Ideas for 1st birthday party

[LondonMama]

DD's first birthday coming up in July.

Wanted to do a garden party, relaxed with adults and some babies as well. Any ideas to make it special?

Have thought having themed tableware and decorations and maybe having it catered?
Any suggestions on good caterers?

Focus on the adults and do what you'd normally do.

For the babies have helium balloons, maybe some aquadraws on the floor, some big toys and some picnic rugs. If there are older children then maybe a bouncy castle?

How large is your garden?

It's a garden square. Have asked permission to use it for a party. Will occupy a large section, so I guess no problem on the space front. i had thought of setting up tables with food out and having catering done with a waiter passing food around. Any ideas on good caterers?

I don't do catering sorry - I like cooking - ask around locally maybe?

love the aquadraw idea..didnt know about it? am on the argos website as well..looking at other play gyms etc. maybe will get one of those as well and set them around.

For dd1 first birthday (her bday early september so was lovely and warm) we had a bbq, put up soem gazebo's for those with lo's (had rugs and toys on grass and slide/swing) then tables for adults to sit at and indoors left big bowls of salad,jacket pots, pasta etc

It was so relaxed people wandered in and out as we put from 1pm on invites so some came early then left as others were arriving (in fact last people left around 10pm!) obviously dd1 was oblivious (sp) to the whole thing but liked playing with her 'playmates' that came.

For dd2 (she was 1 on 5th Jan this year) we had arranged a birthday lunch with friends lo (we all seemed to have no 1 and no2 at similar times) but she caught chicken pox from dd1 so only a handful of people came (obviously chicken pox is the plague ) and when she was better I arranged to meet at local play centre for people who had missed (less hassle for me as no preperartion involved!)

I had themed tablecloth,door banner, hanging things,plates, cups bunting and a 'my 1st birthday' tshirt (in fact after dd1 birthday I kept them as was convinced next child would be a girl so used them for dd2 as well)

ask at a local deli you realy really like for the catering. the staff may stay to help out

We had a Thomas the Tank Engine blow-up paddling pool filled with balls for the babies, plus a big mat with toys. We got catering from Waitrose Entertaining, very good. We over did it so were eating canapes and mini burgers for a week! So no waiter, but easy enough to bung it all on a big table and let people help themselves. Or if you really want a waiter, find a student who needs some cash?

We went to Tescos - if there is a big one they will have a party section - I just chucked a load of Winnie the Pooh themed party stuff in a trolley, they have everything you need, and lots of different themes as well. DS loves Tigger so we went for that.

Also got a helium canister that came with 40 ballooons that also came from Tesco, that was brilliant, and each balloon comes complete with a stopper thing and curly ribbon.

Glad to get these ideas from you! Other mums are booking venues, entertainers etc. So started second guessing the whole lets be relaxed attitude towards the party

any ideas on getting a birthday frock for her? am looking for something a little 'princess' like - with a slightly full skirt.

Monsoon?

Monsoon for gorgeous frocks
Another vote for Waitrose Entertaining

tk maxx always has tons of dresses

or monsoon if you want to splash out

i forgot about waitrose - their party food is great but obv no waitresses

dd1 had her party dress on for half an hour then spent the rest of the party in her nappy and tshirt as she was so hot (did get a few pics in the party frock first!)

ha ha..am anticipating the same here but would definitely like to get some token pictures as well

tried monsoon on kings road but no luck. someone mentioned selfriges as well.

just checked out waitrose website..looks great! definitely a good option!

harvey nichols for clothes and shoes

think we got dd1 party dress from local independent shop (desperatley tries to remember almost 4 years ago ) in fact I am such a sentimental old fool I still have it !