Well it's been almost a year ago now that we had the kiddos CIRCUS 1st birthday party. (I can't believe they will be 2 in 3 months!) So I told myself that I couldn't start planning their 2nd birthday until I made their first birthday party album and their 1st year album....and before those I needed to post pics on the blog. :) Sooo here goes...get ready for A LOT of pics!
We were so lucky to have our good friend Lisa Lancaster, who is an incredible photographer take photos at the party. This was like planning a wedding for me and I wanted every moment captured. Plus it was my babies 1st birthday and I wanted to be able to remember this forever.
I ordered the invitations and all paper pieces from Sassaby Parties.
I had a great crew of helpers...I couldn't have set everything up without my families help.
This was setting up the night before the party. We had the party in our downstairs area that opens our onto our large deck which is partially covered.
The gift table I had photos of them from their monthly birthdays...their individual photos and ones together...so fun to see how much they grew and how their personalities developed through the months. I also had a large photo printed of them from their one year photo shoot with words around it of all of the most important things at one year....# of teeth, favorite foods, favorite things, walking or not etc.
I had party hats, clown noses, gift boxes and gum balls machines for the kids to take home with them. Each gift box was labeled with all of the kids names that came to the party. The boxes were empty so that they kids could collect and take things home from the party....cotton candy, lollipops, rubber ducky, animal crackers, the gum balls and clown nose.
I also had the circus train book set our for all of our guests to sign.
Next to the door heading out onto the deck where the party was I had this sign. My dad made the wood stand and I printed the signs to attach to it. I had another one of these upstairs pointing down the stairs to where the party was.
This was the entrance to the party from the inside of the house out onto the deck. I used pink plastic table cloth material to hang over the doors to create the feel of entering a tent. The sign is made from a pice of cardboard that I painted and added trim pieces to the outside for the frame. I bought the letters with the lights from the craft store and decorated with the circus themed paper.
Oh one of my favorite parts. :) As I was planning I just thought this was meant to be because of the same that we had to use....it worked perfectly to set up this tent like ceiling. We added globe light (which we still have up because they look so cool) and the plastic table cloth material...thank you hubby for helping make this happen.
One of the tables I set up was a treat table with all of the desserts. I had so much fun making so many banners...fabric, words (that I cut from the craft store die cuts), flags, admit tickets. I set up a backdrop for each table using burlap and fabric and then attached banners. Love the extra large balloons also. :)
Along side the treat table I used our IKEA easel to write our a cute list of party events.
The treat table was complete with frosted animal cookies, doughnut holes, marshmallow dumbells, cupcakes, cotton candy and the kiddos smash cakes of course. I wrapped the silverware in napkins and used admit tickets around them to keep them together. I also bought brown kraft trays for the snacks and treats instead of plates.
I had the cakes made and of course had to add more banners.
Next to the treat table was the drink stand. I saw this on pinterest of course and had to have one so lucky me I asked my dad and he made me one. :) We painted it gray and white. We just love it and have used it many other times since. We served ice tea, lemonade, wine and water.
We rented three round tables for our guests. I put together these centerpieces that included stacked ticket rolls and different size mason jars. Each jar was decorated with a different color ribbon, white hydrangeas, lollipops and pinwheels. I cut fabric squares for these to sit on and glued the pom poms around, each table had a different color combo.
We set up a carnival game area and a photo booth with fun props. The photo booth had clown shoes, large tie, wig, and nose...a large blow up dumbbell, a ring of fire made by a hula hoop and some paper.
And this summer pool with balls was also a hit for the little ones.
We also hired a clown to come...she was so wonderful and definitely not scary. She did face painting, a birthday magic show and balloons animals.
This was the main stage area where we sang and did cake.
I thought these banners for their high chairs I made were the absolute cutest...one of the first crafts I did...and how lucky was I that the high chairs matched the theme. :)
My sweet one your olds.
Oh boy they enjoyed getting in the cakes.
All of my most amazing friends and kiddos that helped us celebrate an amazing day and first year.
I truly enjoyed all three months of crafts and planning that I did to celebrate my babies first year. Excited to get planning birthday #2. I can't believe it's that time already.
