1st birthday party questions...

I would think that you don't want to make it too long so the baby doesn't have a meltdown or anything! I'm planning on having it in the afternoon, between nap times pretty much, but just curious how many hours you scheduled party for?


If you were having party at home - what did you do food-wise? Don't have exact number of people yet - but lets say 35 or under? Catered? Made it yourself? Hot food? Cold food?


Lastly, what did you do for favors? There are not going to be too many kids there but there will be a few babies within a few months age of Jordan, a 2 year old and possibly an almost 7 year old and a 5 year old.


Many thanks!

Message edited 12/15/2010 9:45:00 AM.

Re: 1st birthday party questions...

Is it a family party or a kid party. Kid parties are usually about 2 hours. family parties we dont' put a time frame on unless its at a place and it's 4 hours.. ex. 3-7

Re: 1st birthday party questions...

Just had Laras first birthday this past Saturday the party was from 2 to 6 she takes a nap at 10:30/11 so it was perfect timing for us

We had about 30 people at the house Had two trays of baked ziti, 2 trays of sausage and peppers, a tray of chicken marsala and chicken franchese. The trays of chicken we bought from tin alley catering (it was out of this world) the others were made by my dh's aunt also very yummy.

we also had chips dip, cheese, crackers, and lil horsdevs (spelling bad )

For the favors it was a christmas themed party so the kids got red gift bags and each kid got an age appropriate toy. I hear it went over really well

Hth good luck it will be an awesome day no worries

Re: 1st birthday party questions...

Thanks, ladies. It will be mostly family and some friends - some with their kids, some just adult friends. We have a lot of fam coming down from NY plus family here in Florida and it's obvious that they will stay past the "end time" of the party but just wondering if I should put an end time for everyone else or just a start time and will people just leave after 2-3 hours when their kids start to lose it?

Re: 1st birthday party questions...

I didnt put an end time on the invite. Almost everyone got the hint to start leaving around the 4 hour mark. It was an adult/kid party. We had a few stragglers but it was family, hard to kick them out

Re: 1st birthday party questions...

We had Mason's 1st b-day party at my parents b/c they have a big house. Friends and fam. We called it for 1PM. served apps, chips, etc the first hour and put out the kids food. entertainment came at 2PM (started a little b4 2). We also served subs, wraps, salads, etc around 1:45ish.
Cake after entertainment at 3PM with cookies and fruit

We never put an end time. Most friends with kids left a little after 3 and the family stayed forever. LOL
Wegmans catered it. They have a whole catering section and went over everything with is.

Re: 1st birthday party questions...

I am just planning DS's birthday now! We are only having our immediate family which is about 20 adults and 9 kids ranging from 6 months old - 10 years old. I am having it at our house.

I want to make the party somewhat between his naps, but I'm not sure if I will be able to time it exactly right. I think I am inviting everyone around 1:00 PM. I will probably have to put DS down for a nap during the party but hopefully he will wake up for cake!

As for food, I think it will mainly be catered but I am going to make things. I haven't thought about apps yet but for the meal, I am ordering trays of mini sandwiches (cheeseburgers, bbq brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken) and ribs from a bbq place. I'm not sure if I am going to order chicken too. I am going to make a salad, a tray of mac and cheese, and corn bread. I will probably also order beans and/or cole slaw from the catering place.

I probably will not do favors.

Re: 1st birthday party questions...

I am having a bigger party but am thinking of only having a 2 to 3 hour party. There will be alot of kids so I dont want them to get crazy. LOL. Maybe I will run the party from 1 to 3 and hope everyone leaves by 4. I will have some kind of entertainment for one hour then cake and then iam sure people will start to leave.

Re: 1st birthday party questions...

We just had DD 1st bday party last weekend.

We had it at a VFW hall.

Had it catered:

chicken parm
baked ziti
garden salad
chicken fingers for the kids
3 foot sub

Then we brought our own snacks:
cheese
crackers
goldfish
m&m trail mix thing
potato chips
kettle corn
sodas (we buy the half size cans because I feel like there is much less wasted)
bottled water
wine
beer
juice boxes for kids

cake from Costco
homemade smash cake for DD that she never smashed!

I think that pretty much covers it. It was great. I got balloons for each table. Made giraffe balloon animals for the table centerpieces too (theme was balloons).

Forgot to add: we started at 2:00. Had the hall until 6:00. Most people were leaving around 5:00 or so.

DD started getting tired and cranky about that time too.

Message edited 12/15/2010 11:22:01 AM.

Re: 1st birthday party questions...

We did it at a park and had around 30 people. We ordered pizza since it was easy and got a cake. I think we had everyone come at like 1pm. (that was the time around my DD's naps at the time) and then pretty much everyone was gone by 4 i think. My DD was passed out in the stroller by 3 i think and we were just relaxing and chatting.

Re: 1st birthday party questions...

Since my DS is a winter baby we are having a small party at the house with immediate family and a few close friends and their kids. He had a big christening over the summer so we figure a house party with 30 people is fine.

Since it will be relatively small I will cook baked ziti, sausage and peppers, and get a hero for dinner. And just make some hot and cold apps.

I am still doing a theme (Very Hungry Caterpillar). There's only 8 kids so I'm debating entertainment with face painting and balloons, not sure yet. Favors are personalized water canisters with gardening tools with their names and a caterpillar on each one.

HTH!

Message edited 12/15/2010 11:50:05 AM.

Re: 1st birthday party questions...

Thank you so much!