The First Birthday: Perfectly Planned

I love, love, love all the firsts. I cannot get enough of my little one and all that comes with watching him grow and develop new skills. There are so many exciting firsts, I want to document it all and soak in every moment because it goes by so quickly.

Your first baby’s, first birthday is something to cherish. No matter what your planning will entail, it should be filled with love and laughter surrounded by your little one’s favourite things.

Nowadays, I feel like there is a lot of pressure on kids’ birthday parties through social media. This can become overwhelming but is so helpful to get ideas on how to make the day great. In all honesty, birthday parties are out of control these days, and it’s hard to not get caught up in going a little overboard with a birthday theme especially when it’s the first birthday.

Even though it seems like they were born yesterday, planning their first birthday party is a great way to celebrate this milestone. I love planning any event, but the first birthday was such a special one for me. I so much enjoyed our day and the way we planned it went off without a hitch.

Start planning a couple months out from the time you want to hold the event to be sure you have a clear vision of all the details.

Create a Guest List

For us, living in a small home, we wanted to have both sides of our families and friends be able to attend all in one day. We had heard about an open house type of birthday party and thought we would give it a try due to lack of space. This idea turned out brilliantly and the day went so smoothly with everyone coming and going for short times. Our little one was not overwhelmed by seeing too many people all at once and was excited to see new faces throughout the party.

Plan Around Baby’s Schedule

Our little ones develop a routine, especially by the time they are a year old. If they normally nap in the morning, plan to have the party in the afternoon. If their routine requires them to nap twice a day, then plan for a midday event so that they don’t become fussy and can stick to their schedule.

Choose a Party Theme

Planning a party is easier when there is a clear theme. There are so many unique birthday party ideas for toddlers these days, leading to so much décor on the market. Whatever you choose for a theme, allows you the opportunity to match your baby’s outfit, as well as yours to go with all the décor. Although your little one won’t remember the details of the day, the photos and memories shared with loved ones last a lifetime.

Book Vendors

Once you have established your theme you can start to plan what cake you will have made, what décor will be at the party, and anything else you find important to make the day complete.

What we booked:

• A cake and cupcakes, so there was enough for all guests

• A cake for the cake smash photos

• Themed sugar cookies for take home gifts

• A backdrop and balloon display

Shop for Décor

Although they are still little, babies are entertained by bright, shiny, moving objects. Especially objects that are new in their regular environment. Since you know them best, surround them with all the things they love, and decorate your space with comforting décor and fun birthday details.

Prepare Snacks

When hosting an event, I like to have an abundance of food, just in case. Since this is a toddler’s birthday, guests won’t stay too long, so having light appetizers and snacks is perfect for this daytime event. Some snacks that I would recommend would be any version of sliders, anything on a skewer, party platters, fruit/ vegetable trays or, store bought munchies. You also want to have kids’ snacks available. Next, think about a drink bar, with beverages for both adults and kids.

Two Cakes

Now, this is not for everyone but in the situation of an open house event we needed to have more than one dessert. I would recommend two cakes because of the open house and the fact that we spread out the party throughout different times of the day. Also,  I would recommend this because of the new cake smash highlight, For those of you that haven’t heard of it, this is an adorable way to capture your one-year-old getting wild, experiencing a new, once in a lifetime messiness, and entertains both child and parents.

Plan For a Photographer

By the photographer, I mean whatever you feel comfortable with. This could mean hiring your favourite professional photographer to capture all the special moments. It could also be, asking one guest to be in charge of taking photos on your behalf. The day goes by quickly and you are so busy. After all, you are the main sidekick to the new one-year-old and don’t have time to take as many photos as you would hope for. This day is full of so much love and you want to remember your little one’s reaction to every aspect. Consider a photographer, hired or free of charge. You won’t regret it.

Enjoy the day

Be sure to be in the moment with your little one. The first birthday only happens once and being present is so precious. This milestone celebration allows your baby to shine and know how special they are. The excitement you see in them throughout the day whether it be; décor, their favourite people, sweet treats, or a new toy to play with, is all so worth it.