First Birthday Party Ideas
he celebration of baby’s first birthday is typically (and understandably!) an even bigger deal for mom and dad than it is for the new one-year-old. Revel in that fact and throw the kind of party theme that you are most excited about, because chances are good that starting at the ripe old age of 2, your little one will already be having their say in the party themes you’ll be throwing for them, and it’s likely to be something along the lines of Elmo, Dora, or The Wiggles. So this is your chance to create an atmosphere that is fun and appropriate, yet just as appealing and cool for your adult guests as it is for the pint-sized ones!
Here are a few tips & ideas to help with your planning:
1. Pick an occasion-appropriate theme, and then create a seriously hip & cool version of that theme. Whether it’s a very specific idea such as “Sugar and Spice” or something as general as a color palette you want to feature, picking a theme will always make your planning and decision-making processes so much easier.
A few of my favorite ideas for first birthday party themes include:
Modern Tyke 
Mix hip, modern baby toys with contemporary prints & patterns. For example, in the “Modern Tyke” theme pictured, we mixed a few of babystyle®’s
giant soft blocks and
Giant Soft Stackers with
Celebration Collection scrapbook papers from
American Crafts™ and simple,
stylish party ware. Use the scrapbook papers for placemats and napkin rings or to wrap vases and embellish party favors - which will give the entire tabletop and party atmosphere a cool, cohesive look!
Bedtime Story 
For a fun, think-outside-the-box party setting that will really delight your guests, host a “Bedtime Story” soiree and serve them lunch on bed! These “beds” are actually tables though – made up to look like beds by covering them with a printed sheet or duvet cover, pillow, and of course books & stuffed animals! The
orange and
blue duvets pictured in the image above are actually twin-sized duvet/pillowcase sets from
IKEA that were only a couple dollars more than the cost of just renting a large tablecloth for a day! Throughout the rest of the party you can feature baby’s favorite storybooks and stuffed animals as your party decor. To cut down on costs, just use what you already own!
Modern Zoo 
A super easy recipe for a modern zoo birthday party: chic animal-print party ware + animal cookies! In the example above, we used pink and brown
zebra print plates and napkins, and then glued a single animal cracker onto a thick band of ribbon to create napkin rings. For your centerpiece: simple house plants (faux or real) give off a cute jungle vibe when placed in contemporary pots decorated with ribbon and animal cookies. Elsewhere in the party, set out adorable stuffed animals, painted wooden number 1’s embellished with animal cookies, and serve animal-themed cupcakes and desserts.
2. Create framed photo collages or arrangements featuring the guest of honor at different stages of his or her first year. Simple frames are very inexpensive these days – you can pick them
up at Target, IKEA, or discount stores for around $5 each. To tie the frames in with your party decor, embellish them or mat the pictures with coordinating scrapbook papers used elsewhere in the party.
3. Create personalized confetti featuring pictures of baby’s first 12 months mixed with your party decor patterns, and sprinkle it throughout the buffets and gift tables.
4. Always keep the ages of your guests in mind. If a lot of your friends are bringing young children, set up a special area for them to play in with activities and toys so that parents can enjoy some adult conversation. If your guests will be primarily adults (which often happens in instances where you’re amongst the first of your friends to have kids), then remember to tailor your atmosphere accordingly.
5. Remember to keep the budget in check, relax, and have fun. There are so many pressures already associated with parenting – throwing the absolute “perfect” first birthday party does not need to be yet another one (you can wait until she’s 16 for that!). Plus, no matter how much money you spend, chances are good that your little one won’t know the difference between a $10 centerpiece and its $100 version. You probably haven’t had as much time to spend with friends and family over the past year as you did in your pre-baby days – so focus on creating a fun, casual atmosphere that will be fun for everyone. Everything else is just icing on the cake!
About The AuthorJennifer Sbranti is an accomplished designer, entrepreneur, and entertaining guru from San Diego, California - where she resides with her husband of 7 years, Sonny Sbranti, and their 2 beloved yellow labs, Jazz & Max. In 2006, Jennifer founded Hostess with the Mostess, Inc., an ambitious venture that brings modern and innovative entertaining ideas to light through an all-encompassing party planning website (hostesswiththemostess.com) and a daily blog, The Hostess with the Mostess Guide to Fabulous Finds for Contemporary Entertaining (hostessblog.com). Having hosted countless celebrations herself, ranging from special occasion showers and theme parties to casual, everyday get-togethers, she now shares her hip, unique style and no-fuss approach to entertaining with others.
