First birthday cake smash?

[twocultures]

I'm currently planning my LO's first birthday and me and my fiancée both love the idea of the cake smash. You know where you get a special small cake made, put it in front of your baby and let them go for it with their bare hands!
The only thing we are trying to decide at the moment is wether to have the cake smash during the actual birthday party in front of all the family and friends as we think they will enjoy seeing our LO dig in and have fun. Especially his great grandparents who are flying in from abroad.
Or should we book in a studio pre-party in a more 'controlled environment' so we can make sure the photos actually come out nicely for a keepsake and then display them at the actual birthday bash?

Has anyone done a cake smash for their little ones? How was it? What sounds like a better option?

[Pootles2010]

Honestly I think first birthday parties are lovely for their simplicity - folk will want a cuppa, a sandwich, bit of cake, and a snuggle with the birthday boy.

Actually re the cake smash thingie - if you go for it, have you considered what a mess he'll be in after? You'd have to whisk him off for a bath, might be a faff? No one will want to cuddle him when he's covered in icing

[SleepyForest]

I have some cute pics of ds at his first birthday covered in cake. But that was fifteen years ago and not contrived as a "thing" for social media purposes.

Beware stains on his best new clothes and don't expect anyone else to find him as cute as you do.

[hilbil21]

I would ignore all these holier than thou folk and go for it! As far as I can see your question wasn't really whether you should do it it was where it should take place! Once again mumsnetters answering a question which wasn't asked!

We recently got a cake smash photoshoot done and it was done by a photographer in her house with backdrop etc. I definitely wouldn't do it at party there will be far too many distractions.

As for wasteful - we had the opportunity to bring the cake home albeit slightly bashed and messy! We didn't but who cares!

[twocultures]

Oh thank you for some positive stuff!!! I thought everyone managed to brand me disgusting vulgar and wasteful by now!
It's good to hear not everyone thinks wasting 1 small cake is such a horrible thing to do.

I appreciate all the comments but I'm new to this whole forum so I guess I just didn't expect so much negativity.
Thank you for a bit of encouragement!!!

[merrymouse]

I don't have a problem with photographing a one year old covered in cake - any 1 year old is going to get covered in cake if you give them cake - it's just recording something that is part of life at that age.

However, I'd much rather record memories of a party than memories of sitting in a photographer's studio.

Having said that...

If you want some studio pictures of a one year old and you want to use cake as a prop then go for it - it's not going to be the last time your one year old makes a complete and utter mess with food!

[hilbil21]

There's loads of negative people, but by the same vein there's a lot of helpful posts/people and good advice I've found so it's not all bad! Are you on Facebook? If so I will pm you the business page of the lady that did ours. You can see some of the photos to give you ideas X

[MooningIntoTheAbyss]

A great many mumsnetter don't read the full thread (RTFT) so they won't have read the replies. Simply thrown in their 2 pennies and left straight away.

Sort the wheat from the chaff with replies.
Similarly, people are much more up front online then they are in real life, and possibly more up front then they should be, bold, in a way!

1st birthday parties are memorable because of what it is. Their 1st. Whatever you do you will wish with time you had done, or that, or Xyz.
Just be there and enjoy it.
Simple food, a nice cake (non smash able) and tea for the grown up,
Ball pool for the baby. Nothing is as much fun as a ball pool for a 1 yr old!