Theme-less Photo Funtastic First Birthday Party

Description

For my son's first birthday party, there was no theme, just lots of bright colors and lots of photos of the birthday boy.  The main colors for the party were yellow, aqua and coral. I made a DIY photo "booth" for guests to take photos with fun accessories during the party. To see more of his party, visit icecreamoffpaperplates.wordpress.com.

 

Design Inspiration

My son was my inspiration! I knew I couldn't think of a party theme more adorable or entertaining than him.

Decorating Style

Traditional, bright, with a touch of vintage charm.

Project Details

Photo Banners and Cake Toppers: I cut out black and white photos of my son's head with different facial expressions and made little party hats for each one. I used these party-hat-heads to make banners and cake/food/centerpiece toppers.

Monthly Banners: I made photo banners from monthly photos that I took of Owen during his first year.

Centerpiece Decorations: I filled mason jars with colorful round candies and put a number-one-shaped birthday candle inside. Then I stuck the party-hat-photo-heads in the jars.

Cake: I frosted the vanilla cakes with aqua and coral colored frosting with an ombre tint. I decorated the cakes with the photo head toppers and bright candies. We had an ice cream sundae bar to go with the cake. I also made a small smash cake for the birthday boy with yellow frosting.

Table Decorations: I covered the tables with fabric squares in bright colors and patterns and scattered confetti that I made with a circle hole punch on the tables.

Balloons: We put the circle confetti inside clear balloons.

Number One Wall Photos: I printed photos of my son from the past year and hung them on the walls in the shape of giant number ones.

Photo Booth: I set up a DIY "photo booth". I created a backdrop out of strips of fabric and streamers. I put together a basic of photo accessories, including wacky sunglasses, a mini chalkboard, and boas. I also made lips, mustaches, and bowties on sticks to use for the photos.

Other Decorations: I painted letters spelling out my son's name and arranged them over our fireplace. We also displayed a large photo of our son. We used an old antique high chair for the birthday boy to sit in to eat his cake. I hung bunting garland that I made out of bright colored fabric.

Birthday Outfit: The birthday boy's hat came from PaisleyHandmade on Etsy and the bowtie onesie came from groovyapplique, also on Etsy.

Invite: I made envelope liners out of a photo of my son surrounded by balloons. I designed the invitation card. I order the envelopes in coral, aqua and yellow colors from Paper Presentation. I put circle confetti inside the envelopes.

Favorite Items

I loved the centerpieces and the cakes with the photo head/party hat toppers! I also loved my son's outfit.

Advice

Add your own twist to traditional birthday decorations: confetti in balloons, handmade banners, etc. Make as much as you can yourself to make the party personal and less expensive!