First birthday party ideas

ShannonMVT · #1 February 23rd, 2010, 10:18 AM

So since Matthew is 10 months old today (holy wow how did that happen) I need to start figuring out what to do for his 1st bday party. I've had a couple ideas for themes but nothing that I really really want to do.

Any ideas? What did you do or did you do a theme? What did you do for decorations? Did you think simple or go all out? Did you make any of it yourself? I'd like to do some of it myself but just not feeling any creative ideas.

I've looked around at stuff you can buy online but I don't really like the "character" stuff and Matthew is too young to be into anything anyway. The non-character stuff I haven't found anything that I really like.

I asked Dh about doing a bunny theme since that's partly what his nursery is (it's a mix of bunnies and woodland animals - not girly) but Dh vetoed that! I was thinking I could find cute bunny things since Easter is so close but he said no way.

Trannyfromtheuk · #2 February 23rd, 2010, 10:27 AM

I cant beleive hes 10 months old already - it has gone so fast!!

For Mia'a 1st birthday we kept it simple.A few banners and a cake. We invited family around to my mums and just watched her try and open her presents.
I wanted to keep it simple so she didnt get overwhelmed.

ANGWife · #3 February 23rd, 2010, 11:16 AM

I'm starting to think of stuff too! Yikes, 10 months.... only 4 days until my babe is at 10 months.

We've already decided to have a BBQ type thing. But I haven't decided on a theme yet. We're a big Disney family, so many Mickey Mouse. And Hank really loves fish/water so I thought about an oceans friends type thing. I'm really excited to plan.

SandKmommy · #4 February 23rd, 2010, 11:37 AM

I know how you feel, Kieran just hit 10.5mo

Hers will be a cupcake/tea party theme that I'm making on my own.

Seamus' was Hawaiian again i did my own

how about
monkeys
dump truck
duckies
our just solid colors (ours will be dark pink and bright green)

**Jenn** · #5 February 23rd, 2010, 11:54 AM

When I did Liam's it was kind of a jungle animal theme. I got a cake pan shaped like a lion and made him that and his own little cake to dive into:

The rest was just jungle animal plates, napkins, cups, that kind of thing.

For Lochy since we also were doing his Christening the same day as his first birthday party it was more of a color theme--bright blue and lime green. I did make him a cake and cut it into the shape of a number 1 and made him his own little cake to go nuts on too.

Plates, cups, etc were just color themed.

Mars · #6 February 23rd, 2010, 01:02 PM

Amara's 1st birthday was pretty simple with just my relatives and the ILs there. We did cupcakes, sandwiches, mac n cheese, fruit, fishcakes just some 1st birthday banner decor and water balloons.

LOL at your DH veto-ing at the bunny idea.

Does Matthew have a favorite character (TV) or toy that he likes? Perhaps you can do something around his favorite things.

IamMom · #7 February 23rd, 2010, 02:03 PM

I didn't do anything fancy for Harrison since we had just moved here and didn't know anyone but my family....david's mom and step dad and step sister came too...we just picked up a cake and smash cake and some plates/cups with Happy 1st on them. He had fun though.

For Nora I am going all out. We have a bunch of friends and she has a couple of girls that I work with who have watched her and really gotten close to her. I'm doing a twinkle twinkle little star theme in purple and silver. I am doing a professional cake or cupcakes and getting a bunch of star decorations (online) and maybe make a picture board of our "star" and put pictures from her first year. I am also going a bit crazy on her professional pics for 1 year...already have a tutu picked out some hair headbands/bows and a professional little smash cake....it's going to be posh and I don't care - my princess deserves it!

I am also however going all out on Harrison's batman/bowling party - complete with a surprise visit by a real live batman!!!! I cannot wait to see his face.

Have you thought about a "Old McDonald" theme - you could do the animals then - you could get some hay and have the kids hunt for little dollar store things/goodies in the hay....and do pin the tale on the donkey and things...I'm not sure how many kids you'll have or their ages but this theme could work for all ages and adults and a BBQ in your backyard would go perfect. It's boyish too!

ShannonMVT · #8 February 23rd, 2010, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mars

Perhaps you can do something around his favorite things.

Yeah but I don't think a booby theme is quite appropriate.

Seriously he doesn't have one thing that he really into.

Since it's our close family, there will be only be one kid there, a 6 year old. The rest will be adults.

The things I'm thinking about now are: under the sea, farm animals, jungle animals, teddy bear, or just go with all blue first bday stuff. Thanks for the ideas.

How did you all decorate your houses or did you just have the cakes and plates and stuff like that?

ScottishBrit · #9 February 23rd, 2010, 07:15 PM

I didn't want to do a Character theme either for Cambria. I still wanted something girly but not TO girly. I did a Flower theme for her's. I actually got a lot of Ideas off Martha Stewart's website.

Birthday Party Games, Birthday Themes, and More Birthday Party Ideas - Martha Stewart

I do think it would be cute to have Dr. Suess theme though. My SIL did that for her kid's bday and she had everyone bring a Dr. Suess book. She bought a tote and some stuff to go in the lil bag and then when everyone left she let them choose a book to take with them. I also think this would be cute...
I like the Thing 1 and Thing 2 cupcakes but you can get other Ideas too..
kara's party ideas: dr. seuss baby shower

*krista* · #10 February 23rd, 2010, 07:20 PM

I wish I could help! But I'm not a very creative person and I don't have that btdt advice for you... but I can't wait to see bday pics for Matthew!

Resi · #11 February 23rd, 2010, 07:37 PM

Check out ETSY!! I did not want to do a real theme but went with an owl/fall theme. YOu can get really cute themed first bday stuff on etsy with the homeade look.

What about a balloon theme? Little boys love balloons.

ANGWife · #12 February 24th, 2010, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottishBrit

I do think it would be cute to have Dr. Suess theme though. My SIL did that for her kid's bday and she had everyone bring a Dr. Suess book. She bought a tote and some stuff to go in the lil bag and then when everyone left she let them choose a book to take with them. I also think this would be cute...
I like the Thing 1 and Thing 2 cupcakes but you can get other Ideas too..
kara's party ideas: dr. seuss baby shower

OMG how flippin' cool!!!! Thanks for sharing the link!

ShannonMVT · #13 February 26th, 2010, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamMom

For Nora I am going all out. We have a bunch of friends and she has a couple of girls that I work with who have watched her and really gotten close to her. I'm doing a twinkle twinkle little star theme in purple and silver. I am doing a professional cake or cupcakes and getting a bunch of star decorations (online) and maybe make a picture board of our "star" and put pictures from her first year. I am also going a bit crazy on her professional pics for 1 year...already have a tutu picked out some hair headbands/bows and a professional little smash cake....it's going to be posh and I don't care - my princess deserves it!

I hope you don't mind...I started thinking about doing a star theme (in blue)and I think that's perfect! It's easy to buy and make decorations along that theme and I bet I can do star shaped cookies and a star smash cake. I checked out etsy and I'm going to try and make a happy birthday banner using scrapbook supplies and some kind of a thing with pictures from the first year kind of like the one Mari did for Amara.