I started months prior to Brooke's birthday trying to pick the perfect theme for her first birthday party. I searched all over the internet for ideas and narrowed it down to Breakfast at Tiffany's, Cupcakes & Carousels or Sweet Pea. After coming across the cutest carousel cupcake holder online one day, that was the icing on the cake (no pun intended!) and confirmed my decision. Brooke had never even tried cake, and only been on a carousel once, but I loved the colors and just knew it would be perfect!
My sister Jen and I began planning and buying. She is a project manager and I am an event planner, so there was no doubt we would think of everything together. I am incredibly grateful for all of her advice and help in planning and executing the perfect party! Leading up to the day, I don't think Brooke (or Michael) had any idea exactly what to expect on Saturday, August 23, 2014...
For those more interested in the party planning details, please read on:
I found a digital art kit on Etsy so that I could customize the invitations and tweak the final touches on my own. This would allow me to be indecisive and make multiple changes as needed, rather than just putting it all in someone else's hands. I used the same kit to make the favor labels, birthday stats poster, photo banner, welcome sign, high chair "ONE" pennant banner, custom coloring books, thank you cards, etc (most of which I completed in Photoshop CS5 or on ipiccy.com).
I must have been a poet in my past life, everything I created had to rhyme. The front of the invitation read: "The Carousel of Life turns so fast, It’s hard to believe a year has passed! Our little girl is so much fun, Join us in celebrating her turning one!" and the back read: "Although cards are nice, they're read once or twice. A book is a treasure forever and ever. Instead of a card to be put aside, Please consider a book with your name & wishes inside." The sign by the puzzle read: "Please take a piece from the puzzle and a sharpie pen. Write something sweet on the back and toss it in the tin. Brooke will cherish your loving words for years beyond today, When she pulls out this special puzzle to read your note and play!" The sign by the favors read: "Thanks for coming to celebrate with me. Grab a jar of sweets for after the party."
I wanted guests to sign something different - not just a page in her baby book, but something that would be looked at and used for years to come. I came across the idea of a picture puzzle and loved it! The carousel photo shoot was at Memorial City Mall early on a weekday morning. The puzzle turned out more perfect than I could have hoped for. I provided sharpies for guests to write their name and birthday wishes on the back of a piece.
We also purchased frames at the dollar store - spray painted them to match the rest of the decor and put pictures from the photo shoot into them. Provided perfect decoration for the party and guests were allowed to take one home with them when it was over.
"She leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes" sign was inspired by Prettiest Print Shop. My cousin Kelly is a graphic designer and was able to help me get the exact colors I wanted. Once she sent me the jpeg, I sent it over to CVS Photo and had a canvas printed. I wish I would have done more canvas art for the party, but this is something easy I can always do more of later and it is great wall decor for a nursery or playroom.
Other favors were the Cupcake cotton candy, custom crayons & coloring books, and candy jars. I recycled baby food jars! After washing the jars, I spray painted the lids mint and gold (again coordinating with the other decor). I filled the big jars with the pink and white frosted circus animal cookies and the little ones were filled with gold sixlets. I printed labels with a sweet message and Brooke's picture to adhere to the jars and tie a small pink ribbon around. These were a lot of work...and half of the guests had left before I remembered to tell people to take one.
Using those same spray paint colors, we painted the outside of mason jars. Put them face down on a box and spray on a coat or two. Super easy and looks so cute! We used these jars for the plastic ware, paper straws, and floral arrangements. Simple white and pink roses were the perfect touch for the party; I wasn't interested in messing with balloons. To incorporate the theme once again, I taped kabob skewers to the back of the carousel die cuts and added a couple of those to the flowers.
I put a lot of thought behind all the food as well. We had carousel horse-shaped peanut butter sandwiches because we referred to Brooke as PB (precious baby) during my entire pregnancy. I purchased cookie cutters shaped like the number "1", cupcake and carousel horse. However, the one and cupcake arrived the day of the party (my mistake for not using Amazon Prime). We also had homemade pimento cheese sandwiches. There were BLT skewers, in honor of Brooke's initials. We also had crackers & jalapeno artichoke dip, fruit and dip, mini corndogs, frosted circus animal cookies and, of course, an assortment of cupcakes to coordinate with the party theme colors.
I will say it was rather difficult getting all the colors to match. Mint could be interpreted anywhere from lime green to turquoise and the light pink ranged from nude to hot pink. It was a struggle, but in the end I think everything blended perfect.
There were less than 10 kids coming to the party, so I didn't plan anything extravagant for an activity, especially since all of them were under the age of 5. I had a Little Tikes bounce house in the backyard and inside there was a short table covered with a plastic tablecloth with the custom crayons and coloring books. Again I used the digital party kit to personalize a cover and back for the book. Then I searched online for clipart images of cupcakes and carousels to put on the pages inside.
In hindsight, here are some additional notes for future kids' birthday parties:
- Keep it simple. Kids' parties should be short and carefree. The kids aren't going to remember and it's over before you know it.
- Have your food catered or prepared the day before, if possible. Last minute food never works out. There will always be other things that pop up right before the party, so make the food easy.
- For drinks, we provided bottled water and pink lemonade. The more the options you have, the more work it will be for you, mess to clean up and picky guests to voice their opinion on the one thing you're missing.
- I can't speak for everyone, but our little one went the first year of her life never trying cake. Her party was the first time to be introduced to it...and she wasn't a fan. Not sure if it was the fact 30+ people were standing around singing and watching her eat, but we had an elaborate cake made and she was completely uninterested.
- Put someone in charge of taking pictures. You will be entirely to busy entertaining guests, chasing your child and opening presents to think of photos. But trust me; you want to remember this day!
- Put someone in charge to communicating specifics to guests - whether it is answering the door, signing the guest book, or passing out favors. This is something else you won't be able to do yourself.
- Mommies - don't wear a dress. I went back and forth on wearing a dress (a mint one to coordinate with the colors, of course) or dressing comfy (a summer birthday party in Houston should mean shorts)...and mistakenly I chose the dress. It was not practical to open gifts or bend down to pick up my daughter during the entirety of the party. It wasn't worth it for a few pictures, honestly.
- I hope this one doesn't come across as tacky, but it's the truth. There is no need to buy your little one an abundance of presents (at least the first birthday, in my opinion). They are going to get more than you can imagine from guests. Buy them something they will cherish past their toddler years. Or maybe wait until after the party, and see what else they still need.
- Start traditions. We are going to write a letter in Dr. Seuss' "Oh the Places You'll Go!" book every year until she turns 18, in which we will present it to her as an adult. Be unique. Do something special!
Credit and links for the various items:
Tassel garland, cupcake holders, carousel sign,
cake toppers & paper confetti by Fiesta Bella
