First Birthday themes/ parties

[skinandbones]

Have we talked about this?

What are your plans for your LO's first birthday?

Any special plans?  What's your theme?

[skinandbones]

Our friends have all kinda evaporated since having kids (that's a thread for another day). So we feel weird having a big party. We aren't really sure who we would invite.

Since DH and I grow up in a similar area, my parents have agreed to let us have Littlest Bone's birthday party at their house so we can invite DH's family. I'll be interested to see if BIL shows up. He's expressed no interest in meeting him (couldn't be bothered to drive 40 minutes during Thanksgiving when we spent the whole day at DH's grandmother's house) and has only met Little Bones once.

I'm thinking about a balloon theme. Like lots of balloons but that is as far as I've gotten.

[packmomma]

I have no idea for a theme or even where it will be held. We thought our house but you guys know the disaster that is my house. So maybe the pool? I don't know if it will be too hot though. I will be following for ideas and such.

[carabassa]

No real plans yet other than picking the date. We'll be having the party at our house (which we're still unpacking/getting moved into) so I just hope to have it ready in time. Just local family adds up to 35 people, so it'll just be family and a couple friends with babies.

Some form of BBQ I'm sure. I'll make a banana cake with coconut icing (dairy free). Will print a photo of her from each month and string along the wall.

Will be following for ideas!

[ampaints]

Invitations were mailed yesterday. A lot of them. We invited all our family, I don't expect them all to come, but especially my family in south Georgia that hasn't met M yet I wanted to invite.

Our theme is dragons love tacos. We're doing it at 3 so it's not a full meal time. Taco bar, salsa bar, 7 layer dip, fruit and veggie tray, and cake. I'm making pretty much all the decorations myself because I enjoy crafting and I'm also broke!

We're having it at my dad's house because it's more open and only 10 minutes from our house.

I'm super excited. We've made almost all of the plans, I just need to pick out a cake, decide between serving sangria or margaritas, and finish making the decorations.

[skinandbones]

Oh! I like the idea of a taco bar! ampaints

[ampaints]

skinandbones honestly the first birthday is really about the parents surviving the year, right? So I'm going to have food that I love!

[shellyr]

Following for ideas. I'm definitely not a Pinterest mom and I've been too overwhelmed by life lately to plan anything. Feeling guilty over here...

Your party sounds awesome, ampaints !

[redandblue]

I was just asked this question the other day, and it stumped me! Lol! I was also already invited to my friends DD's first birthday (who was born one week before M) about 3-4 weeks ago and felt inadequate! (joking) . Very well organized ampaints! Sounds like super fun!! I'm thinking similar to carabassa and having M's monthly pictures on a banner (I also have each bow tie and monthly number to add). So I was thinking maybe like a little gentleman type theme. Bow ties/suspenders/ maybe mustaches. Not sure. Unfortunately no balloons like skinandbones (super cute idea!) because M is terrified of balloons I do need to get on some planning of some sort. But it will most likely just be family /closest friends. At our house. BBQ. (we just had a huge BBQ for the adoption finalization so don't want to bombard people.

[ampaints]

redandblue I love that theme idea! Mustaches are so big right now you could easily find decorations and ideas I bet!

shellyr I say off the idea of a party is overwhelming then just do something with family near by. Don't stress over it. I think the main reason I'm planning so much is I can't do projects like this when I'm in school. So I'm going to do it all now before August gets here!

[thewop]

Hmm...I put a lot of thought and work into DD's first birthday party, and I felt like no one noticed or appreciated it, so I think we're going to keep it simple with B. I'm currently thinking a little fiesta with fajita bar and cake. And...that's it. Maybe a few balloons here or there.

[joi922]

redandblue, do you have Oriental Trading Company in Canada? They sent a magazine full of 1st birthday stuff to us last week. They have a gentleman/mustache theme:

www.orientaltrading.com/party-supplies/birthday/first-birthday/boy/mustache-a1-551135+1977+1494+1337-1.fltr

It's so cute!

[joi922]

ampaints, mmmm taco bar.

I was thinking burgers/hot dogs, but I think I like your idea more. I'll probably be stealing that.

[joi922]

Is it bad that I don't think we'll have a theme? We bought Disney decorations that say "Happy 1st Birthday" for DS's birthday that I was thinking of just reusing. They're blue, but DD won't care. We'll just be inviting immediate family to keep things small. Really, I think my theme is "as simple and easy as possible."

[jabs]

We're doing a birthday party at our house with close friends and family. And we're doing a Woodland Animals theme. These animals to be specific.... www.etsy.com/listing/266965234/woodland-creatures-tableware-kit-baby?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=woodland%20birthday%20party&ref=sc_gallery_2&plkey=a863a993af8f5f3a0a576779e0c34ec7d6c49086:266965234

I was going to have my BIL's restaurant cater it, which would have been a build your own taco bar, but that was going to be too expensive. I'm just going to a lot of snack food instead. Smores cupcakes, pretzels (twigs/firewood), trail mix, fresh fruit (forest berries) w/dip, cheetos (campfire flames), roll up sandwich things (sleeping bags), etc.

I got these cute photo props... www.amazon.com/Woodland-Creatures-Photo-Booth-Props/dp/B00PZ3GE2U/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1467226152&sr=8-9&keywords=woodland+animals+birthday+party

This is his big birthday present from us (which I've had for months now) www.amazon.com/Rockabye-Ahoy-Doggie-Pirate-Rocker/dp/B005RUIJG0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1467226638&sr=8-2&keywords=bye+bye+rocker

I'm really excited for it!

[ChrissDee]

We will be in Destin, FL the week before Ellie's birthday visiting my sister and her kids. My parents will be coming in as well. So we'll be doing a little beach get-together and cookout for her birthday. I've had plans for a "Wild One" theme with teepees, feathers, arrows, etc. But chances are the only places that "theme" will show up will be with the cake/cupcakes and an outfit for her.

[shellyr]

Jun 29, 2016 12:01:04 GMT -5 ampaints said:

redandblue I love that theme idea! Mustaches are so big right now you could easily find decorations and ideas I bet!

shellyr I say off the idea of a party is overwhelming then just do something with family near by. Don't stress over it. I think the main reason I'm planning so much is I can't do projects like this when I'm in school. So I'm going to do it all now before August gets here!

We have no family for 1500 miles...I think we'll invite a few friends who have LO's and that's it.

[packmomma]

jabs I really like your theme. I made w a crib rail bumper out of fabric that was similiar to that design. I'll pip the fabric after he's down for the night.

[trudytrudy]

We are just going to have grandparents and immediate family over to the house. I might do pizza or something easy. For decor I have been thinking just a few pink balloons and maybe a picture banner. I also asked my sister to put together a collage of videos from her first year. I asked her to put it to Stevie Wonders "isn't she lovely" I've always associated that song with her, like... At the ultrasound I heard the song in my head. 3 weeks after her bday is my toddlers bday. His will be at the park with family and a handful of friends. I'll blow that one out a bit more. I'm thinking angry birds theme for him. I'm pulling for that unless he really begs for Thomas the Train, ugggg it's always Thomas!

[tuscanlatte]

We're doing a Paris garden party because that's what I'd want if I had a birthday party and its the only year she won't have an opinion.
Probably only themed food because I like to cook/bake, and just pink and black for any decorations.

To everyone stressing don't worry about it! With some years with ds I went over the top Pinterest, and the other half were like shoot I didn't even make a cake. You can't outdo yourself every year anyway! Just do what you want to because it'll be a while before they care much.

[ars093s]

I think we'll do a loose GoT theme...just to play on her name. I'm gonna have my mom bake a "happy first name day" cake since she'll be in town. We're just doing a small reception at church after her dedication. Keeping it small and simple.

[Deleted]

It will be Aug 20th, a luau out BBQ pool party. My family and some of our friends will be invited. And I say BBQ but truth be told we are trying to decide between taco bar or hamburgers and hot dogs. We will do a smash cake and real cake. And spend less than $50 on decorations.

And beer, there will be a lot of beer.

[ampaints]

Taco bar for everyone!

[esgrunner]

Ours will be simple. Just family and a few friends with babies. We will have hot dogs/hamburgers and bunch of salads like fruit salad, pasta salad, quinoa salad, etc. We'll set up the water table and kiddie pool to keep the babes occupied. I made a couple of banners that say Happy birthday and Feliz cumpleaños to put up. I'll pick up some balloons and get him a little free cake at Acme (if they still do that). I think MIL will have some Korean customs for us to incorporate, like a little outfit and stuff. Oh, we're doing 4:30 on his birthday, since it happens to be a Saturday! I'm just hoping we have our downstairs bathroom done by then.

[motownthrowdown]

A turned one May 14. The theme was flowers. I made cupcakes with frosting daisies, I did A's cake with flowers on it in frosting, the invites had flowers on them. I made a hanging clothesline decoration that I saw on Pinterest and made it flower themed, one flower for every month with her monthly age and weight on the middle, then pictures hanging underneath. I also made a smaller clothesline thing with some of her preemie clothes and preemie diapers on it.

Pretty small party, just immediate family and some close friends. Maybe 20 people total. Still the most people she had been around in her life lol.

[tuscanlatte]

I love the flower ideas motownthrowdown

[RandomName]

I was originally thinking I would reuse DDs minions decorations from her 2nd birthday a few months ago, but DNW to now.

For DDs 1st bday I went all out and was very much Pinterest worthy. No one noticed any of it (well one person noticed the quilt).

I think I'll do a DS is into water and balls so I will figure out a theme around that. Lots of balloons, streamers, and call decorating done. I will go all out on baking his cake and decorating a onesie tho bc I really enjoy it.

[ajetter]

I'm doing a flamingo theme for DD. It is going to be our first big party since we've moved to this house (a year ago) so we're celebrating DD, but also kind of a house warming, bday for DH, celebrate everything kind of party.
We're going to set up outside with a flamingo ring toss and a small bounce house my parents own. I think I'm going to do Hawaiian pulled pork sandwiches with sides. Cookies, brownies, cake pops and a smash cake. I freaking love doing birthday parties.

[packmomma]

Are evite tacky?

[RandomName]

Jul 18, 2016 10:21:30 GMT -5 packmomma said:

Are evite tacky?

I'd just do a quick call. That's what I'm doing. Evites would be ok for when they are older and it's sending to parents of your kids friends.