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We did “he’s a wild ONE”. It was adorable.

ETA: we live very far from family, but my parents came to his party. We had just our friends there. We did brunch and it worked out well

We did a Twinkle Twinkle Little Star theme for a boy, because it was his favorite song. Basically lots of star shapes for food and decor and we did primary colors. I made a homemade pound cake with a star shape hidden inside. And I made mini cupcakes for the smash but he was afraid of it with everyone watching and didn’t eat a bite. I got video of him eating one that’s next day.

ETA We did family only: grandparents, aunts, cousins etc and it was early afternoon as that is what fit best with nap and everyone’s travel to get there.

DS1 we did a nautical theme, he wore a little sailor looking suit, and we did red white and blue decorations. It was based on his nursery which was a whale theme. DS1 is Sam, so we had Sam-wiches (croissant platters from Costco) and sides.

DS2 we a Hawaiian theme - he goes by Cal, so we had a Tropi-CAL Luau. We bought him a little Hawaiian shirt/short combo, another for DS, and DH and I wore Hawaiian shirts/dresses with a luau menu.

Both boys had their parties for 2 hours. DS1 has his from 12-2pm and DS2 had his from 4-6pm. We served a full meal, had centerpieces that we’re edible (DS1 was various red candies, DS2 was goldfish in margarita glasses and Nutter Butter flip flops), and cake. No booze, but that’s just our preference.

We sent people off with the centerpiece mason jars of candy for favors for DS1. DS2 everyone got plastic leis, sunglasses, and beach balls - all Oriental Trading.

I always do a white cake with whipped white icing. Less mess and easy for the kids to eat. I also get a dollar store plastic tablecloth and put it under the high chair for the smash.

We do the 1 year photos at a separate time.

DD1 has a Halloween bday so we did a “favorite fairytales” theme and people came dressed up. I made a pumpkin shaped cake and I think I may have made themed foods. It was in the later afternoon. Just family (my parents came from out of town).

DD2 I got a balloon bunch from the grocery store because she loved balloons and called it a balloon theme. We invited some additional family (cousins with kids) who weren’t able to make it, and it was all people DD2 really liked. DD2 was a little skittish around crowds at that moment so I didn’t want a ton of people. Wegmans cake and party platters (no smash cake or professional photos for either kid btw). I think we did like 12ish time wise because we had to do Sunday and people were going to church.

For DS we had a party in our apartment with our friends, a mix of old friends (mostly without children) and new (with a few children also around 1 year old). We decorated with balloons and fans in blue/green/orange strips and polka dots (Oriental Trading Company), and served tea sandwiches, sausage rolls, mini lemon curd tarts and other British foods, along with iced tea and bellinis. We did a smash cake and a big cake for everyone else. I think the party was from 2-4pm.

For DD (who just turned 1 actually) we had a party at a play space, as we had a mix of 5 year olds and 1 year olds (and a few kids in between), and there's no way we could entertain (or even contain) so many kids at our place. We had lots of pastel balloons, served the same kind of food (catered from the same restaurant) - tea sandwiches, mini quiches, mini shepherd's pie. The kids had pizza (and a few munched on the rest of the food as well). We had pink champagne and water as drinks, and a big cake at the party. We did our smash cake at home a few days before, on DD's actual birthday. The party was from 12-2.

Both were fantastic parties - lots of fun for all the age groups (even the grownups) - and quite different in feel! Have fun planning your party.

We have a summer baby and a close friend who had their baby about a week after ours. So we did a joint party. Friends and grandparents (neither of us have family close) in the park. Had a friend do photography. No theme. We’re not theme people.

My son's first birthday party wound up lasting five hours and was really a party for me, haha! We had a surprisingly high RSVP rate and wound up with about fifty adults plus a bunch of kids. The party started at 2pm, and we had a musician come to play for the kids from 2:30-3:30. The invitation suggested that child-free guests might want to come at 3:30 in time for cake (but to skip the kid's entertainment). By 5pm people were still socializing (but most of the parents with kids had left), so we ordered pizza. The last guests left around 7pm.

ETA: We made the food ourselves: Tea sandwiches and scones. And we served beer, wine and sparkling rose as well as juice boxes for the kids.