Let's Talk About First Birthdays

MJM3108

Alright ladies, somehow, my little guy is already almost 10 months old, and I am feeling like I should be starting (or should have already started) to plan his first birthday party.

So, for those of you who's littles have already turned 1- when did you start planning? How big a party did you throw? Family only? Baby friends? Party City or Pinterest? Theme or no theme?

And for those of you with littles who are also rapidly approaching 1- have you started planning? Are you doing a family only party? Inviting baby friends? Theme? Party City or Pinterest? 

TIA for any helpful advice!! 

ProfessorPedals825

How is it even possible that we're already discussing this!  These kids are growing way too fast!

I did talk about this over Thanksgiving with my family.  I think we'll do a family birthday there with all the cousins, aunts, and uncles.  Then we'll do a friends birthday party where we live that will be just a few of my friends with babies.  Friends party won't be themed, but will probably be thrown at the children's museum with pizza for the adults.  I think Phoebe may be the oldest baby there.  For the family party, we're thinking about a Strawberry Shortcake theme because that's what my first birthday was.  I thought that'd be fun and I hear Strawberry Shortcake is making a come-back anyway.

4legsRbest

I am in the midst of planning for a 12/29 bday party - ACK!! Family only in my case (and my BFF). I actually don't like going to kids birthday parties so I didn't want to force it on people (not family) who didn't really want to come. You would be an ass (IMO) to turn down an invite to a 1 year old bday party and with it being so close to the holidays I felt guilty for asking people to commit.

Anyway, I picked out his invties first - in early Nov. that gave me the idea for the train theme. It is all internet bought, except the invites. My sister's BFF owns a paper store and she designed them for me. I am down to the outfit for his pics and the cake. I have a birthday banner, themed decorations, party favors for the kids (4 of them) cocktail napkins, personalized cups for a keepsake and will do a lunch and cake.

GL, it goes by fast!!

MickeyM04

We only had about 30 people (friends and family) but I sort of went all out.  Cake was a Pinterest inspired tiered cake.  We ordered lunch from an Italian Beef/Pasta place that's popular in our area.  The decorations were a combination of Pinterest/Etsy and Party City.  We got a couple of custom banners from Etsy, and some centerpiece flair from Etsy as well.  The plates, napkins, utensils, crepe paper, balloons, tablecloths all came from Party City.

It was a giraffe themed party with teal and orange as the colors (teal and orange plates, teal and orange balloons and banners, etc.).  The giraffe was kind of an accent.  We ordered an inflatable giraffe pool and filled it with balls to make a ball pit (and then we used the pool all summer).  The favors were cookies shaped like the number 1 but iced to look like giraffes.  The woman who did our cake did the cookies as well.

I am happy to share pics but I don't know how to do it here.  

@4legsRbest - glad to hear you finally got the planning under way!  Can't wait to send him his gift soon!!

FmrAFBrat

We do just close family and friends. I make a variety of easy to eat food and snacks, and have the cake made. I do evite invitations. I really don't understand why people need to invite 50 people to a first Birthday. For DS1 since it was October I did a really cute pumpkin patch themed party. It wasn't too expensive because everything was at places like Party City and the Dollar Tree.

For DS2 it will be a little tougher. Since I had him Derby weekend (& his poor birthday may fall on Derby day in the future) we're going to do a horse themed 1st Birthday. I'm hoping this one will be easy...we will see. I may try to do a BBQ if the weather is decent.

CnAnA

Well since I named my kid Alice, the party kinda planned itself. but real actual plans started in mid-july. For a party on 9/28. I custom ordered invites (a friend made them for me) and I bought decorations over the months so it didn't all hit my credit card at once. We had probably 35 people including kids. (I have a big family!)

adoxyinherear

I can't even believe how big he's getting!

We did a family party, mostly, and when some of them couldn't make it I invited friends from my mom's group/child birthing class and their littles. It was about thirty people, which was a lot, but we had fun and I had help. 

I did some Pinterest-y stuff - made bunting, hung photos, had GRAND DREAMS of cupcakes that didn't turn out well at all - and in retrospect it was fun but I probably stressed too much. The bunting is hanging in DD's room now, but the rest of it, really, didn't matter. Everyone is just there for your cute kid

minicheezburg

I need to book mark this post, the first 6 months flew. I am sure the next will be here in a blink.

minicheezburg

4legsRbest said:

I am in the midst of planning for a 12/29 bday party - ACK!! Family only in my case (and my BFF). I actually don't like going to kids birthday parties so I didn't want to force it on people (not family) who didn't really want to come. You would be an ass (IMO) to turn down an invite to a 1 year old bday party and with it being so close to the holidays I felt guilty for asking people to commit.

Anyway, I picked out his invties first - in early Nov. that gave me the idea for the train theme. It is all internet bought, except the invites. My sister's BFF owns a paper store and she designed them for me. I am down to the outfit for his pics and the cake. I have a birthday banner, themed decorations, party favors for the kids (4 of them) cocktail napkins, personalized cups for a keepsake and will do a lunch and cake.

GL, it goes by fast!!

How is this even possible! Already almost 1!

MJM3108

I've totally got to decide on a theme and get to planning. With Christmas coming, I'll lose half the month this month! Thanks for your input, ladies, it really helped. Bottom line, I need to be realistic and remember that people aren't there to see my decorations, they're coming to see Ben! Thanks for the reality check, @RusalkaSings!

ETA- autocorrect decided I was inviting orioles to Ben's party, not people

NBBride05

Since DD was born on March 16th and we called her Lucky Charm, I am thinking a St. Patty's day themed party. Since her birthday is on a Sunday, I am now trying to decide if I want to do it on Saturday or Sunday.

Shaungela

im way to busy right now to start planning her bday.  I dont eve know what i want to do yet.  Im not really worried about it at this point.