One year of joy is done and you can't wait to throw an all-out bash, even though you know your baby won't remember anything at all! And that's all right! It is, after all, the most important birthday in your child's life and one you want to have long-lasting memories of.
You don't need excuses to throw the best first birthday party ever! Here are some great ideas to support your planning.
Do you want to make your kid's first birthday party unforgettable, but your home is not an option? Try these fantastic locations for a memorable celebration.
Botanical Garden
Studies say that kids who grow up outside are happier, and we can't agree more. Take advantage of your favorite botanical garden or a park with lush landscapes and watch your one-year-old connect with nature. Though a party in a botanical garden may sound extravagant for parents on a budget, you'd be surprised at how many places will make it extra special. Most offer free admission for guests, too.
The Zoo or Aquarium
Toddlers love animals, and a trip to the Zoo or the Aquarium will definitely make one-year-olds happy. Place your little ones in strollers, grab snacks and drinks, and make the most out of your animal encounters.
Local Park
Your nearby park is the perfect place to set up a picnic or a barbecue first birthday party. The open space is ideal for running around and all sorts of fun activities. Your friends and family can relax and watch your little ones roam freely.
Restaurant With a Playground
A more traditional and convenient first birthday party venue is a restaurant with a playground and, ideally, a private room if you're hosting a small gathering. Food and drinks are provided; all you have to do is alternate turns to entertain the little ones on the tot lots.
Planning a first birthday party can put a lot of stress on you, especially if you are a single parent. Not only do you have to find a safe location, but you have to factor in cost, food and drinks, decorations, and entertainment, among others. This is what you need to consider to find the ideal space for the birthday party.
Location
When searching for a venue, take account of your guests. Most are probably friends and family, but also a lot of children. You want to pick a safe location and one that is easily accessible by car and public transport. Forget about rooftop bars, loud amusement parks, and arcades, as they are not suitable for first-birthday parties. Instead, opt for kid-friendly community centers and open spaces.
Size
It's perfectly normal to want to invite everyone to your child's first birthday party, but you don't want to turn it into a large-scale wedding event. Make your guest list and find a space that is big enough for your guests. When it comes to size, you also want to think of dance floor space, table layout, decorations, and open spaces, if any.
Amenities
Parks and the great outdoors sound like a terrific idea for a birthday party, but most lack essentials like restrooms, power outlets, tables, and chairs. And since you are 24/7 with a little one, it's hard to prep everything. Unless you are hosting the celebration in your own backyard, look for venues that have all the amenities and facilities for a successful party.
You are allowed to go crazy with your baby's first birthday party, but keep in mind that kids' birthday parties should be fun, lively, and colorful. With these creative ideas, it's easy to turn any event space into a fun kids' party.
A birthday party theme is a necessity. Why? Once you know the theme, it's easy to plan everything else. Pick a theme around your child's favorite cartoon character or a toy, something that he/she is familiar with. Party themes like zoo, space, and circus never go out of style and all the kids will love it.
You will probably end up with hundreds of photos anyway, but the smart choice is to hire a photographer. This way, you know you'll have excellent-quality photos, and you don't even have to free up storage space on your phone. Create a cute photo backdrop with balloon garlands and happy birthday signs and a banner, and snap away.
All kids love sweets. Set up a bowl of candies, caramel popcorn, chocolates, and lollies. Take it up a notch by organizing an ice cream stand or cupcakes and donuts trays. Sweets and treats are not just for kids, though; rest assured, all your guests will try some.
Music plays a big role in a party, and you want to make the little ones happy. Show off your toddler's moves to nursery rhymes in the background and boogie down until your feet get sore.
Just like any other party, your baby's first birthday party requires a lot of planning. Unless you are planning on hiring a professional event planner, you are the ultimate decision-maker. But worry not! Use this checklist every time you get distracted.
Outline Guest List
When making your guest list, take into account your budget too. While friends and family are a sure bet, you may want to consider mothers and kids you met along the way, probably from daycare or play classes. Send RSVP invitations so you know how many guests to expect.
Find Party Venue
A good rule of thumb is to know your budget and guest count before hunting for party venues. For budget-friendly locations, explore parks, the beach, a banquet hall, or an arcade.
Pick a Theme
Once you have the party theme, you can plan your invitations, decorations and party favors. To make it even more fun, you can set a dress-up theme! The kids will look adorable, and you can take lots of cute photos.
Order a Cake
Parents can go crazy when it comes to a 1st birthday cake, but we are not going to judge. You are allowed to do whatever you want to celebrate your child, even if that means ordering a three-tiered rainbow and unicorn cake with all the extra bits and pieces. Just make sure you stick to your budget, as cakes can be really expensive.
Celebrating your baby's first year is a wonderful event, not just for you but for your closest friends and family too. Naturally, you want to make it as perfect as it can be. These ideas will help inspire you to throw the best first birthday bash ever.
Beach Party
The beach is the perfect place for a birthday party, with an unbeatable photo backdrop. It's also budget-friendly. Set up a picnic area with woven baskets, light bites and refreshments. Play music from your phone, and bring along beach toys to build castles. Make kids even happier with small bonfires and roast marshmallows.
Backyard
A back garden is a versatile party venue. And if there is a pool, even better! Plenty of homes can be booked, making it possible to host the party with water fun available. A backyard party calls for barbecue food and fun activities, and you can keep the party going until you say so. No pressure!
Community Centers
Still unsure where to host your baby's first birthday party? Most community centers offer both indoor and outdoor space, which means you have a backup plan in case it rains. Most are inexpensive and have good amenities. Let them know in advance whether you need the place for two hours or longer.
If you are planning a birthday party on a tight budget, money is always an issue. To prevent overspending, set a realistic budget and stick to it. Check out these tips to help you save and plan a party without having to worry.
Birthday Party Packages
Most restaurants will offer you different discounts if the party is during a weekday. Others will offer you party packages that could include food, entertainment, decorations and party favors, so you dont' have to worry about a thing.
Bake a Cake
Cakes can be very expensive, especially if you want yours to match the party theme. If you are not worried about that, you can bake your own or use store premade cake layers, just add icing in between each layer and decorate with fruits and edible flowers.
DIY Decorations
When it comes to DIY decoration, balloons are the king. You can make a balloon garland and use it as a photo backdrop, place balloons on every table, or give balloons away to guests as they leave.
Whether you're looking for an outdoor space to let children roam freely or an indoor playground to hide in winter, there's a special venue waiting just for you. Now, you can celebrate your baby's first trip around the sun with amazing locations on Giggster.