Planning My Son’s First Birthday (aka: The Party He Won’t Remember but I’ll Never Forget)

There’s something incredibly emotional about planning your baby’s first birthday. It’s not just a party — it’s a celebration of a whole year of growth, love, and survival (because let’s be honest, year one is no joke). You spend months preparing for this little person, then blink, and suddenly they’re turning one. It’s a weird mix of pride, disbelief, and maybe a little bit of “how did we get here so fast?”

For me, the first birthday felt like a family milestone. It’s one of those moments where you realize how supported and loved your child really is — and how many people have been cheering you on through those sleepless nights and big milestones. Seeing so many faces who love both you and your baby all in one place? It’s overwhelming in the best possible way.

Let’s be honest — the first birthday is really for the parents. The baby won’t remember it, and that’s totally fine. This one’s for us — the ones who survived the blowouts, the teething, the 3 a.m. wake-ups, and the baby-proofing that never seems to end. You deserve to celebrate.

From early on, I actually knew the theme I wanted for my son’s first birthday (Pinterest may or may not have been involved). But beyond that? Total question marks.

When I started planning, I tried to focus on the basics:

• Date options (We only had one free weekend, so we went with the same date as his due date — sentimental and practical.)

• Guest list (aka: “Who will probably say yes?”)

• Theme (mostly locked in, but I left room for last-minute inspiration)

• Location (we wanted an outdoor pavilion, so reservations were a must)

• Budget (You can throw a great party on any budget — DIYs and small purchases can both make it special.)

My husband knew from day one that I was going to go all in on this party. I love planning and themed events — they’re my happy place. My Pinterest board, however, looked like a beautiful, chaotic explosion of ideas. So I took a little time early on to organize my thoughts (and give my scrolling thumb a break).

I know not everyone enjoys planning parties — and that’s okay. You can make your baby’s first birthday as big or as simple as you want. There are no rules.

For us, once we decided on a park pavilion, we had to figure out logistics — how long we wanted the party to last, what time of day worked best, and what we’d realistically be able to manage with a one-year-old running the show.

The Guest List Debate

Ah yes, the age-old question: how many people do we invite? Family only? Friends too? The whole neighborhood? It’s easy to overthink it. But if you’re working with a smaller space or budget, the invite list matters.

We decided to send out evites about two months before the party using Paperless Post, which was amazing — people could RSVP with one click, and I could send easy reminders closer to the date (because let’s be honest, not everyone RSVPs on time).

The Countdown Timeline

If you’re like me and love a good checklist, here’s how our timeline roughly went down:

6–8 weeks before: Start locking in ideas — food plan (meal or just snacks?), outfit options, decorations, activities, and dessert. We did custom cupcakes, so I reached out early to get on the baker’s schedule.

4 weeks before: Order anything that might take a while to ship or customize.

2 weeks before: Finalize food orders and grab the decor items you’ve been eyeing.

1 week before: Stock up on nonperishables, finish DIY projects, order balloons, and print out any photos for a monthly milestone display. (Yes, the 12-month photo wall always gets me emotional.)

2 days before: Clean the house (if hosting at home), confirm vendors, pick up rentals, prep food, finalize your playlist, and make those party favors (if you’re doing them).

Day of: Decorate, breathe, and enjoy the chaos. Smile, take photos — or even better, ask someone else to be on camera duty so you can actually be in the pictures for once.

The first birthday is such an emotional milestone. You’re celebrating your baby — but also everything you’ve done to get here. So whether you throw a full Pinterest-worthy party or a cozy gathering at home, make it something that feels right for you.

And remember — your baby won’t remember the theme, the favors, or the playlist. But you’ll remember the joy, the laughter, and the messy cupcake frosting that somehow ended up in your hair.