Re: 1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

We had a big 1st birthday party for DD. I knew I'd personally regret it if I didn't. We went through IF and I had a tough pregnancy, so celebrating her first year was really important to me. We're not planning a party for her 2nd. The 1st was important to me.

Re: 1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

we did not have a big 1st bday party i refused i threw a very small 1st bday party on her actual bday which is new years day so i knew not many people would come. we had a "big" christening which i didnt really want to do ... so that was one of my many reasons not to have big 1st .. main reason though i refused to waste the money ... i have no regrets

1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

I just had my DS's first birthday. We did a huge Christening (110 ppl) and I was NOT spending that kind of money again. Instead, I had two separate parties since our place isn't huge. One with all our friends and another with our close family (only parents, inlaws etc). It only cost about $500 all together. I couldn't justify spending another $3k on a party. Instead, we put $1k in DS's bank account. I don't regret it AT ALL but I made the decision during his Christening that we were only having 1 large party per year :)

Re: 1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

ETA: oops, already answered.

Message edited 2/4/2013 10:57:10 AM.

1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

We threw a big 100+ person christening for each boy, and didn't do a b-day party. We had a small gathering for each side of the family with a cake and that's about it.

1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

We did a big party for my first and it was great. But now with my second i don't have the time or the money to plan/throw a big party, so I think we will just do immediate family.

Re: 1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

We didnt go crazy but we had 65ppl in our backyard had it catered, rented tent, etc. i think 1st bdays are very important but after that i dont see the sense of crazy parties again till their 5.

Re: 1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

My personal experience.

Hosted a fairly lavish Christening when DS was 5 months...private ceremony, 60 guests, spanish guitarist, cocktail hour ect. Great time.

for DS's first birthday I thought "let me tone it down". I hosted a children's party at a one event at a time children's place, decided to also provide food for adults and bought wine for them as well. I also paid for a photographer. 18 kids and approximately 30 adults...all in after invites and thank you costs are calculated- ~$1,200 and DS did NOT enjoy his party....there were too many people, he was teething....he just didn't have fun.


I DO NOT regret spending the money on the photographer AT ALL. I would say hosting close family at a restaurant, paying for your photo shoot and ensuring you have video of your child experiencing happy birthday for the first time would be priceless. You don't need the other stuff at all!

Message edited 2/4/2013 3:37:44 PM.

Re: 1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

I've never done a big first birthday for any of my kids. It's usually just my family over for dinner and cake. My DS turns one at the end of this month and I haven't even really thought of what I want to do for it!

Re: 1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

for both of my kids I did a party at a kids gym place, where all their little friends could crawl around and have fun... For DD's invited more adults/family than I did for DS (second child), where is was just grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Re: 1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

I am conflicted on this. We spent a few grand on DS Christening and now looking for places again for his 1st birthday and looks like we are going to spend the same amount and then some (prob will need to hire a DJ for kids entertainment or something). I'd like to just have immediate family (so this would be like 20 people versus 70) at the house for pizza and cake especially since he won't remember it, but then feel bad that I have to do something. Plus all of my cousins are having 1st birthday bashes for their kids and i'd feel bad if i'm not inviting them to DS bday. I don't know, I have to think about this more!

Re: 1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

DD's 1st birthday is on thursday and on saturday we are having the immediates families over to celebrate...that's all. We did the same for our older DD. I did do big christenings for them.

Re: 1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

I did 40 people.

Lots of people in my living room.

food about $700 catered hot to my doorstep

Cake $30 from costco.

$100 worth of decorations/ things for the kids.

It was fun.

I'd do THAT again (but not more people & clowns).

Re: 1st birthday poll- to party or not to party

We decided to do a kiddie party but we picked a place that was large and just our party so any family (adults) that wanted to come could and we just did simple catering for the adults, bagels, fruit , coffee and soda since it was in the morning.

We did a big Christening and I didn't want to get into that again, it worked out very well.