How to decide who to invite (1st bday)

[fightersince83]

Okay, we started putting together a guest list for our LO's 1st birthday, but because our friends had a jump on us in the baby making Dept, when we factor in all the kids we are at about 70 ppl which is nuts. We planned on doing a small backyard party and we can't do 70 ppl (that's not even everyone) but what do we do?
I really want her friends from our mommy/baby group to go. That's kind of the point right?! That she can have her own friends there. It's only a handful of kids but count the parents and now that's 13 people (5 kids plus the parents). Do I do a separate mini celebration with that group and then another one with our friends? But now that's 2 parties and really, how crazy am I gonna get with this stuff? It's insane how quickly the numbers add up (people wise and $$ wise).

[proceedwithcaution]

Do you have a park nearby you can rent a pavilion ? 2 parties is too much for me.

[kensie5226]

After we talked it through and started to get up to about 30 people, we decided to just have my parents over and go to dinner. She won't care or remember and I know I'll have plenty of birthdays in future she'll want me to plan.

[littleredfish]

Keeping it small. If we have moved it will be really small since we won't have any friends yet so just DH's parents, sibs and their SOs. If we're still here (which is my guess) I will drive to my mom's and have it there. It will be about the size of her baptism because likely most of the same people, so like 30 people max which I find huge (we had 8 people at DD1s 1st Bday) but since we're moving across the country I'm more inclined to invite more people who may never see her in person again, or only once every few years.

[schmella]

Oh we're having a big backyard blowout, BUT it's really more of an excuse for a party that we would probably have anyway. I know they won't remember a thing (we're actually paying a babysitter to wrangle them during the party- it's hard to be a good host when you're elbow deep in poopy diapers).
As far as the baby/mommy group is concerned, I personally would be inclined to just bring cupcakes to whatever meetup or event with the group that is closest to her birthday.

[colinsfebmommy]

We are just having the grandparents and my sister and her family and his brother and his wife. We do small for birthday #1. Works for us plus it was overwhelming for my son so I imagine it could be the same for her.

We are celebrating it 2 weeks early so hopefully the weather will be perfect to have outside. We will be going on vacation when her actually birthday will be.

[flyliceandcoffee]

if we weren't going home (aka having family meet K that haven't ever met him yet) we probably wouldn't even have a party at all. Aside from her first bday (where we went home and family met her) she hasn't had a party yet and she's 3. I would probably bring cupcakes or something to the meet up and keep it small for the family but that's just me.

[ldubhawksfan]

I just started our list too. My mommy and me group, including husbands could be as many as 21 people, plus our other friends and family. We plan to have it at a park though.

[rachaeleigh]

I'm just laughing reading your post because I obsess about the same thing. I have 3 sets of friends that have 5 kids!
I'm trying to balance that yes, the party is about her and her "friends" with the fact that we also had so much support with IF and her birth, that I'd like to invite our friends that were supportive and so excited about her (long awaited) birth.
So, I'm not answering your question at all but I don't know, maybe you do just go crazy and have a wild 1 year bash?

[proceedwithcaution]

I'm all aboard the go all out train for the first birthday. Our will be about 50 people but we haven't done a big one since (he's only 2.5). I think we will alternate years (big versus family only).

[littleowl913]

We're only inviting family and it will be in my parent's backyard. We're keeping it small because we had a big baptism celebration - 70 people and rented a hall. I say have one big party.

[mandie]

We kept it "small". Immediate family and friends with children who we see regularly. I think we are looking at 40 adults and 20 kids. LOfreakingL.

We are having it in our backyard, so pray to all your gods that sept 24 is a beautiful day.

[fightersince83]

Okay, I checked in with another mom in our group who has a LO about a week older than my LO. We're going to do a joint simple park event for the group with cupcakes/drinks the day after the family/friend party. A 3rd mom may join in which would make it even easier since one could all split the cost and set up. I think it'll work out 😊

ETA: clarification

[ldubhawksfan]

Sept 10, 2016 20:46:38 GMT -5 fightersince83 said:

Okay, I checked in with another mom in our group who has a LO about a week older than my LO. We're going to do a joint simple park event for the group with cupcakes/drinks the day after the family/friend party. A 3rd mom may join in which would make it even easier since one could all split the cost and set up. I think it'll work out 😊

ETA: clarification

That is actually so smart considering almost all of the kids in my play group will have Nov bdays. Haha glad you came up with a good solution!