Help with Daughter's First Birthday Party

Yikes- 65 people for a one year old? It doesn't sound like the party really is for her ( the old rule of thumb is one more child than the age of the child...65 is a bit more than 2).

That being said- since the family is expecting a party...I would go with lots of pasta. Make some spaghetti. Make or buy meat and vegie lasagna. Or- ow about a pot luck since just having that many people in your house is going to be a bit endeavor getting ready for. If you're still overwhelmed have "husband and mom" help plan/shop and cook!

I definitely feel you here. Just a suggestion. Keep the party simple and during the day, maybe 1pm-3 pm so visitors don't expect big lunch or dinner. If you're a costco member, they have chicken nuggets you can bake. Having a party can be tiring especially at your stage of pregnancy so ask for family and friends to help out. Best of Luck.

I love throwing parties for my kids! Here's my advice on keeping the cost down!:
Throw the party at a party spot such as Chuck E, The Big Top at Castle park etc. Most spots have big rooms and serve mostly pizza.
If you are throwing the party at home:You can buy tons of pizza, make a gigantic fancy salad and serve drinks.
This way everyone can have their fill of pizza and you save money. You can also ask your mom to bring/make something.
:)

K.,

Have you thought about doing a pot luck? I have been to parties where that was done and everyone was happy. The kids were excited to tell everyone else what their mom or dad or gma made and they were sure that the others ate some of everything. There were very few left overs. The mom had everyone call her with what they were thinking of bringing so she had a list and knew that there would not be too many salads, or desserts, or side dishes.

Another idea is for you to provide the meat, let them bring side dishes and fruit. Then you, of course, also provide the cake for dessert.

Just some ideas! Best of Luck!
K. C.

A lot of it depends on how fancy a party you are having. My daughter had a pony party. The food was served outdoors, so I lined cardboard boxes in foil and placed chicken and beef kabobs in them. They were easy enough to through out as they became empty and clean up was just a process of elimination.

So I purchased a tub of european salad mix at Costco. I added a cucumber, grape tomatoes, onion slices, and cranberries to the mix and there was a nice salad.

I started adding the peppers and onion to the kabobs, but ran out of cut veggies so only the chicken had the added veggies. The kabobs were my way of keeping the food portioned. So I served, kabobs, salad, chicken sausage links, hot beef links, hot dogs (for the kids), baked beans, chips & dip, and a tray of red grapes & sliced bananas. I sliced the bananas in 3 pieces and clipped the grape vine with scissors at about 12 grapes. I also purchased a 1 tub of potato salad for approx 40 people. There were very few left overs, however everyone enjoyed the food and commented on the variety.

I shopped Costco, Fresh & Easy using their $5 coupons, and the meat market. My food budget was approximately $350, which included the drinks. As for the drinks, I served the short cans of soda and water. I read on a website, you should have one drink per hour for each guest, which sounds about right. The short cans worked fine. Everyone seemed to drink casually and no one seemed to slam the small drinks down and go for another. This was a warm day in October outdoors.

As for the party, I must agree, you will only have this opportunity once, so party on. We also had a photographer at the party since so many relatives are all together. However, so far all 3 parties have been big for us.

Enjoy!!!!

Hi, K.!
You will probably get a lot of responses like mine. Have the party be a Pot-Luck Party. Each person brings one dish or drink or chips, etc... That means if Gramma and Grampa come together, they still bring two dishes. This way, you will have 65 things to choose from. You can even divide what you need into categories like: Chips and Dips, Drinks, Casseroles, Veggies/Veggie Trays, and Sweets. This way, you can give groups of people a choice of what to bring so that you don't have 65 bowls of potato chips! :-)

Good luck and remember you are celebrating your daughter. Have fun and try not to stress out, which is so easy to do when you have so many people to meet/greet and keep happy.

I had about that many guests at my son's birthday party last summer. It is hard to keep the cost of food down. We did burgers. We got the meat and buns at costco, so that helped. It was really hot outside so we spent quite a bit on drinks, but you could get by easy by just offering bottled waters and lemonade. You could just offer chips, or maybe make a pasta or a potato salad as a side dish. We also made peanut butter sandwiches in the shape of ducks (it was a rubber ducky theme). Another way you can keep you cost down besides food is to decorate with the party favors. Since we had the duck theme, we bought rubber ducks in different characters from Oriental Trading Co. and spread them around the tables. Guests got to take them home with them when the party was over. Good luck planning your party!

Is there any way you could ask people to bring dishes? just pick the people who are famous for their "certain dish" and tell them you would love to be able to serve "that food" at your party, and if they don't mind bringing it so everyone else can taste how delicious it is.
That way you have alot of people bringing food too!
Have fun!

I am not sure what kind of food you guys are into but stator brothers deli has fried chix and you can get 100 pieces for just under $60, you can serve it with those stoufers mac and cheese you bake in the oven and maybe some kind of salad or even potatoe salad which is all very filling. also just buy a cake from costco no ice cream. And you can even ask people to bring sides if you do the main course tell people your buying the main course and if they can make a side dish to go with it. most people would love to help. Also have each family coming bring a set of drinks or paper plates or something. This way everyone helps and it helps keep the cost down. Also if you schedule the party for an odd time like 1-4 most people have already etaen lunch so if you bought some of the chicken with some potatoe salad it couyld be a light foiod people can snack on.

We just had my DD first Bday over the weekend.We also had a large guest list (150 after editing it down)! We threw the party at our house....I purchased mini beach balls and bubbles from Oriental Trading CO online for the kids to play with and take home as favors. We ordered Pizza from Costco (it is only $10 a pizza and it's really good). Then I made cupcakes myself and did chips/dips, a veggie tray and then finger foods (cheerios, bananas, blueberries and goldfish for the kids). It was a huge sucess and we didn't have to spend a fortune. Enjoy!

I feel you here, I had the same problem. I kept it super simple, hamburgers (frozen ones from costco, plus they have really cheap buns and stuff), and then food that is filling so people eat less! Potato salad, macaroni salad, chips and salsa, things like that, also watermellon. Also, maybe you could ask your mom to help with the food, if she wants you to have a big party, she can help! Also, I bought a cake from walmart, it was pretty good, and if it is for a first birthday, they will give you a free mini cake for your daughter. All that said, we did the big party and I think it is more for everyone else than your daughter, they really arent into it at that age!

Like a few others, I'm wondering if you really must have 65 guests attend your 1-year-old's birthday party.? Why not have a big blown-out party when they turn 10 or some special older age that they'll actually remember and appreciate? Family parties are great and fun, but this is YOUR daughter and your decision, not your mother or husband's (although he should definitely have a say and feel part of it). And if they both think it's SO important to have a huge family gathering for your daughter's 1st birthday, then they should help out with assigning tasks, such as food, entertainment or decorations. Potluck or food assignments should definitely be considered, in helping you with cost, time and trouble.
You (or they) can always offer to throw another family party that's not done around your daughter's big day, which might get too crazy and loud for her to really feel the specialness for her. I'm afraid she may get lost in the crowd, even if everyone brings her gifts and sings to her. A one-year-old can only handle opening so many presents and so much noise and attention anyways. My two children each had small parties and both got sick of opening gifts before they were all done.
Do yourself a favor, and at least consider the alternatives to throwing this huge party all by yourself. Your daughter is the most important thing here. If you think you can make it work with others' help and maybe meet at a park or church for more room, then great! But I, personally, would probably buckle under that kind of pressure. Look inside yourself and figure out what's too much for you and what you can do happily and willingly, not being forced into. I believe you can have the party of your, your daughter's and husband's dreams while being kind and not offending. Just do the best you can. Good luck!
~N.

How about this...

Ask each person to bring their favorite dish along with the recipe on a card or paper that you send along with the invite. Explain that you are starting this tradition for your daughter so that when she turns 18, gets married or whatever, you can hand over all these different recipes from friends and family. You can carry on this tradition down the road at other functions and should have a good collection of recipes when your daughter is older.

I did this at my wedding shower and can be applied to just about any event.

There's nothing wrong with BYOB too.

If you want to cut down the guests list, be firm. Your daughter won't know who was or wasn't there.

I recommend:

Pasta, salad and bread - maybe buffet style with 2 or 3 different sauces

sub sandwiches cut into slices, fruit and chips

fried chicken from a deli with mashed potatoes, veggies and rolls - most delis have a pack of 100 or more pieces of chicken

not stressing too much :)

Just a warning to you, you may or may not agree with what I am going to say. I don't mean to be critical in any way, so I hope you will appreciate a differing opinion. Firstly, congratulations on your firstborn and also your recent pregnancy. There is nothing greater in the world than being a mom and I hope you enjoy every minute, as I have. They grow up so fast, it is unbelievable. If I were in your situation, I would serve only punch and cupcakes, if you do have a party. Your mom and husband need to understand that they are pressuring you about this. You CAN cut the guest list down if you want to. The important thing about a first birthday is celebrating the child's life, NOT feeding the relatives or catering to them. If your mom thinks that you need 65 people at the party, let HER pay for the total cost of the party itself as a birthday present for your daughter. In my opinion, you need to be focusing on the expenses you have now for your daughter's daily care and the second baby's delivery/arrival and care. If you serve punch and cupcakes, that is enough. You have to remember that the first birthday party will likely not be remembered by the child. Your daughter won't feel slighted at not having a huge party. Some people, my in-laws included, go overboard and expect every birthday to be a huge blowout at Chuck E. Cheese, etc. This is very expensive and can contribute to your child having a sense of entitlement (like everything should be given to them when they ask for it and they don't have to earn things.) To me, the economy seems to be getting worse daily, and spending money unnecessarily only adds to the problem. If you must have a big first birthday party, talk to your mom about either paying the whole cost or at least covering most of the expenses for you. Best of luck in your decision.

Hi K.,

Our son's first birthday was huge, too--I think I sent out 50 invitations (which would have been about 100 people if everyone came--which they didn't, thank goodness). We figured the first birthday was a good time for extended family and friends and even some work people to see our boy. We have not repeated the experience with the later birthdays--and yes, like you, our son was the only grandson, etc.

Here's what we did:

1. We hired a jumpy for the all of the kids--this worked great for our son who could crawl/bounce in it as the one year-old and the relatives' and friends' kids up to the age of 13. Jumpies are great for everyone! (I did not do games or anything else--the party was adult-heavy and people were happy to talk and eat).

2. For food, we went to Costco and bought many trays--shrimp, fresh fruit, veggies, mini wrap sandwiches, cold cuts and cheese, etc. We also bought many frozen appetizer thingies which were easy to heat and serve on platters. The only things I made were an enormous pot of baked beans, a jello molded salad, and a broccoli salad--all made ahead of time. We set it up buffet-style and let people graze as they wished.

3. Paper plates and plastic cutlery are your friend!!!

4. For party favors, Costco again--two boxes of chocolate bars that I glued a note to that said--"Thanks for coming to my first birthday!".

5. We filled ice chests with bottles of water, diet Coke, 7up, juice boxes, and beer. The water and diet Coke were in the most demand. We directed people to serve themselves.

6. We ordered an entire sheet cake for dessert. No ice cream--too time consuming to serve to so many guests. There was plenty of cake left over.

7. We did not open gifts during the party--way too many people to see and participate, way too time consuming, and our son was bugged out by the end of the party anyway--so many people. I also asked people not to bring gifts (again, the only grandson, etc. thing)--which most people ignored, but instead they brought small items, which worked out fine.

We also had a friend who had her son's first birthday catered--Mexican food--that was not too expensive and worked great since she could just chat with her guests (which I didn't get to do much of, even though a lot of the food was pre-done and self-serve--i was still locked in host-mode, which was fine but I didn't get to spend much social time with the guests).

And, we just had a friend's daughter turn one who did not have a party--just cake at home with her grandparents--so, really, there's no one right way to do a first birthday.

8. Ask your family to help--no matter what--especially get someone to run the video camera and someone else to take still pictures--we should have done more of this, since my husband and I were too busy to do much of this.

:-) D.
P.S. I love the ideas that other moms had about a potluck--you could easily potluck my food ideas above--just make sure you don't make someone responsible for a crucial item who is always late to events or who leaves early... :-)

make it a potluck type party and tell them in the invitation due to such large numbers attending that if possible bring your favorite side dish or treat and say that youll supply the hambergers hot dog etc. then you wont be spending soo much. also instead of buying a bunch of soda just make sparkling punch. i hope this helps good luck!