What is/was your first birthday party format?

indianasunshine

Miller's party is Sunday starting at 4:00, so that should allow him 2 good naps if he cooperates!  So how did you plan out LO's big party?  My thoughts are:  food and socializing at 4, cake at 5, presents at 5:20-ish, and most folks gone by 6.  Does that sound about right?  He's usually good/shy in large groups, and we are expecting about 20 people.  I know I can't predict a melt down, but I think he will deal pretty well.  What have been your experiences???

daisydana

That sounds good. I was going to do the same - food, cake, then presents, but I changed my mind at the party. We did food, then opened presents... then had cake last. Just in case the cake thing was out of control. I wanted to be able to take her right from the high chair to the bath if necessary. That's just because I am a little neurotic though

JenniferTCU

Jace was really sick (we didn't know it at the time) so he was pretty miserable all day. I say just kind of go with the flow. You will know when it's time to switch events based on his temperment alone

vanverth

You could tell everyone that the party is from 4 to 6 so everyone will know that you intent to get them out of your house by 6pm.  That way they can enjoy happy baby the entire party instead of the last 30 minutes, before everyone gets the clue to get out, being unhappy Miller.

stever

I think your plan sounds good.

We had an early lunch starting around 11, cake was around 1 and everyone was out of here by 3 so M could take a late nap.

superaunt

party invite was 3-5 and everyone was gone by 530, thankfully (we were in a restaurant and would've had to pay for longer). there were about 50 people.

3- people arrived and mingled

330-415- pizza served and eaten (some guests coming in late)

415-445- gifts opened as quickly as possible (we were at a restaurant, Sabrina was in her high chair from pizza time till after cake!! so we had to act really fast- she didn't really open a thing to be honest)

445-530- cake and goodbyes

6- passed out in the car

fauxshelley

We started the party at 5:00 to allow for nap, just as you are doing.  Jack was sooo worn out after food and cake that he didn't get to open presents.  I could see I was fighting a losing battle so I just put him in bed and Jack opened presents the next day.  All invited guests got a nice thank you card and pic from Jackson. 

ateytelb

That's more or less what we did for Jason's 1st birthday, except it ended with the cake. We did the gifts after the party.

peeper72

This is just about what we did - sandwiched it between naps. In fact, on the invites I phrased it as "2 - nap time". We kept it really low-key. Cookout and cake at our house.