My baby’s first birthday is going to be the best party, anyone has ever seen!
When it comes to party planning, I am usually the go-to-person in the family. I love the idea of creating a magical experience, even if it’s only for a few hours. When my son was born, I was already thinking about party concepts for his year of life. A lot of people might say what’s the big deal? They are not going to remember the party anyhow! Now, yes, he’s not going to have long term memories about the party. But at the end of the day, I wanted to create awesome memories so Max would be able to look back on when he is older. Also, if I’m being completely honest, I believe the party is for the mama because she has survived a whole year of postpartum madness and kept the child alive all this time. With that being said, the planning process should be simple, just as long as you can stay organized.
Party Theme/Visual Inspiration:
The first thing I like to do when party planning, is to use one of my favorite apps, Pinterest. Looking at all kinds of pictures, can be a great help when you have no idea what direction you want to go. And I know how basic this might sound, but Pinterest is the best for getting inspiration. Just search 1st birthday party themes and like me, you will probably go down a rabbit hole. But before you know it, you’ve spent two hours on Pinterest.
Now my son’s birthday is at the end of July so I knew that I wanted to have a tropical or luau theme for the party. Now to my surprise, he was obsessed with Disney’s Moana, so my idea worked out perfectly. It is really up you and what works best for your family. So, if you want to wait until the child has a certain interests this would also be a good idea.
List Time
Before becoming a mom, I always had a love for making a list. Sometimes I have so many ideas running around in my head, it can become overwhelming. To keep my sanity and stay organized, I like to write everything down. You can also use an app on your phone to make notes, but writing with pen and paper calms me.
Once you have cleared you mind, you can plan and schedule the entire day. If your child’s birthday happens to fall on a weekday, try picking a weekend, the week before or after the birthday. This way the guests don’t have to worry about taking off of work. The next step is to figure out a budget for the party. Some families might go in the expensive direction or others might be low key and inexpensive. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, to have the biggest party and just do what is best for you.
The location is also very important so think about the size of your family. So if renting a venue or having the party at your house, make sure you have a guest list. This is so, you have an ideal number of guests and know how much to accommodate for. A food list would also be helpful so you don’t buy too much food or you end up running out to food. Last thing, make a list for all the party supplies and decorations.
Party Supplies
Once you have solid plan, the next thing to do is start shopping for all party supplies. “About 26% of parents told babycenter.com, that they spent more than $1,500 for their little one’s first birthday,” according to market watch website. At the end of the day, you make the decision on how much to spend for your child.
If you’re on a more thrifty route, there’s many options out there, such as Amazon and my favorite one, the Dollar Tree. You will be surprised to find out, these are the places to get the most bang for your buck. From decorations, balloons, and disposable plates, these stores are awesome for planning a wonderful party.
Amazon was a great help, because I was able to add a shopping list, just for his party. Just get on your electronic device and click Add To List, next to the to wanted item; this method also helped me to keep track of my budget. I love to plan events well in advanced, like up to a year. Also storing the party supplies in a safe place is a great to stay organized.
A couple of days before the birthday party, I began to bring my supplies out of storage. I started by placing items where I needed them to go. The day before the party if able, begin to decorate the venue. When it’s time for the party, you will be able to relax and spend more time with family and friends.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The baby’s first birthday is a monumental event. So celebrate the baby, the best way you know how. If you just want to get a small cake just for them to destroy, then do it! There is no wrong or right way to celebrate so don’t worry. I hope I was able to ease the minds of the extra extravagant mamas. Remember to have fun and don’t stress out trying to make everything perfect.
