Inside Mariah Carey's Romantic Birthday Dinner

Continuing their tradition of taking lavish vacations together, Nick Cannon whisked his wife of almost one year, Mariah Carey, away to Barbados via private jet last Wednesday to celebrate her 39th.

On the day of her birthday, Cannon pulled off a private, 11-person dinner party at Barbados' ritzy Wispers on the Bay restaurant Friday night, filling the restaurant with hundreds of pink and lavender-hued balloons. The affectionate couple and their friends shared laughs and bottles of Dom Perignon, along with Carey's favorite dessert – yellow cake with chocolate frosting flown in from New York – while a live band played.

For her main course, the birthday girl noshed on salmon with a cranberry and vodka white wine butter sauce, sautéed asparagus, and lemon scented herbal rice, while other guests enjoyed lamb and angus beef with horseradish cream and tomato duxelle.

"Because she's been working extremely hard for the past few months recording new music for the album, it was important to Nick that the trip be a very relaxing one, where Mariah and her friends could truly enjoy themselves," says a source, noting Cannon wanted to plan "the most romantic and beautiful vacation possible" to celebrate Carey's 39th "anniversary."

Following the nearly four-hour fete, "We watched them stroll down to the beach for a romantic walk," says a waiter from the restaurant. "They were very playful and affectionate the entire time ... and very down to earth and extremely gracious to all of the staff."

The day before the dinner, the couple, who rented a home on the island during their stay, were spotted (and photographed) affectionately frolicking on the beach in Barbados.

They left for Miami Saturday morning where Nick hosted a party in Coconut Grove, Florida.