How did you guys do it? if anything st all? How elaborate and expensive did it cost? How much were you willing to spend? I feel line it’s more for me than the baby because they won’t remember but I would like to have some nice memories of a nice birthday party.. Just wanting ideas from others.
Re: 1st Birthdays - i have some questions
I think first birthdays really are for the parents. To me it was about thanking all the caring and generous people who had made her first year (and our first as parents!) so full of love. You can do it as big or small as you like. We did it at a community center that wasn’t too expensive. We catered partly and home-cooked a bit.
Re: 1st Birthdays - i have some questions
It’s definitely more for the parents than it is for the kid. We went aaaalll out for his first birthday last year. I designed and sent out Save the Date’s, followed by birthday invites that I had printed on balloons. We did it at a park, had it catered, had a beautiful three tier cake, a photographer, lots of our friends and all of our family. I also put together customized loot bags for each child (which I wouldn’t recommend for the number of kids we had attending!). It was a lot of fun and we have some great memories and pictures to look back on. Would I do it for his birthday this year? Hells no! It was a TON of work, and while I don’t regret doing it for his first, he can expect something this elaborate at milestone birthdays and that’s it haha.
This year, his birthday party is coming up on Sunday iA and it’s definitely more low key. At a different park this time, but more people are attending (I don’t know how that happened!), we are getting it catered again because cooking for that many is not happening lol, and I’m getting a cake plus cupcakes. We’re blowing up some balloons for decor and that’s it. The park has a splash pad and play area nearby so insh’Allah if the weather is nice, that’s their entertainment. If it’s not, running around in the rain, is 
We’ve basically halved the budget for this year’s party vs. last year and I’m quite happy with that.
The biggest difference in theme is that he’s getting a Curious George cake this year because he loves George. Last year, I designed the kind of cake I wanted
But that’s where the theme begins and ends.
Do whatever makes* you* happy because the baby will be happy regardless. This applies to everything from budget to decor to menu to location to guest list.
Re: 1st Birthdays - i have some questions
One quick recommendation: 1st birthday kids get notoriously tired and cranky at their own parties. If you can do the cake-cutting and get lots of photos early on, you’ll save yourself lots of trouble!
Re: 1st Birthdays - i have some questions
We did a small low key birthday party at home but it had the very hungry caterpillar theme! It was just us parents and one close family..we did it on weekday, his actual birthdate and that’s all. I ordered a small cake at local bakery..it didn’t turn out as I expected but then I guess I expected a lot for 20 bucks. 
We only had pizza, Chawal n chicken on menu..both husband an I took a day off to spend with him.. Managed to put up decor and cooked while he took a nap..he was in bed by his bedtime! Worked out perfect for us!
There isn’t right or wrong way..for Some ppl just the family is 50 plus ppl..not us so we could keep it very personal. 
1st Birthdays - i have some questions
With my eldest, I did a very low key family bbq (my family is kind if big though!) at a beautiful park in my Ammi’s neighborhood (it was literally right in front of her house)..that way if he got cranky we could make a quick escape. It was held in the evening since Texas summers are brutal…the park was very open and lush..had a duck pond..big playground, and a big covered pavilion. It was a Finding Nemo theme, and I had a Nemo piñata and goody bags. That’s it! No meltdowns thank god, and it was a lovely evening.
When my twins were turning 1, we had their birthday done jointly with my eldest who was turning 3 at an indoor play center.
Re: 1st Birthdays - i have some questions
i had neither big nor small party just invited close friends in a restuarant, restuatrant did all the decoration, since all kids were very small so no games, just mae age appropriate good bags ordered a colourful cake
Re: 1st Birthdays - i have some questions
We just had our closest family over. I made the cake and cooked the food. I decorated the place on my own. We didn’t spend much. Our daughter won’t remember it so there was no point in spending a fortune on it.
It was very relaxed.
I’m planning on throwing her big birthday party for her birthday next year though. She’ll be 4 and might actually remember it when she grows up.
Re: 1st Birthdays - i have some questions
kept it very low key. family only and i have a very small family. no theme. cake. food i made.
hubby and I took the day off to spend with her and just took lots of pics …