It seems like you were coming home with your sweet baby just yesterday, and now they’re already turning one. Reaching this milestone is definitely something to celebrate (even if it’s more for you than them)! We have some adorable ideas for a first birthday party that are perfect for baby boys or girls.
First Bee Day
If you’re going to throw a theme party, this one is certainly a charming choice! There’s nothing cuter than a sweet little bee, so it’s a great option for a baby’s first birthday.
🐝 Decor
Start with a palette of white, yellow, and pastel green. Add “bee” touches like honeycomb shapes, flowers, and honey pots to the tables and the guest of honor’s high chair. Bunches of colorful balloons are a simple choice, too! Offer your guests party favors like tiny jars of honey or Burt’s Bees chapstick.
🍯 Menu
A First Bee Day theme lends itself well to a brunch menu. We suggest serving fresh fruits, biscuits with honey, and a donut hole “hive.” Round it out with easy roll-ups or mini sandwiches, honey crostinis, and themed cookies, with fresh lemonade to drink.
🍬 Entertainment
Gather the older kids around for a bee-themed piñata! It may not be filled with honey, but you can fill it with other sweets like chocolate, suckers, and hard candy.
First Fiesta
As if we needed another excuse to eat tacos, a First Fiesta party is also an adorable way to honor your baby! Gather your friends and family for a day filled with tasty food, colorful drinks, and sweet treats.
🌵 Decor
Use brightly colored banners, tablecloths, and dinnerware. Add to the festive vibe with sombreros, cacti, and fringe. A great start to your color palette is hot pink, lime green, and electric blue. Give away mini cactus plants as party favors (or make some adorable candy cactus plants)!
🌮 Menu
Set up a taco bar where guests can build their own plates. Make it easy to mix and mingle with some 7-layer dip cups, too. Serve decadent churro cupcakes as a clever alternative to a cake. Though, you may want to make a different flavor for your baby’s smash cake just in case cinnamon is too spicy.
😁 Entertainment
Create a silly photo booth with props and a “Say Queso” sign. If you’d rather leave it to the pros, book a local photo booth company to take care of everything for you.
Winter One-derland
If your sweet baby was born during the chillier months, a Winter One-derland theme is a definite go-to! While spring and summer birthdays get all the bright colors, you can embrace the magic of a fluffy snowscape to celebrate your little one.
❄️ Decor
Start with white or off-white for your base palette, and add soft blues or pinks to round out the color scheme. Then include glittery accents like snowflakes or twinkle lights. Use natural elements like wood or pine boughs for a more organic take. Focus on peaceful, simple decor that is reminiscent of a quiet winter wonderland.
⛄ Menu
Since frosting and powdered sugar resemble snow, your menu options are endless! Snow-inspired cake pops, cookies, and cupcakes are all easy choices. Powdered donuts or donut holes are cute for a brunch party, and snowflake cookie cutters can be used for sandwiches or charcuterie boards.
💙 Entertainment
Get your guests in the wintery spirit! Book a local face painter or glitter tattoo artist to apply some sparkly snowflakes or other themed designs.
One is Fun
It’s true, turning one is fun! This 1st birthday party theme is all about celebrating the lighthearted side of childhood using lots of color and cheer.
🌈 Decor
The colors of the rainbow are at your disposal! If you prefer a softer palette, you can use pastel versions or go bright with primary colors. Rainbows, suns, flowers, and other cheerful shapes work well for this theme. Aim for bunches of colorful balloons, tablecloths, and tableware in different shades to keep things even simpler.
🍭 Menu
Fresh fruit, finger sandwiches, and colorful treats are all perfect for a One is Fun theme! Arrange the fruit in a rainbow pattern and add a sweet dip. Use food coloring to brighten up traditional desserts like Rice Krispie Treats. Sherbet punch is a cute addition to your other party foods, too.
🎨 Entertainment
Let the little ones at the party tap into their creative side with some finger paints! Try an edible paint recipe to ensure curious kiddos don’t ingest anything dangerous. You can also hire a local arts and crafts party pro to lead the younger party guests in themed crafts.
Wild One
One-year-olds definitely don’t sit still! From learning to walk and talk to discovering new foods, your little one is always on the move. Embrace their wild side with a cute jungle theme!
🌴 Decor
Think safari for your decor. Use shades of sage green and khaki to set the stage. Add animal prints to really go wild! Brown balloons can easily serve as “coconuts,” and palm fronds can be cut from green paper. To glam it up, add bits of metallic touches. Purchase a kit to create your own balloon garland for an extra touch.
🍌 Menu
Serve up simple but exotic appetizers like bacon-wrapped dates and spinach artichoke dip. Offer sweet treats like dipped strawberries decorated with animal prints or banana pudding cups. Don’t forget the themed safari cake with a personalized cake topper for your little wild one!
🐒 Entertainment
Allowing little party guests to “adopt” a safari animal like stuffed monkeys, lions, or giraffes is an adorable idea. You can also hire an animal entertainment company near you that offers more exotic animals like monkeys, reptiles, and birds.
First Trip Around the Sun
The first year of life is certainly an adventure, so live it up with a charming space theme party! Get your little astronaut ready for their voyage into cake-smashing to top off their first trip around the sun.
🌠 Decor
Start with shades of blue, gray, and pops of yellow for the sun and stars. Simple blue tablecloths and metallic garlands are a great base! You can get creative and add in other planets or space-related shapes like rockets and the moon. Themed balloon arches with details like star and moon-shaped mylar balloons make decorating easy.
Let everyone know all about your baby’s firsts and favorites with a space-themed birthday board. It serves as both a decoration and a backdrop for all the first birthday photos!
📸 Pro tip: Book a local photographer to help capture every moment of your little one’s big day.
🌕 Menu
You can have a blast naming all the fun menu items for a space-themed party! Star and moon-shaped cookie cutters make it super easy to turn simple sandwiches, vegetables, and sugar cookies into themed food. Try making a sun cheese ball or sprinkle-covered “moon” macarons to flex your creative chops.
🚀 Entertainment
Hire a party inflatable company to set up a moon bounce for your little party guests! They may even have a space-themed product to really keep things consistent.
Celebrating your baby’s first birthday is a big deal, but it should also be a memorable time for everyone involved! Take a ton of pictures, have lots of laughs, and cherish this once-in-a-lifetime milestone with your little one. 🎉
Book something awesome for your baby’s first birthday party! Find the best performers and services on GigSalad.
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.