styled photo area, a Jane Austen-themed trivia game, a meticulously designed poster to help guests find their names as if from an Austen novel, traditional Regency dances, Mexican-inspired cuisine, a string quartet playing music from that era, a tea bar, and a special segment for guests to share their love and appreciation for Mrs. Cook.
“This made me feel truly loved,” she expressed, “I was deeply moved by everyone’s affirmation and praise.”
The venue was decorated with long tables adorned with brass candlesticks and olive branch decorations.
Whether it was her children, friends, or family, every guest immersed themselves in Mrs. Cook’s birthday celebration. Initially not seeking attention, she unexpectedly garnered a lot of interest when she shared photos and videos from the ball on social media.
“I shared these not to gain followers, but simply to share my birthday celebration,” she stated, “But it seems many people are interested. I think there are many Jane Austen enthusiasts online who would also enjoy adding some special elements to their birthday celebrations.”
Mrs. Cook received unprecedented enthusiastic responses for her Regency-era ball themed birthday party and now encourages others to celebrate their life milestones in innovative ways.
“If you have a creative idea you want to realize, go ahead and do it bravely,” she said, “I believe you can create positive, pure, and beneficial fun and enjoy a wonderful time. Just unleash your creativity and enjoy to the fullest.”