September 2013 Moms

Over the Top 1st Birthday

I got an invitation in the mail this week for a friend's son's first birthday. It's not until August, but she's sent them out now so that we can 'set our calendars'. These things remind me of wedding invitations, they had calligraphy on the envelope, an enclosed RSVP card and envelope with cake option, and registry information.

I had to check the registry because my curiosity won out. There are several big ticket items on there including a toddler bed, new room d?cor, and a tablet. She's trying to get catering and people to dress up as superheroes to entertain guests. Are these huge parties becoming the new normal for a child's party?

Re: Over the Top 1st Birthday

  • Sheesh. What ever happened to a simple get together with cake and ice cream?
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  • I've never heard of a birthday registry. Holy tackfactory.

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  • A registry for first birthday party? That's just a little bit ridiculous. No, wait, it's a lot ridiculous.
  • wow. 

    My twins will have the standard for my family: a backyard party.

    for first birthdays, they each get their own mini-bear cake (https://www.wilton.com/idea/Teddy-Bear-Cake) and that's about it.  

     

    Oh, and no registry. and what 1 year old needs a tablet? 

    Eat your food people. You are pregnant, not made of glass. ~PrimRoseMama
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  • Ds1 was at a bounce house so the church kiddos could come

    Ds2 was cake and dinner with the guys from my husband unit while we were in Korea. They had more fun than ds2 lol

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  • I have heard it all. WTF?!  *throws hands up and walks out*

  • SIL has done "wish lists" via amazon.com for my nephew and they are actually very helpful but don't have outlandish items on them like you mentioned.

     

     

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  • I think 1st birthdays have gotten a little bigger maybe, as in lots of people, decorating the child won't even remember, lots of food, etc...which we even did for our 1st but the one you are describing sounds beyond over the top!
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  • WTF is a cake option?

    The birthday industry is ridiculous in this day and age.   We had a "celebrate the first year" BBQ....I did put up balloons on our deck, but it was not a birthday party...no cake, no registry or expected gifts, just a drop by and enjoy some food when you can.  We did do a cake for him with just us though.   This year I made him a cookie monster cake and had the grandparents over for dinner...DS still had a blast and I didn't have to worry about stupid crap like favors for 2 yr olds.


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  • imageJocelynB0911:

    I have heard it all. WTF?!  *throws hands up and walks out*

     Hahaha!  This exactly!  Our parties consisted of evites and a high chair set up in the backyard for cake smashing.   

    DS1 June 12, 2009
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  • kje120kje120 member

    Wow.  That is way over the top. And sending registry information in a 1 year old's birthday invitation is beyond tacky.

    DS's first birthday consisted of hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill and a homemade birthday cake. 

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  • kje120kje120 member
    imageanastasiacarmen:

    That sounds insane.  Children that age can get over stimulated easily.  My son had a low key cook out with cake and decorations for his first birthday.  I imagine his second will be about the same.   

    ETA: I would really love to get a small bounce house though.  Since his birthday is so close to my due date.  I want him to feel extra special at his party.  I probably won't though being as I still think 2 is too young to even know the party is for him lol.

    We bought DS a little jump castle as his big birthday present for his 2nd birthday.  He probably still didn't realize that little party was about him, but he loves his jump castle.  :) 

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  • All of our friends had 1st birthday parties that consisted of getting together in their home or somewhere simple like a park, for some food, cake, and play time for the kids. Nothing fancy. Close friends and family.

    We did have to go to one 1st birthday party, not a friend, more of an obligation, where they invited over 80 people, had a ton of food and drinks, and a huge bounce house. I thought that was ridiculous! Especially because they are some of the least classy people I know, and also don't have the kind of money to spend like that. But even they did not have calligraphy or a registry!!
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  • DS was invited to a 4th birthday party for a new kid at his preschool. The invitations had registry information for TWO stores. For that reason alone, DS didn't attend.

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  • What??! I can't decide if I would go just to see the "show" or if I would opt out because it's so over the top and outrageous.

    My child won't be getting any birthday parties like this. AND I'm not even that against throwing over the top get togethers. 1st Birthday registry and cake preference? Oh and what happened to a regrets only text or email?


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  • For my kids..... No! We still do fun stuff and make a big deal out of birthdays but not like that in any way. Usually the first few birthday parties are close family dinners.
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  • So what were the cake options?

     

    LOL Im hungry

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  • imageMegStark:

    What??! I can't decide if I would go just to see the "show" or if I would opt out because it's so over the top and outrageous.

    My child won't be getting any birthday parties like this. AND I'm not even that against throwing over the top get togethers. 1st Birthday registry and cake preference? Oh and what happened to a regrets only text or email?

    Well I know that this is much more than the parents can afford, she's tried selling me her old baby stuff, lives with his parents, just quit her job to go back to school, so I don't understand the reason for making this so big. She said on her Facebook there's about 100people invited.  

    The cake options are vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, and peanut butter chocolate. I'm curious to see how many people she hires to walk around, she wants all the Avengers, Batman, and X-Men.

  • I think reality TV and Pinterest has led to some of this. All the moronic ladies on the Real Housewives/Pretty Wicked Moms do over the top parties, not to mention all the MTV shows; and Pinterest shames everyone. Ridiculous!

    A kid's first b-day is more about the parents/grandparents making the memories than the kid, so anything over the top is a waste of money. 

    But you still have to go to this shindig and report back. :)

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  • That is way over the top IMO.  Especially the registry part, I thought those were only for weddings and baby showers!

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  • imagelaurelannie:
    Not in my circle of friends, but I did have fun with my daughter's first birthday, fun invites, big menu, awesome goodie bags and decorations, but no catering and no registry.

    This.
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  • mmdd20mmdd20 member

    Ugh, I am so sad that this whole birthday registry thing is taking off. The first we were invited to was three years ago and since then, we have been invited to at least 5 more parties with registry info included. I always refuse to buy off the registry. I usually get them an outfit and a book or small toy depending on the age.

    I am so tempted to buy that 5 ft tall stuffed Mickey Mouse I always see at Costco, just to see how parents react. I should do it one of these days.

    And DS's party, while large (we have HUGE families), was still nothing more than a back yard bbq with hot dogs and store bought cup cakes. And we all had a blast.


     

  • LCassLCass member

    imageMzCurnett8886:
    Are these huge parties becoming the new normal for a child's party?

    Unfortuately, the answer seems to be yes.  At least for first birthdays.  People go really big.  Don't worry, next year at this time this board will be full of posts about birthday party plans.  Booking a venue, massive guest list, the works.  A registry is a bit excessive, but wishlists aren't uncommon.  (Oh, and to the pp who wondered why a 1 year old would need a tablet, toddlers LOVE things like iPads and lots of parents use them to keep the kid occupied for travel.)

    We did a small party with immediate family and a few close friends over for a BBQ and cupckakes for Lily's first birthday.  Since the new baby will be about a month old, her second birthday will likely be even more low-key.  But there are people who can afford to go big and whose family and friends expect it.  *shrug*  Whatcha gonna do?

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