First birthday open house?

ifwisheswerefishes

Hey guys!

Woah, new look! Haven't been here in a while, I guess.

I am starting to make the plans for Marian's first birthday party (which is terrifying and unreal), and I was thinking, has an open house for a first birthday ever been done? I'm just wondering if this would be a better way to make sure that she doesn't get bored, that everyone gets a chance to see her, and that people don't feel confined by watching her "open" her gifts one by one by one. They can eat and chat and celebrate and leave at their leisure. 

Is this even remotely a logical idea? What would you think if you were invited to a first birthday open house instead of a sit-down party? 

INmommy871278

I think it's a great idea! I went to a first birthday party in May where we waited over an hour after eating to do gifts and cake because grandpa was running late due to work. I would let everyone know what time cake cutting is in case they want to watch and open gifts of the person leaving if they want to see her reaction.

Holly_1007

In theory its a good idea, but at a 1st birthday party I want to be there when they do the birthday cake, that is so much fun to watch a little ones reaction! I'm not sure how you would do that with an open house because essentially most of the guests will want to be there for the cake.  I like the idea of opening gifts leisurely as the guests either arrive or leave, and typically people will come and go as they can with their schedules, so I guess it doesn't really make sense (to me at least) to label it as an "open house"

ifwisheswerefishes

For the cake thing, I think we'd announce in the invite that cake will be cut at, say 2:3pm, for those who want to watch Bear with her smash cake, etc. 

hmp1

I agree with Holly that I think you will have a bottle neck of people being there for cake. We are having a 2 hour party, both of James' parties have been 2 hours, and will open gifts one on one throughout the party and not as a display at a certain time. 

Someone else is doing an open house party. Poppy maybe?

Anoe1113

I like the idea. How would you word it on the invitations?

jbBeans

I like it. I agree--announce a time for cake and expect it to be busier around that time.

AKB090609

My cousin is having one for her daughter in August. I think that depending on how any people you are inviting it might be the way to go. They will have 60+ people so its the only way they can see and talk to all of the guests. We will be having 15 people, 6 of whom are our neighbors, so a traditional party will work better.

klgrh6

We are having a super causal party but the party is from 2-5. I figure we will do cake around 3-3:30 and presents throughout the party probably two or three different times so it doesn't overwhelm DD. Maybe a few before cake, a few after cake, and then again before the party's over. Then it gives people who only want to be there for cake can head out early and not spend their whole sunday afternoon with us. I will also have outdoor activities so if guests don't want to hang out watching DD open gifts, they are welcome to entertain themselves with yard games.

ifwisheswerefishes

Anoe1113 said:

I like the idea. How would you word it on the invitations?

Something along the lines of, "come join us for an open house to celebrate Marian's first birthday! We will be cutting the cake at 3pm." etc. etc. 

Still working on exact wording

ifwisheswerefishes

The wording seems pretty obvious, at least to me, in that it would just be something along the lines of, "join us for an open house to celebrate Little Bear's first birthday! We'll cut the cake at 3pm; bring your camera to capture the moment!" 

Invites are still a WIP. 

stephdil17

I love the idea! I wish I thought of that.

heather3879

I agree that people like to see the cake, but hopefully some would keep that at the end/start of their visit. I definitely don't plan on doing a gift-opening display, I think K would get passed.

mrsbhk22

rachelandjon09 said:

For the cake thing, I think we'd announce in the invite that cake will be cut at, say 2:3pm, for those who want to watch Bear with her smash cake, etc. 

It's is what we have done for both DS and what we will do for DD. it's worked great.

mrsbhk22

This is exactly what we did for both our DS 1st birthdays. It was great. There wasn't a bottle neck for the cake smash any more than if it were a scheduled party. I felt we actually got to visit with people this way. We put something on the invite like "open house from 2-5. Cake smash at 430."

melody921

I just got an invite to a bday open house. The invite said just that. I think it could work, but as others said, you may hae a lot of people there during cake time.