Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries — oh my! Make your baby’s first birthday the sweetest celebration of all by leaning into a summery, berry-themed party that honors your1-year-old's milestone day.
It's the perfect first birthday party idea for summer, says Carissa Kruse, a pro party planner who's hosted more than a hundred events. "A Berry First Birthday theme not only celebrates the sweet and playful nature of a child's first year, but the vibrant colors and delicious flavors associated with berries add a whimsical touch to the party, making it a hit with both kids and adults alike."
Kruse suggests leaning into this theme by "incorporating berry elements into every aspect of the party, from invitations accented with strawberries to berry-inspired food, games and activities."
As you start planning, there's one very important thing to remember. No matter how big you go with your Berry First Birthday theme, don’t lose sight of what this day is all about, says Adaobi Kanu, a party planner and owner of Events In A Crunch. "Let's be honest: First birthday parties are for the parents, more than the child," she says. "It's a way to celebrate finally getting a decent night’s sleep and making it to this stage."
There's no need to go overboard with party planning and decor to the point of stressing yourself out. After all, "This is just a chance to celebrate and finally hang out with all the family members and friends you haven't seen in a year," Kanu says.
This list of Berry First Birthday party ideas is ripe for the picking, so read on for inspiration and professional advice onhow to plan a first birthday party for your babe.
Berry First Birthday invitations
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Establish your theme with some berry-inspired invitations. They could feature a basket of strawberries or a strawberry-topped cupcake.
Find customizable designs that are perfect for a Berry First Birthday on Etsy, or design one yourself using Canva or BeFunky.
Berry First Birthday decorations
Berry-inspired color scheme
To bring your Berry First Birthday party theme to life, "Use lots of vibrant colors like red, blue and purple to create a fun and playful atmosphere," Kruse says. Incorporate picnic vibes with red gingham tablecloths to further fuel the theme and add some pattern to your party’s aesthetic.
Hanging paper berries
To take your theme to the next level, "Use berry-themed decorations, like hanging paper lanterns in the shape of strawberries," says Kruse. It’s a quick and easy way to elevate your Berry First Birthday party decor and make a major visual impact.
Berry patch photo op
"One creative idea is to make your own berry patch using green tissue paper and red balloon 'berries,'" suggests Kruse. Throw in a few "farmer props — think hats, bandanas, baskets," adds Kanu, and encourage guests to take cute photos of themselves with the Berry First Birthday guest of honor.
Fresh berry table decorations
For totally on-theme decor, "Set out produce baskets filled with actual berries," suggests Kanu. "They'll double as snacking options or can be used as fruit garnishes for mixed drinks, making them a no-waste decor accent." To save money, fill your container two-thirds of the way with foam or cardboard, and sit a plate piled full of fresh strawberries, blueberries or blackberries on top of that.
DIY berry balloon cupcake toppers
Give birthdaycupcakes an extra special touch by adorning them with strawberry balloon toppers. Cut a ring of "leaves" out of green construction paper, and punch a hole in the center. Blow up a small pink balloon, and carefully slip the balloon's untied end through the hole in the "leaves" before tying it off. Draw on seeds with a permanent marker before hot-gluing each balloon to a lollipop stick. (Get thefull how-to here.)
Berry First Birthday food
Berry First Birthday smash cake
When it comes tofirst birthday smash cakes, rather than topping yours with real berries, decorate it with strawberry lollipop candies like this blogger did. It'll make things a little less messy … even if only slightly!
Just cut off the sticks, and press the gummies into your icing. Pink strawberry cake on the inside and white buttercream frosting on the outside is the perfect combination, since red or pink icing is more likely to stain clothes.
Picnic lunch
Take inspiration from your theme, and serve up a simple picnic-style lunch for guests in brown paper boxes or woven baskets. It'll give your event a laid-back feel that'll make family and friends feel more comfortable.
Berry-inspired bites
From mini strawberry shortcake bites to strawberry caprese skewers, there's no end to the berry-infused nibbles you can whip up. Of course, a platter of chocolate-covered strawberries is a must for any Berry First Birthday party!
Berry-infused beverages
When it comes to your Berry First Birthday menu, choose drinks that are on theme. "For the alcohol drinkers, serve berry margaritas," Kanu advises. For those abstaining, offer up a batch of berry agua fresca or some berry smash mocktails.
Berry First Birthday games
"Berry picking" scavenger hunt
"Plan a 'berry picking' birthday party game, where children have to find hidden [paper] berries around the party venue and collect them in a basket," suggests Kruse. All you need is some red construction paper, scissors and a black marker to draw on a few seeds.
Pin the berry on the cupcake
Give this classic birthday party game a berry sweet spin: "Play a 'Pin the Berry on the Cupcake' game, where kids are blindfolded and have to pin a small berry cutout onto a larger cupcake poster," recommends Kruse.
Birthday time capsule
For an ultra sweetfirst birthday party activity, invite guests to write well wishes for your baby to read on a later birthday. It's a sentimental way to get guests more involved in the celebration.
Berry First Birthday favors
Berry baskets
"I recommend giving out small baskets filled with fresh berries as party favors," Kruse says. Another option: "Create a 'berry picking' station, where kids can pick their own berries to take home as favors."
Berry treats
Thank guests for attending (and for thefirst birthday gifts) by sending them home with a special treat. "I'm a big fan of food favors for a Berry First Birthday," says Kanu, who suggests sending party-goers home with mini berry pies or berry-shaped cookies. Talk about leaving a good taste in their mouths!
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information on various topics. While I have personal experiences or emotions like humans do, I can provide you with factual information and insights based on the data I have been trained on.
Regarding the concepts used in this article, let's break them down and provide information on each one:
Berry First Birthday Theme:
A Berry First Birthday theme is a popular choice for celebrating a baby's first birthday during the summer. This theme incorporates strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries into various aspects of the party, including invitations, decorations, food, games, and activities. The vibrant colors and delicious flavors associated with berries add a whimsical touch to the celebration, making it enjoyable for both kids and adults.
Berry First Birthday Invitations:
To establish the Berry First Birthday theme, you can use berry-inspired invitations. These invitations can feature designs such as a basket of strawberries or a strawberry-topped cupcake. You can find customizable designs on platforms like Etsy or create your own using design tools like Canva or BeFunky.
Berry First Birthday Decorations:
To bring the Berry First Birthday theme to life, you can use a berry-inspired color scheme with vibrant colors like red, blue, and purple. Incorporating picnic vibes with red gingham tablecloths can further enhance the theme. Additionally, you can use berry-themed decorations such as hanging paper lanterns in the shape of strawberries. Creating a DIY berry patch using green tissue paper and red balloon "berries" can provide a fun photo opportunity for guests. Fresh berry table decorations, such as produce baskets filled with actual berries, can add a decorative and edible touch to the party.
Berry First Birthday Food:
When it comes to food for a Berry First Birthday party, you can incorporate berry-inspired elements. Some ideas include a berry-infused smash cake decorated with strawberry lollipop candies, a picnic-style lunch served in brown paper boxes or woven baskets, and various berry-infused bites like mini strawberry shortcake bites or strawberry caprese skewers. A platter of chocolate-covered strawberries is also a popular choice for this theme. For beverages, you can serve berry margaritas for the adults and berry agua fresca or berry smash mocktails for those abstaining from alcohol.
Berry First Birthday Games and Activities:
To keep the little ones entertained, you can organize berry-themed games and activities. One idea is to plan a "berry picking" scavenger hunt where children have to find hidden paper berries around the party venue and collect them in a basket. Another game suggestion is "Pin the Berry on the Cupcake," where blindfolded kids try to pin a small berry cutout onto a larger cupcake poster. Additionally, you can create a birthday time capsule activity where guests write well wishes for the baby to read on a later birthday.
Berry First Birthday Favors:
For party favors, you can give out small baskets filled with fresh berries or create a "berry picking" station where kids can pick their own berries to take home. Another option is to send guests home with berry treats like mini berry pies or berry-shaped cookies as a thank you for attending the party.
I hope this information helps you plan a delightful Berry First Birthday celebration! Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with.
