So lets talk smash cake...Is anyone doing a special pinterest-esque photoshoot with a smash cake or just doing it at the party in their high chair? There are gobs of adorable smash cake photo shoots which I would love to do...but then i'm like- well do you do it at the party first so that is legit the first cake- or the photoshoot for big photo ready reactions? Does JC Penny photo allow food to be involved?? ha
Funny, @kmurdock925! I had the same thoughts. I think for her party, I'm just going to get her a cupcake. And a cake or cupcakes for everyone else. I really do want to do a first birthday shoot and figured I'd get the "smash cake" for that event. I'm thinking of just decorating a space in our yard and using some of her bday party decor. I plan on asking a girlfriend of mine take the pics. She works CSI for our sheriffs department so she's got photography skills and a nice camera, lol.
Thank you!! My husband actually helped a lot! The knots at the top are similar (or the same) to tying a tie. I made it for about $6 vs.the $30 I saw on etsy.
TiffRox81 - HA! CSI crime scene photographer to baby smash cake photographer! hahaha
The Groupon deals for the JC Penny photos are pretty darn reasonable (If you're able to narrow it down and just choose 3 pics...that is the hard part...) I may have to call them to see if they allow cake, ha. We have a pretty nice camera so I may do the backyard set up too though, that is a good idea. Inlaws have 17 acres so we could do a cute nature set up.
I think at her party I'm going to get her one of the big cupcakes or a super small cake-cake. Depends on pricing. I don't need a very big cake in general so I'll see what the best deal is.
For M's birthday we are doing pies. So she'll have a mini blueberry pie instead of a smash cake. I'll be doing a smash cake photo session myself. I did it for a friend a few years ago and they turned out great! I'd rather spend that $$ on family pictures and just request a couple of her by herself.
My friend sent me some of the pictures I did for her daughters cake smash if anyone is feeling up for the DIY. I took all these with my iPhone. The backdrop is just the wall (in what is now M's room) and I added the burlap bunting. Super simple.
I cannot believe you used your iPhone! That gives me hope, haha!! They turned out super awesome! I ordered something similar for some of our decor. And I have a cakestand!!
I was planning on a red, white and blue birthday party for DD2's July 1st party. Someone just posted all these items in a free site I belong to. I'm picking them up on Monday! I'm so excited! We are remodeling our new house the month of June and moving into it June 25th so I'll have no time to make my own decorations. Now all I need to buy are favors, food and print out some pictures of DD2!
Not sure who else was considering doing a DIY photo booth/selfie station but I got everything for ours, at the The Dollar Store, for $14! Backdrop, decorations for on top of the back drop, and props. I saw the idea of using wrapping paper on a wall, so I'll be doing the brown paper with red, white, and blue poms across it.
How many are requesting that guests do not bring presents? S has SO much stuff and it really seems like DH and I never get the fun of getting her new toys because someone is always buying them. We've got a note on the invite "Your presence is the only present S requests" ... we'll see how many people know how to listen.
@HoneyBear40 I feel the same except with clothes. My friend did this and many people didn't bring anything. A few people brought gift cards, but a very few did end up bringing things. So i think it's a great idea to help reduce the amount! We will tell our guests this in hopes that we get to buy some things.
We're doing in leu of gifts as well. Our invite reads something to the effect of " M has already shown such an interest in animals. Would you please consider bringing a dog or cat related item so that we may make a donation to "_________" in her name." The rescue we picked is where we adopted our dog from. @HoneyBear40
@LDSJM123 That's awesome! I hope you get a great response for that.
I've got quite a Pinterest board going for a Minnie Mouse Themed 1st Birthday! Showed DH some of the ideas and he's on board so now I can hardly focus at work because I want to go shopping and get these ideas into action! Pink & Polka Dots here we come!
I wish I would have thought to say something like you ladies. She truly needs nothing in the way of clothes and even toys. I joked with one friend she can get her a gift card to a grocery store if she wants. She loves food! Haha!
Boy getting rsvp's back is like pulling teeth!!! I must say, I'm surprised by the friends with kids. I'd think they'd know how nice it is to get rsvp's. Apparently not!
@TiffRox81 RSVPs are my biggest stressor and I know they will be for S's birthday too. When DH & I got married the RSVP was a pre-stamped postcard for guests to rip off and send in and 1/2 his family couldn't seem to do that. That was my bridezilla moment - every time his mom would tell me she was sure someone would be there or that they had told her they would be I'd tell her it would sure be nice if they'd send in their f***ing rsvp and tell us! It's probably a good thing we're only doing 1 birthday party with family...
I did "regrets only" on the invite. No stress. I'll just assume everyone is coming and have a bunch of food that worse case, I'll send home with people. Then, I'll be annoyed after the fact at the people that don't show up
@FTM53 I am kind of wishing I would have sent the invite I sent and followed up with an Evite or FB invite, so I could have done the same. @HoneyBear40 Yup, flashbacks to the wedding rsvp crap. I agree - how hard is it to respond when it's been stamped and prepared for you?!?
I just took this for our Facebook invite! I'm hoping with an easy Facebook invite people will quickly RSVP. I wrote:
A little cake, a lot of fun! __ is turning ONE! You are invited to her red, white and blue birthday party at our new house. ___ will BBQ and if the weather is hot, bring your swimsuit!
My bff is a graphic designer and she designed these for me. I cropped off the bottom with our names and address. I used evite.com so I can track who opens it, RSVPs and what not. I'm getting excited!
It helps to be close with the marketing team at work. Saw this on Pinterest & BOOM Minnie Mouse themed party and marketing turned the pin into an invite! How early is everyone sending their invites out? Sadly with how our summer schedule is we have to have her party almost 2 weeks after her big day! But with that said I'm starting now before summer gets away from us.
@holly142 - love that!! I've been delaying sending the invites because the ones I chose have a spot for a pic and I want a pic of her as close to 1 as reasonably possible. I can hear the clock ticking, haha
I sent ours out today for a July 29th party. We have two friends who are also having baby showers that month and a few others who have birthdays so I wanted to make sure we gave everyone notice.
I need ideas for appetizers. We're just doing appetizers and cake at the park. So I'm at a loss for what can be transported and doesn't necessarily need to be cold.
As for appetizers I'd keep them simple since you have to transport. Fruit tray/kebobs/salad, cheese and crackers, veggie tray, fruit or veggie pizza, hummus instead of ranch on the veggie platter, pasta salad made with Italian dressing, or an olive/pickle latter. @babycakesday
@LDSJM123 - I got the same topper at HL a few months ago!!
@babycakesday - a lot of parks will have those little charcoal grills all around too...you could throw aluminum containers on there to keep anything warm that may need to be warm. Can't go wrong with tons of fresh fruit in July. Chips & salsa..could do a corn salsa too.
I've been MIA on this board since & a little more active on the July 2017 board as I am again expecting in July but we've got everything set for DS 1st birthday! We're doing a superhero theme with this cake but with a 1, not a 3. Cupcakes, and the super man smash cake. We're expecting 41 kids (all family) and I think just as many adults. I'm freaking out a little but my husbands family is that big. Hopefully it's just this big for this birthday
So I am majorly kicking myself right now - we did a yard sale yesterday and my moms friend was selling a vintage wooden high chair. I told her what it was worth and offered to sell it on the Facebook yard sale site in my neighborhood. Needless to say it was sold instantly. I should have kept it for L's birthday then sold it!! What was I thinking?!? Ugh! It's gone now...so too late.
Ah man! What a bummer! M's highchair is new, but its wood and has that vintage look. I've been dreaming of using it for her party since we got it in the winter. Lol!
I found the cake topper and this cute skirt for her birthday party. Only paidnlike $15 for both and a drink! Thanks ladies for the suggestion. I was about to pay $30 for the cake topper and $30 for the tutu on etsy. I never would have thought to check Hobby Lobby.
Re: 1st bday! Because someone had to...
The Groupon deals for the JC Penny photos are pretty darn reasonable (If you're able to narrow it down and just choose 3 pics...that is the hard part...) I may have to call them to see if they allow cake, ha. We have a pretty nice camera so I may do the backyard set up too though, that is a good idea. Inlaws have 17 acres so we could do a cute nature set up.
I think at her party I'm going to get her one of the big cupcakes or a super small cake-cake. Depends on pricing. I don't need a very big cake in general so I'll see what the best deal is.
I've got quite a Pinterest board going for a Minnie Mouse Themed 1st Birthday! Showed DH some of the ideas and he's on board so now I can hardly focus at work because I want to go shopping and get these ideas into action! Pink & Polka Dots here we come!
Boy getting rsvp's back is like pulling teeth!!! I must say, I'm surprised by the friends with kids. I'd think they'd know how nice it is to get rsvp's. Apparently not!
@HoneyBear40 Yup, flashbacks to the wedding rsvp crap. I agree - how hard is it to respond when it's been stamped and prepared for you?!?
I just took this for our Facebook invite! I'm hoping with an easy Facebook invite people will quickly RSVP. I wrote:
A little cake, a lot of fun! __ is turning ONE! You are invited to her red, white and blue birthday party at our new house. ___ will BBQ and if the weather is hot, bring your swimsuit!
How early is everyone sending their invites out? Sadly with how our summer schedule is we have to have her party almost 2 weeks after her big day! But with that said I'm starting now before summer gets away from us.
I need ideas for appetizers. We're just doing appetizers and cake at the park. So I'm at a loss for what can be transported and doesn't necessarily need to be cold.
@babycakesday - a lot of parks will have those little charcoal grills all around too...you could throw aluminum containers on there to keep anything warm that may need to be warm. Can't go wrong with tons of fresh fruit in July. Chips & salsa..could do a corn salsa too.
I found the cake topper and this cute skirt for her birthday party. Only paidnlike $15 for both and a drink! Thanks ladies for the suggestion. I was about to pay $30 for the cake topper and $30 for the tutu on etsy. I never would have thought to check Hobby Lobby.