In this case, there were three special touches (aside from plentiful food + drink which is always a must!):
1. a beautiful splurge: Sugar Couture made us a stunning cake to work with the pink and gold theme. Penny does such amazing work!
2. a large visual centerpiece - giant mylar balloons that spelled out baby's name which we will be saving and using again
3. something whimsical - cut outs of baby holding onto a cluster of balloons were floating all around - such a big hit that everyone went home with a 'flat aggie'
Doing something simple was a change of pace for me but I'm kind of itchy to do something more my style for her first birthday party. I'm torn on what since it would be around Christmastime. Any winter baby mommies have any advice to share on birthday parties?
Ooh, where did you get the balloons?
ReplyDeleteSo cute! Love the balloon name!
ReplyDeleteThe decorations are adorable!
ReplyDeleteI'm a Christmas baby - December 21. Please don't mix the holiday with Agatha's birthday. My mother always used the tree trimming as my birthday celebration. Aunts would hand me a package and say "This is for your birthday and Christmas". A child would rather have two separate packages, neither one spectacular, than one combination gift. The first real birthday cake I had was in 1973 when a friend came to the door - in a snowstorm - with a cake lit with more than 2 dozen candles. It didn't have a hint of Christmas on it. This was a true friend who had 8 children, the youngest of whom was celebrating her own 5th birthday on Christmas Eve. Agatha is a lucky little girl to have you for a mom.
ReplyDeleteMy twins were born a zillion years ago-on DEC 26.
ReplyDeleteI just made sure to never combine x-mas and b-days, ever.
As the kids got older and went to school, we tried over the winter break( lots of families travel then so not a good idea) waiting until January ( too weird-they weren't born in that month!) and one year we even did a half-year party in June so we could do a pool party. Again, weird, b/c that date was so off. We finally settled on that first week of December for friends, and cake and pressies from family on the real date.
What peeved my daughter the most-people who combine b-day and x-mas gifts into one. As she pointed out when she was about eight, no one would give me( a May b-bay person) a birthday gift and say "Oh, this is for X-mas, too..." At first I thought she was being a little greedy, but then I realized she had a point. So my advice party anytime that works for you and yours, but-no combo gifts!
Enjoy your December girl. They're awesome.
Your 'simple' would be my 'all out'! What a great idea for the balloons, you'll get a lot of use out of those for years to come! Love the cake. :o)
ReplyDeleteI'm pinning the cutouts on the balloon idea - I really love that.
The baby cut-outs on the balloons are hysterical! What a fantastic idea!!! I am pinning this for Max's first birthday. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFor my January girl - I have done a luau, and winter wonderland when she was little. Older she had her own opinion, rollerskating and harry potter have been recents. Good luck! Don't combine the design - I decorated differently for my twins first birthday -pumpkins (early october) and my annual halloween party this year was spiders.
ReplyDeleteThat cake is INCREDIBLE!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely!!! I really hope your day job is a event planner, because your parties are always amazing!!
ReplyDeleteOh...adorable...luv the balloons...cudnt expect anyless less from u..i am sure the baby's first bday will be a labor of love..mind sharing the source of the balloons?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI bought the balloons from a local Brooklyn store (www.balloonplace.com)
You mentioned you were going to use the balloons again- sorry if it's a stupid question- but how can you re inflate them? Whats the secret?! Thanks :)
DeleteAs a December 29th baby, I agree with previous posters as to NEVER combine birthday and Christmas. Also, something to tuck away for when she's in school, make sure you do her party with friends after they go back to school and don't send home the invitations with the kids on the last day before winter break. I had a number of parties where the bulk of people didn't show up and it was because the parents didn't know about the party until they went through backpacks right before going back to school.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cake!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter's birthday is December 20th and for her first birthday, I did a Candyland theme. At that time of year there is tons of cute stuff out there to incorporate into the theme. (I didn't buy anything that was actually "Candyland".) Since that time of year is already extremely busy, I usually plan her parties for the very beginning of December to get as far away from Christmas as possible. It definitely adds to the craziness of the month, but with proper planning, which we all know you are a master at, you can do it. Happy party planning!
What a beautiful celebration! That cake is incredible. Your party decorations are always so elegant but still fun. Love the pink and gold. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a daughter whose birthday is Dec. 29 and another on Dec. 31. I always kept their birthday seperate from Christmas. Later on I combined both birthday's and it all worked out well considering how busy a time of year it is.
ReplyDeleteMy New Year's baby has small party on day and has a much larger half birthday celebration - taking the pressure off! xo g
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Love her name too! My Great-Aunt was an Agatha. She always went by "Auntie Babe".
ReplyDeleteMy boys were both born in January (one on the 10th). I've had to send out class invitations before the holidays, as the party was held the first week back to school. Lots of RSVP reminding that first day back.
I think Snowflake or penguin themed would be fun for a little girl.
ReplyDeleteMy son was born on 11-11-11. We did a play off the #1 for his first b-day. It was so cute.
ReplyDeleteAs for a winter baby, I was married around Christmas. I didn't want a throw up of red and green with trees and snowflakes, so I did light/hot pink and olive green colors and just used that as my theme. I even added gold glitter in with it. It is also a great time to use candy and stripes!
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ReplyDeleteYou are wonderful parents!!! Agatha is a very lucky little girl!!!! You need to write a book " The Adventures of Agatha"!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! The cake is stunning and so are the flowers! I have their name on the tip of my tongue, but can't quite find it. What are they called?
ReplyDeleteSo gosh darn cute I can't stand it. Those little floating Agatha's! Adorable!
ReplyDeleteOMG! Those little babies floating on the balloons are hysterical!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://simplymodernhome.com/
Those balloons are fantastic! I love that you kept it simple, but still your style! As far as first birthdays go, we'll be having one around the same time, only it will be Summer here in Australia. I love the idea of going with the most obvious theme of all (but I love Winter) and having a Winter Wonderland - Your Wonderful Winter Baby turns One!
ReplyDeleteSmiling at all the comments here. My "Christmas baby" was born on December 23. I was determined to keep her birthday separate from Christmas. We always celebrate and it always on her actual birthday. Occasionally, a friend might be out of town but almost always, everyone could make it. She liked that she was always out of school on her birthday. One year, she wanted a cake with Santa and all of his reindeer on it. I tried to talk her out of it but her 4 year old self was determined. One year, she wanted a slumber party with everyone sleeping under the Christmas tree with all the white fairy lights on all night long. Of course, we obliged and she was a happy girl. One little girl even said, "I wish my birthday was at Christmas time." That really made me smile. She loves her birthday. She always feels that her birthday is the beginning of lots of celebrating. She is 29 now and still thinks she has the best birthday. She always calls it Christmas Eve Eve. Last year was the first year that we were not together for her birthday. I was really sad. We decided to have a party for her anyway. Our family all came for dinner and we had a beautiful cake and sang "Happy Birthday" to her. I think a snowy, forest fairy tale feel would be a wonderful party. With your amazing attention to detail, your Agatha will always love her birthday, I am sure of it.
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