Deep down we know every birthday is special, but there is something extra precious and extra special about your baby's first birthday. The cake smashing, pulling the party hat off every time you put it back on, finding more joy with the box and wrapping paper than the gift inside – these are memories of your baby that you will cherish.
If you're prepping for your baby's first birthday, then you've probably racked your brain trying to come up with creative party themes to make the event just as memorable for your guests. Don't worry, I've got two ideas to share with you and some tips to get your wheels turning!
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Theme #1: Dr. Seuss
Invitations
How cute will your baby look in a little Cat in the Hat hat and tie?? A few weeks before the party, take photos of your little one wearing the classic hat and use them to customize the party invitation. Throw a quote from Dr. Seuss on the front and the party info on the back, and you've got an invitation that will set the tone for your theme! One quote I love is, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
Decorations/Activities
Primary colors work well with a Dr. Seuss theme. Think red, blue, and white for table covers, streamers, and balloons. Add more color by cutting circles out of construction paper and taping them to the walls to replicate Put Me in the Zoo. Want to include a centerpiece? Print out the covers of various Dr. Seuss books to stand on the table. Or fill a small fish bowl with red and blue fish-shaped gummies like One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.
If you need a few activities to entertain school-age children at the party, have them decorate their own Horton Hears a Who mask. Play Hop on Pop Hopscotch or pin the beard on the Grinch from How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Food
The first thing that comes to mind, of course, is Green Eggs & Ham! Not exactly appetizing as is, but this is where you can get creative. Serve ham sandwiches and egg salad sandwiches. Use some food dye to make green deviled eggs. Make a shish-ka-bob of alternating banana and strawberry slices to look like the Cat in the Hat hat. A few dishes will go a long way to carry the theme through to the food served. Fill in the rest with party food favorites like chips, dip, veggie trays, and pasta salads.
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Theme #2: Jungle Party
Invitations
For these invitations, I'm picturing a baby wearing animal ears surrounded by a collection of jungle themed stuffed animals. Adorable!
Decorations/Activities
Instead of streamers, get some clothes line, clothes pins, and green felt. Cut the felt into small, leaf shapes. Hot glue the leaves to the clothes pins and hang them on the clothes line around the room. You can leave it just like that or use the pins to hang pictures from your little one's first year.
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Fortunately, there are tons of jungle-themed party products in stores today. You can get everything: table covers, plates, cups, etc. To add that special touch, dress the family in animal print. Your guests will love it and it will make for great pictures!
Need an activity for older kids? Go with animal masks. Kids love animal masks. I think it's a scientific fact. Give them foam cut-outs to decorate like a lion, monkey, giraffe, or zebra. After the masks are made, play “Jungle Freeze.” Turn on music (I recommend “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” “Roar,” or “The Bare Necessities”) and have the kids roam around acting out their animal. When the music pauses, they have to freeze in a pose. Pause the music as much or as little as you want and watch how creative the kids become!
Food
Food is always my favorite part! Keep it simple, but themed. Animal crackers are easy. Fruit salad is perfect – after all, monkeys love bananas! For a main dish, purchase a sandwich ring and reshape the pieces into a winding snake. Add a face with olives for eyes and pepperoni for a tongue to really make it come to life!
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Party Planning Tips
1. Brainstorm a Theme. Think of things that reflect your family. Maybe you love watching movies – that can be a great point to start from! Do you like video games? Pop culture? Disney characters? Play up a certain season or holiday if your baby's birthday is around that time. No idea is a bad idea.
2. Use Your Tools (i.e. the internet). Thanks to the popularity of Pinterest, you can find hundreds of ideas for party themes, decorations, and food. Take that list of themes you brainstormed and start searching to see what others have done. Warning: don't fall victim to Pinterest guilt! It's ok if you can't make that rainbow-tiered cake. Remind yourself of Tip #3…
3. Customize it. Don't feel confined by the things you see on Pinterest, Facebook, or the internet in general! Use it as a starting point. See what other people have done, choose what you like, and recreate it in a way that fits your taste and budget. Some people are blessed with artistic skills, some are culinary experts – nobody says you have to be! Which brings me to Tip #4…
4. Be realistic. Is there anything more frustrating than having big intentions and watching them fall flat?? Yuck. Set yourself up for success. You are a parent prepping for a one-year-old's birthday. You've got a lot on your plate already! Do what you can. Give yourself a reasonable amount of time to accomplish a reasonable amount of party prep.
When all is said and done, the most important thing is to remember you are celebrating your baby's first birthday. There's no need to be overwhelmed. Plan what you can, as much or as little as you can. Decorate the entire location or simply blow up a few balloons. No matter what theme you choose or how involved you make it, let the message be “our special baby is celebrating a special occasion and we chose you to celebrate with us because you are special to us.”
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About the Author: Ashley Douglas is the Owner of Offbeat Occasions, a Pittsburgh-based event planning company. With more than five years experience in project management, Ashley has coordinated a variety of occasions from weddings, to community events, to fundraisers. When she’s not with clients, you can find her leading a fitness class, teaching for Dancing Classrooms Pittsburgh, or planning a new adventure with her husband.
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