10 Adorable First Birthday Party Ideas to Celebrate Your Little One’s Big Day
Our little girl is nearly 1 year old. People said that time goes so fast when they are little and it really is true. We have been thinking about her birthday for a month or so and almost have everything in place for her party, combining fun for her and her baby friends as well as our families, and creating lasting memories.
1. Theme Selection:
When it comes to choosing a theme for your little one’s birthday you have a few options. A theme that reflects your baby’s interests is perfect, although at 12 months old you might not really know what they like (other than cuddles and milk!) You could something meaningful to your family. From our baby shower through to her naming ceremony and nursery theme we can gone with British Wildlife so that seemed like an obvious choice for us, but other popular choices include Wild & One-derful (Safari Theme), First Bee-Day (Winnie the Pooh Theme) and One-der the Sea (Mermaid Theme).
2. Invitations and Decorations:
I have to admit that after putting invitations together for so many events last year (baby shower, our wedding and ner naming ceremony) I found the idea of making more for her first birthday a little taxing but it didn’t take long to make a digital design using my Canva account. I didn’t bother having them printed this time, and sent them out digitally which was faster (and cheaper!). We are planning simple decorations but you can go all out with balloon garlands, personalised banners, and themed table settings to create a festive atmosphere.
3. Smash Cake Photoshoot:
There is a fairly new tradition of holding a smash cake photoshoot where the birthday baby gets messy with a small, decorated cake. This can create adorable images and memories to look back on for years to come. If you don’t want to involve a professional photographer you can easily take some snaps at home! Just consider the lighting and props for top notch shots.
4. Interactive Activities:
For our little girl’s first birthday we have a lovely lady coming to hold a messy play session – we have been attending her classes for a couple of months and the sessions are great fun. Who doesn’t love getting covered in spaghetti hoops, bath foam or cooked pasta? If you’re not so keen on making a mess consider having a bubble station, sensory play areas, and simple crafts like creating handprint art to keep your attendees entertained.
5. Baby-Friendly Food Options:
When it comes to catering for a first birthday party you will need to consider what stage your baby guests will be at in terms of food, including finger foods and snacks suitable for babies and toddlers. You can consider fruit skewers, mini sandwiches, and yogurt parfaits, along with allergy-friendly choices. Our guests are made up of omnivores, vegetarians and vegans so it’s worth considering all dietry requirements.
6. Signature Keepsake:
Just like a cake smash photoshoot can create fantastic memories it’s worth considering making a keepsake for guests to leave their well wishes and memories for the birthday baby. Consider a framed canvas for fingerprints, guest book or a “time capsule” box to be opened on future birthdays.
7. Photo Booth Fun:
Setting up a photo booth with props and backdrops for guests to capture fun memories is fairly quick and can be great addition. You can use simple props and printable signs related to the party theme. Search around for cheap and silly items like hats, oversized glasses, silly signs, wigs, feather boas, blow up items and outfits that are quick to pull on.
8. Party Favours:
Party favours might be a little daunting but they don’t have to be! A good formula is something creative, something yummy and something fun! Why not pop some jumbo crayons, stickers, pot of bubbles, a cookie and little toy based on the party theme into a fun bag? Not so scary now huh?
9. Special Moment:
If you like you can highlight the significance of a special moment during the party, such as a heartfelt speech, a slideshow of the baby’s first year, or a touching tribute to parents and guests. If you’re a little more low key like us you can choose to have this moment be the birthday cake reveal.
10. Thank You Notes:
Nothing shows gratitude after a party more than personalised thank-you notes or photo cards for guests who celebrated this milestone with you. Maybe they brought gifts for your little one, helped set up the party, or just attended the party making it a fantastic event. It always pays to show appreciation to people who help make any celebration memorable.
Celebrating a baby’s first birthday with friends and family can be truly memorable. They say that babies grow up quick and we’ve discovered this really is the truth, so cherish every moment and create lasting memories with your little ones because they won’t be little for long!
