While throwing your child a first birthday party may seem like a silly idea to some as he or she will probably have no memory of it in the future, it’s not about that. Your child is the most important part of your life and you simply want to celebrate his or her first year of life in the presence of your family and friends. Having said that, here are some tips for throwing a fun and memorable 1st birthday party:
1. Keep it simple. While it is natural to want to bring out the big guns and make the party as lavish as possible, understand that it is a children’s party you are throwing and that children and babies can get overwhelmed very easily. If you are planning a program, remember that you don’t have to make everything happen all at once and be sure to tell the entertainers (if any) to be gentle with the kids when it comes to the fun and games.
2. Serve child friendly food. These include potato salad, mini burgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, French fries, Russian salad, ice cream sundaes, root beer floats and finger sandwiches. If there are going to be babies present at the party, be considerate enough to serve jarred baby food. Organic is always a good choice. If you have enough time, you can even prepare the food yourself. You can also find out beforehand if any of your guests have any allergies or special dietary needs and make adjustments accordingly.
3. Keep the guest list small. Throwing parties can get very stressful at times and one way to avoid this is by limiting the number of guests that you invite. You don’t have to invite every single person that you know. A medium sized group composed of close family members and friend should suffice. An intimate set up also makes it easier for everyone to get to know one another.
4. Secure the venue. If you are planning to throw the party in a place that requires renting or reservations, be sure to make the reservation well beforehand. This will save you the trouble of panicking over where to throw the party should you find that the date that you want has already been booked by somebody else.
5. Decide whether you want to hire a caterer or prepare the food yourself. It is necessary to decide on this well before the date of the party as if you are going to prepare the food yourself, you need to pick out what food you want to serve and pick up the necessary ingredients. On the other hand, if you choose to hire a caterer, you also need to sit down with him or her and let them know what your preferences are.
6. Send out Save the Dates early. Whether you are planning to send invites the traditional way, via email or what have you, the point is to let you guests know about the party at least one month before the date. This is proper etiquette as your guests may need time to clear out their schedules, pick up a present or set an appointment at the salon.
7. Map out the program/activities. If you are planning to contract the services of a clown, a magician or a puppeteer, you will need sufficient time to call and make a booking. Understand that these guys are busy and your child’s birthday party may not be the only one being thrown that day. You can also rent a trampoline, an inflatable jumping castle or whatever you think the kids might enjoy.
8. Decide on the theme and the favors. Seeing as your child is still too young to think of the theme that he or she wants for the birthday party, the choice will be yours to make. Teddy bears, balloons, or baby blocks are all cute themes for children’s parties. Get as creative as possible and don’t be afraid to be unorthodox. After all, your child will only turn one once.
9. Create a gift registry. This is always a good idea as it is a win-win situation for both you and your guests. You get to pick out the gifts that you know will be useful or enjoyable for your child and your guests will be spared the hassle of deciding what to give. Everybody wins. Just be sure to be considerate with regard to budget and pick out a variety of items that fall within different price ranges.
10. Hire a photographer and/or a videographer. The main reason you are throwing your child a birthday party on his or her first birthday party is to commemorate that special day. All this is meaningless if it isn’t captured on film or on video. If you are concerned about the budget, ask a close relative or a friend to do it for you. Another idea is to have some professional shots taken before the birthday party. The pictures of your little one can then be displayed during the party. Not only would this be a great addition to the birthday party, but these pictures are a treasured keepsake capturing your child at the 1 year mark!
The tips mentioned above are only a few of many you can take into account to ensure that your child’s first birthday party will be a happy one. Feel free to add your own or to customize the tips to make it more personal and meaningful for your child. Lastly, don’t forget to have fun. After all, it’s a celebration of your child and your family!
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Olivia Nicholas is a writer and busy mom. She is always happy to share experiences through her work, and in her spare time works as a freelance writer for Storkie.
I like reading your post..Thanks for sharing this to us…Hope you can post more..
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This is great. All mothers want to make their child’s 1st birthday to be very special, fun and memorable! I would definitely hire someone to especially document it.
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I love this one. All mothers out there will surely love this. Making your baby’s birthday simple but memorable would make wonderful stories to share when they grow old.
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I think I will not need a professional photographer, not that my kid’s 1st birthday not so important, but I prefer providing bugdet for other aspect and beside if I can get good photos for free, why should I pay? My little brother is a photography hobbyist and he can take great photos.
Your post is really a helpful one. I have witnessed friends who always had a hard time getting by after their baby’s first birthday because they made it like an 18th birthday party so to say. I like your tip about inviting only few people, less expenses, more time having chitchat with relatives and friends.
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Happy 1st Birthday to your little one! We are not big on going to places for parties, I know many people enjoy Chuck E Cheese or other play areas, but there isn’t much a one year old can do there, so personally I would hold off until they are a little older for those kinds of things. We usually keep things low-key, but we did rent a hall for a birthday one year when we were having a lot of people over. If you have the space, having a party can be fun at home. Having the party at home will help save you money too. Renting a pavilion at a park is another option.
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These is really an advisable tips to have a successful birthday party of your 1 year old daughter or son and it is really important to consider venue and the food that you serve and of course the theme of the party.
this party is pretty good, if you are planning for a party it’s better at home if you have a wide space.secure the venue first..thank you for magnificent ideas.
awesome post! Keep up the awesome work!