the birthday party thread

deedee1017 · August 2014

Guise, i'm starting to stress a little and am feeling a bit anxious about it all. What if my party sucks? What if I'm all awkward and everyone is bored? Can we share ideas here?

What are you serving?

What are your plans for entertainment?

What are you doing for the kids?

Anyone else have any questions?

What are you worried about?

haaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllpppppppppppppppppppppp

TREDgirl · August 2014

YAY a party thread!

So far there are about 50 people on our invite list so we opted to rent a pavilion at the park/lake in town vs having it at home. That way I also figure we can have a set time frame and not have any folks lingering around when we just want to relax afterwards.

We will be having BBQ from a local restaurant. Probably just brisket and pulled pork sandwiches and a few sides. Birthday cake for dessert of course.

Entertainment-since there is a playground that is the entertainment. Nothing special besides eating lunch, hanging out and having cake. It's mostly family and close friends so I don't feel the pressure to provide any other entertainment.

We want to celebrate the babies and thank everyone for all they've done to help us out this past year.

deedee1017 · August 2014

TREDgirl said:

YAY a party thread!

So far there are about 50 people on our invite list so we opted to rent a pavilion at the park/lake in town vs having it at home. That way I also figure we can have a set time frame and not have any folks lingering around when we just want to relax afterwards.

We will be having BBQ from a local restaurant. Probably just brisket and pulled pork sandwiches and a few sides. Birthday cake for dessert of course.

Entertainment-since there is a playground that is the entertainment. Nothing special besides eating lunch, hanging out and having cake. It's mostly family and close friends so I don't feel the pressure to provide any other entertainment.

We want to celebrate the babies and thank everyone for all they've done to help us out this past year.

This is exactly how I want our party to be. I am just worried about it all.

Your party sounds great!

mancila60 · August 2014

Close family and friends which is still like 50 people! No entertainment as there is really only 1-5 kids coming so I will just make sure to give a kick ass take home goody bag for them. For the goody bags I got some theme coordinated items. A mustache light up ring, a mustache mood bracelet, some straws with a mustache on them, suckers in the shape of a mustache. And for everyone we are doing mustache cookies!

Food: we are grilling hamburgers and hot dogs and then we will have chips and dip. DS's smash cake and then cupcakes for everyone else and cookies to take home. Also thinking some veggies. Mostly just low key!

Our yard is pretty big so it will just be in the backyard. We have had several people offer to come over and help clean so we can focus on the party more.

ashleymarie512 · August 2014

We had about 25-30 people over for supper on a Friday night. We had a BBQ place provide pulled pork, smoked meats and baked beans. My mom made potato salad and we had chips and dip. Cake and ice cream for dessert.

For entertainment we just hung outside on the deck, in the house. We had some sidewalk chalk, bubbles and bubble blower things for the kids to play with...they also just ran around the yard.

Everyone had a good time and I was relieved, as I was worried about it being a dud too.

Good luck, have fun

deedee1017 · August 2014

ashleymarie512 said:

We had about 25-30 people over for supper on a Friday night. We had a BBQ place provide pulled pork, smoked meats and baked beans. My mom made potato salad and we had chips and dip. Cake and ice cream for dessert. For entertainment we just hung outside on the deck, in the house. We had some sidewalk chalk, bubbles and bubble blower things for the kids to play with...they also just ran around the yard. Everyone had a good time and I was relieved, as I was worried about it being a dud too. Good luck, have fun

it's nice to hear from someone who has already done it. I also wanted to get a bubble machine because i think the kids would love it. the chalk is a great idea too!

stephl3055 · August 2014

Super boring birthday party over here.

We will have about 15 people and we are renting out our neighborhood pool's meeting room. The youngest people besides LO are my 25 year old BILs, so there is no need for entertainment for kids.

I think we are doing 11:30-1:30. We will eat (thinking of picking up sandwiches at a deli), LO will open presents, we will eat cake (I'm making a cake and cake balls and LO gets a cupcake), visit, and then people will leave.

Lee81 · August 2014

I didn't even think of having entertainment for the kids. I just assumed they would entertain each other. Was that stupid of me?? I've never had a party with kids before. If everyone we are inviting comes, there will be 9 kids ages 2-9 (plus DD and a 4 month old but I don't expect them to do much playing with the other kids). We're just doing it at my parents' house. My three nieces all live there so there are tons of toys and a nice yard to run around in if the weather is nice. Should I plan on some kind of entertainment for the kids? Do people do that??

trackgirlparis · August 2014

We are having it at our house, inside which is worrying me a little because 33 will be invited. But mid October in Calgary can get cold so we have to be indoors.

I'm going to make the party start at 2 pm so I can just feed sweets and snacks. I'll be stating "join us for some sweets and snacks" on the invite. I don't want to have to provide a whole lunch lol. We are having a banana split bar instead of cake/cupcakes. Then various fruit trays/chips/dip etc. Georgia will have a cupcake to play with/eat, though.

Entertainment will be whatever toys I can get out and have available or have friends being. Besides DD, there will be 4 others under 1 and then 4 kids under 10, so I'm not too worried about entertaining them.

That's all I know right now. I'm a little behind in the party planning. But we are opting for low key versus big bash so I'm trying not to be too worried about it.

deedee1017 · August 2014

I guess we arent really having any entertainment for the kids, just things for them to play with. We bought a bigger baby pool and ball pit balls. They can play in there and I'll throw in some things. Plus the bubble machine. I think they'll have fun playing with each other.

@MrsLoraP I was thinking 12-4 or 1-4.

mancila60 · August 2014

Our party will start at 1. I did the time to work out with DS's nap schedule so that he would be in a good mood. And then when he goes down for his other nap people will leave. So 1-3ish maybe 4.

Coleslawder · August 2014

I'm excited about this thread!

We're doing a Moonrise Kingdom theme. Basically, I'm going with the color scheme for the movie, we're doing some scouting/camping themed decorations, and W is wearing a hat with a raccoon tail on it, if I can find one. There's been lots of Pinteresting happening.

DH told me I'm being too intense about the whole party thing, but I told him I'm just being "excited."

I also happen to be the kind of person that gets big ideas but has a hard time doing everything I want and I just end up ordering pizza. So, we'll see what ends up really happening.

deedee1017 · August 2014

Coleslawder said:

I'm excited about this thread!

We're doing a Moonrise Kingdom theme. Basically, I'm going with the color scheme for the movie, we're doing some scouting/camping themed decorations, and W is wearing a hat with a raccoon tail on it, if I can find one. There's been lots of Pinteresting happening.

DH told me I'm being too intense about the whole party thing, but I told him I'm just being "excited."

I also happen to be the kind of person that gets big ideas but has a hard time doing everything I want and I just end up ordering pizza. So, we'll see what ends up really happening.

LOL i know this feeling all too well! I am so so excited too!

Phalaenopsis · August 2014

I'm glad you started this thread! Dude, I"m sure your party is going to be spectacular with all the planning you've done! I wish I had started planning earlier like you guys did. I'm taking the easy way out and having a halloween-themed costume party (her b-day is on Oct 25th). I rented a private room at a restaurant, so they will provide the food. I'm going to make a dessert table/ cupcakes and craft up some decorations. There will be a just few littles present so I'm going to have them decorate mini pumpkins, nothing major.

I have a question for all you party peeps that are doing smash cakes. Cece will be wearing a tutu costume (the ladybug from pottery barn) and I don't want her to get cake all over it cause you can't really clean tutus. Or can you clean tutus? WWO13D? Would you change her into a halloween onsie? Or put a plastic cape over her (but me thinks that won't look as cute). I'll probably put down some stuff on the floor cause I don't want the venue to be mad at me.

Phalaenopsis · August 2014

Edit: Oops dbl post

catycate · August 2014

I am stressing the party. All of my friends have at least 1 kid and most of them have 2. So we are looking at minimum of 18 kids under the age of 4. Plus parents. DH wants to do it at our house and I'm just like "no" so we are still working on that. We are doing a tiki theme and doing snacks instead if a meal. That's all I got.

deedee1017 · August 2014

Phalaenopsis said:

I'm glad you started this thread! Dude, I"m sure your party is going to be spectacular with all the planning you've done! I wish I had started planning earlier like you guys did. I'm taking the easy way out and having a halloween-themed costume party (her b-day is on Oct 25th). I rented a private room at a restaurant, so they will provide the food. I'm going to make a dessert table/ cupcakes and craft up some decorations. There will be a just few littles present so I'm going to have them decorate mini pumpkins, nothing major.

I have a question for all you party peeps that are doing smash cakes. Cece will be wearing a tutu costume (the ladybug from pottery barn) and I don't want her to get cake all over it cause you can't really clean tutus. Or can you clean tutus? WWO13D? Would you change her into a halloween onsie? Or put a plastic cape over her (but me thinks that won't look as cute). I'll probably put down some stuff on the floor cause I don't want the venue to be mad at me.

can you get a cute cheap tutu as an outfit change for her cake? I think tutus can be washed. I've washed them before on the gentle cycle and hang to dry.

TREDgirl · August 2014

Phalaenopsis said:

I'm glad you started this thread! Dude, I"m sure your party is going to be spectacular with all the planning you've done! I wish I had started planning earlier like you guys did. I'm taking the easy way out and having a halloween-themed costume party (her b-day is on Oct 25th). I rented a private room at a restaurant, so they will provide the food. I'm going to make a dessert table/ cupcakes and craft up some decorations. There will be a just few littles present so I'm going to have them decorate mini pumpkins, nothing major.

I have a question for all you party peeps that are doing smash cakes. Cece will be wearing a tutu costume (the ladybug from pottery barn) and I don't want her to get cake all over it cause you can't really clean tutus. Or can you clean tutus? WWO13D? Would you change her into a halloween onsie? Or put a plastic cape over her (but me thinks that won't look as cute). I'll probably put down some stuff on the floor cause I don't want the venue to be mad at me.

I have no idea about cleaning tulle. But that costume is super cute. Maybe you can find or make a ladybug red onesie and have her wear that for the cake part?

tashad18 · August 2014

I've gotten so behind due to some personal/health issues that I have been dealing with. So now I am stressing about getting it all done for my Oct. 11th party. I am going to my parents this weekend to do a planning session since the party is down in their hometown.

I am expecting 15-20 kids plus adults. It is Monster themed. Not sure on entertainment just yet. I do know that we will have a Monster Photo Booth. We also plan to do a sweets center with cupcakes, candy, cotton candy, cookies, etc. Each kid can make a goodie box to take with them as they go.

LO will have his own personal cake.

muffyvonmuff · August 2014

I'm thinking 40-50 people but prob not all at the same time. Doing it at my house utilizing both outside and inside. I'm used to hosting parties so I'm only kinda stressed about decorations and making him a sweet cake.

For food I'll have a big anti pasta/cheese plate/ veggie station set up inside. A dessert corner with lots of sweet treats and the cake as a centerpiece. Outside I'll have a food table set up with a slider station pulled pork/sausage and peppers/meatballs, salads, and we will grill lots of skewers/ kabobs/ burgers/ dogs

I'll have a photo station set up for people to take fun pictures. And some kids activities: a decorate an airplane station with test flight strip, pin the propellar on the plane and maybe a scavenger hunt. I'm confused if I can give out prizes or if kids are so used to particapation trophies it's not socially acceptable for kids to "win" now. Not trying to have a crying 6 year old because he didn't win a scavenger hunt.

For favors I'm ordering little cardboard suitcases for a baggage claim and filling them with some healthy treats and oriental trading games. For the adults I'm making my own limoncello and bottling it.

I'll have a very well stocked bar and probably a keg in the kegerator. I'm figuring the family will only stay a few hours but I'm sure my friends will be partying and playing corn hole with us all night after DS goes to bed.

bkeane619 · August 2014

We are doing Elmo theme because I am not crafty. We invited 50 but I think we might get 30 to actually show. We are using outside and inside. If it rains I will probably have to rent a tent. We are going to cater it. Probably 6ft hero, pasta, chicken parm or something similar. Cake is from a bakery. No entertainment except toys that are already outside. I'm pretty basic over here.

megs1409 · August 2014

Just family and close friends will be invited, which is about 30 people including kids. We are doing the nautical theme and it will be at our house. We'll have a few decorations and plenty of balloons. The kids invited are all either too old or too young for favors or entertainment, so nothing to stress over there. We are having the party catered by our favorite Italian deli and will have cupcakes and cookies for dessert. Nothing fancy and pretty low key (that being said, I did order coordinating invitations, thank yous, decorations).

layali · August 2014

Um wow. I feel like such an underachiever. I wasn't even planning on doing a birthday party until DH insisted.

So... we're inviting family and a couple of close friends (10-15 people max). Swimming, bbq, cupcakes.

That's it.

Phalaenopsis · August 2014

TREDgirl said:

Phalaenopsis said:

I'm glad you started this thread! Dude, I"m sure your party is going to be spectacular with all the planning you've done! I wish I had started planning earlier like you guys did. I'm taking the easy way out and having a halloween-themed costume party (her b-day is on Oct 25th). I rented a private room at a restaurant, so they will provide the food. I'm going to make a dessert table/ cupcakes and craft up some decorations. There will be a just few littles present so I'm going to have them decorate mini pumpkins, nothing major.

I have a question for all you party peeps that are doing smash cakes. Cece will be wearing a tutu costume (the ladybug from pottery barn) and I don't want her to get cake all over it cause you can't really clean tutus. Or can you clean tutus? WWO13D? Would you change her into a halloween onsie? Or put a plastic cape over her (but me thinks that won't look as cute). I'll probably put down some stuff on the floor cause I don't want the venue to be mad at me.

I have no idea about cleaning tulle. But that costume is super cute. Maybe you can find or make a ladybug red onesie and have her wear that for the cake part?

Yeah, I may end up just putting a onesie on her. But I don't want her thinking outfit changes at parties are the norm though, haha.

finnybooboo · August 2014

We're inviting close friends and family which is around 50-60 on the invite list. Not all will come, so I'm expecting probably between 40-50. It's so many, but I just don't know where we'd cut out, especially for the first birthday. I hope that in the next few years as she gets more friends her age I will start cutting and hopefully have a party that's more focused around her and her friends vs inviting everyone under the sun.

We're doing a girl anchor theme w/ pinks and navy blues, chevrons/flags, etc. I started doing some invitation designs today. I'm such a design dork!

We're doing the party from 2-4 at a local sports complex because they have a party room. I was going to do a pavilion, but here in MD it can get pretty chilly by the end of October. They had different packages that could include bouncy house things and whatnot, but we decided against it this year. Since we're doing 2-4 we're just going to do some small finger foods like veggie tray/fruit/cheese/crackers/maybe some cocktail meatballs? and of course cake. I was trying to avoid doing a whole meal.

coronitaextra · August 2014

deedee1017 said:
I guess we arent really having any entertainment for the kids, just things for them to play with. We bought a bigger baby pool and ball pit balls. They can play in there and I'll throw in some things. Plus the bubble machine. I think they'll have fun playing with each other.

@MrsLoraP I was thinking 12-4 or 1-4.

We're having a ball pit pool too :-)

mancila60 · August 2014

@tyrannosaurusbeck‌ just reminded me of our book and chalkboards! We got DS the Dr Seuss birthday book (limited edition) where everyone can sign. Also we are doing a chalkboard info sign. With different info on DS like number of teeth, favorite foods, favorite toy, height & weight etc. H actually made the frame for the chalkboard so we are pretty excited about it.

SHAWNACPA · August 2014

I love the thread, but it just reminds me how much I need to do! I haven't planned anything except for deciding the day!

deedee1017 · August 2014

@azieber‌ I love the idea of using the pumpkins to hold the balloons! Very cute!

ashleymarie512 · August 2014

Regarding those that mentioned a time frame...I only put a start time of 6pm, so that way I didn't feel like I had to entertain people for a certain amount of time (i.e. 6-9pm). It was mostly family with some close friends so I told anyone they could feel free to hang around til whenever.

PharmDMom · August 2014

For DD's first bday, I had a lunch at my house with cake for about 30 people. For Lincoln, let's just say I'm going a *wee* bit over the top. For all he/we survived this past year, I'm doing something more elaborate. I want a big celebration of how far he's come! I rented our township hall and invited about 80 people. The theme is nautical! To reduce costs a bit, the party is 6:30-8:30pm open house style so I'm not serving a big meal. So for food, we will have appetizers and a huge, delicious cake from an awesome bakery in town (see idea photo below). We are doing a candy buffet (lifesavers, gummy worms, twizzler ropes etc to go with the nautical theme) for favors and having a craft table for all the kids where they can make a fish out of foam cut out stuff. There is also a playground outside if the weather is nice. I want to put together a slide show of the year, but I doubt I will have time for it. I know it's a controversial thing etiquette wise, but I asked for no gifts on our invites. I got a life preserver, big fish nets, and some other cute decor things. I got a cute mat to put under L's high chair that says "birthday sailor" with whales and anchors on it. I know I'm nuts but I am really, really excited about it!

Edited for spelling

ashleymarie512 · August 2014

ElleStaxx said:

ashleymarie512 said:
Regarding those that mentioned a time frame...I only put a start time of 6pm, so that way I didn't feel like I had to entertain people for a certain amount of time (i.e. 6-9pm). It was mostly family with some close friends so I told anyone they could feel free to hang around til whenever.
You are starting at 6pm? My kid would be a cranky mess and almost ready for bed.

We DID start at 6pm. Her party was three weeks ago. Had to change from Saturday lunch to Friday supper due to DHs work schedule, didn't have much choice if we wanted DH there.

She got a little crabby when she was ready to eat, but otherwise was awesome and had a lot of fun playing. She didn't get to bed until 9ish, but was a rock star all night long!

bionicb · August 2014

This is exhausting.

Can I wear yoga pants to the party?

deedee1017 · August 2014

Yeah, I'm going to do a variety of food too. Cooking is my least favorite part of it.

ashleymarie512 · August 2014

That's why I ordered food

sweettwilight16 · August 2014

Phalaenopsis said:

I'm glad you started this thread! Dude, I"m sure your party is going to be spectacular with all the planning you've done! I wish I had started planning earlier like you guys did. I'm taking the easy way out and having a halloween-themed costume party (her b-day is on Oct 25th). I rented a private room at a restaurant, so they will provide the food. I'm going to make a dessert table/ cupcakes and craft up some decorations. There will be a just few littles present so I'm going to have them decorate mini pumpkins, nothing major.

I have a question for all you party peeps that are doing smash cakes. Cece will be wearing a tutu costume (the ladybug from pottery barn) and I don't want her to get cake all over it cause you can't really clean tutus. Or can you clean tutus? WWO13D? Would you change her into a halloween onsie? Or put a plastic cape over her (but me thinks that won't look as cute). I'll probably put down some stuff on the floor cause I don't want the venue to be mad at me.

I was wondering about cleaning tutus as well, but I also wanted to point out that we both have babies named Cece and they'll both be in tutus! Love

sweettwilight16 · August 2014

This thread is stressing me out. I am trying to plan on a budget, so we aren't doing a huge meal & we are having it our house (inside & outside), from 2-4. The theme is Alice in Wonderland tea party, so there will be different iced teas, and tea sandwiches (they will not be soggy and there will be plenty for everyone!), and different snack foods. I'm inviting 50, but hoping that about 30 come.

For kids, there will be about 6 or 7 invited, but they range from newborn (one isn't even here yet!) to 8. I plan on doing goodie bags, but maybe not any activities... not sure. I am going to wait and see how many actually RSVP.

I'm going to make her smash cake at a different time so we can take our time and get photos- I might do that on her actual birthday- and then I'm doing cupcakes for the party. I am hoping to have enough time to make 3 different kinds, but I'm not sure what kinds yet...

I have some decorations- paper straws, paper lanterns, a tea set for the centerpiece, I'm going to do something with pictures (most likely a banner). There are SO many things I want to make, but we are also finishing up a little house project that I'm scrambling to get done in time, so it's tough. I'll be very impressed if I can pull it all off, lol.

Question for those doing photo booths- are you having people take their own pictures? I'm not going to pay for a photographer or anything, but I could easily make some Alice-themed props...

ajjf1026 · August 2014

We are doing a baseball theme for Joey's birthday party. We are having it on October 19th (a week earlier than his actual birthday). It'll be held at the local fairgrounds in one of their merchant barns. Start time will either be 1p or 2p. I haven't decided yet, but I need to because I'm ordering the invites next week.

We are having a bounce house, a baseball piñata, baseball cake pops, a baseball diamond cake, big league bubble gum chew (per @tmccord21‌'s request

), I'm doing a nacho bar (nachos, cheese, salsa, toppings), hot dogs, peanuts, etc. It will be like you're at the ballpark for a baseball game. I'm also going to have hot apple cider, pumpkins painted like baseballs, homemade pumpkin seeds (in place of sunflower seeds), etc. I'm still in the planning process.

DH, Joey, & I will all have on a "jersey" that says JOEY on the back where the last name goes and the number "1" in the number spot.

I'm pretty excited!!

And this will be Joey's cake that he eats all to himself. It'll be smaller though.

TREDgirl · August 2014

So excited! I ordered our invites today and also found some cool 17" round balloons on sale which I ordered as well. 10 total. But I may use some for our photos in September.

Going to the craft stores this weekend to pick up felt to make the banners and a happy birthday sign.

deedee1017 · August 2014

@sweettwilight16‌ it sounds like you have great ideas and a good handle on what you are going to do. Do you have a tween/teen aged family member? If so, have them man the photo both station and take pictures with your camera.

taylormarie923 · August 2014

Trying to keep it simple. DH and I made an agreement we wouldn't spend more than $50 total. I have $30 leftover for food. Yikes.

We are only inviting 6 families. It will be at a quiet park under a gazebo next to the playground. Kids can play on that, there is a well stocked fishing pond too (where DH will probably be), and I will be giving out small goodie bags. Shit, factor those supplies into the $30...

Food will be picnic fare, sandwiches, fruit, a teddy graham snack mix, and those acorn Hershey kisses. I'll be making cupcakes for the guests and a small smash cake for DS.

I made a fabric pennant banner and an appliquéd onesie for DS to wear. I have yards of tan fabric that I will use to cover the food table and some scraps of gingham print to lay under the serving dishes. I made a pennant banner and an applique onesie for DS to wear.

AW the banner:

Want a personalized experience?

the birthday party thread

Re: the birthday party thread

Choose Another Board

Search Boards