How To Set Up An Unforgettable 1st Birthday Party

First birthdays are a special milestone that deserve to be celebrated. Your baby completed their first year of life and is now a toddler! Here’s a breakdown of ideas that can help make the day as enjoyable and unforgettable as possible.

There are many things to consider when planning and preparing for the special day. Ensure you have all these points covered and you will avoid much of the stress.

Choosing A Location

Firstly, you need to consider where you want the celebration to be held. Here are a few questions to answer that could help you decide. Will the party be large or intimate? What is the weather forecast? Will the party be indoors or outdoors? If it’s going to be outdoors, will there be sufficient shelter if there’s a chance it may rain?

If you are after a formal party, consider hiring a table at a restaurant or hiring a function space at a venue or play centre. This can be costly, but there are advantages. Most of the work will be done for you, such as the clean up process and food arrangements.

If you have decided on a casual setting, consider location options such as the beach, your house, your parent’s house, or a park. If babies are attending, ensure there is room for parents to feed, change nappies and a decent crawl space. Having the celebration at a casual location would reduce costs. If you are hosting the party at your own home, you are able to access everything you need.

A 1st birthday set up at The Bay
restaurant in Mordialloc
by Your Event Essentials, Melbourne

Planning Your Guest List:

This ties into the location. You will need to plan how many relatives and friends you would like to attend. This is mostly determined by personal preference and budget. You will also need to ensure the chosen location will cater to the size of your guest list. If you’re after a more intimate party, only invite those that you couldn’t celebrate without, otherwise the number of additional heads is completely your choice.

Organising the Food:

The amount and types of food will be determined by the range and number of people on your guest list. Will there be children attending? Don’t forget to cater to the age range from babies and toddlers to adults. Consider any allergies or intolerances, will they be bringing their own food? If you’re getting the event catered for, remember to notify the venue of any intolerances or allergies.

If you are supplying the food and babies will be attending, consider quick and easy soft foods, such as squeeze tubes of yoghurt or fruit. Toddlers and children love easy to cook finger food, pies and sausage rolls are inexpensive and popular. For adults, consider purchasing or making a grazing platter, or order pizzas from your local takeaway shop.

If you are planning to hire a space, remember to talk to the staff about catering options, can you bring your own food, or do they have catering packages to choose from? Decide what suits your preferences and budget and don’t forget to mention the type of catering on the invitations.

Choosing a Theme and Decorations:

There are many easy DIY videos and inspiration images out there, it can become quite overwhelming. We suggest sticking to a theme, this will make the planning process clearer and deciding on decorations easier. You could choose a certain colour, animal or even a Disney character. Think about what you have at home and the things that your baby enjoys.