Birthday party planning

It’s birthday season again in our household with Andrew, Emma and Chloe all celebrating their special days over the next couple of months.

Emma’s birthday is all sorted – we are not doing anything over the top this year, just a family afternoon tea which she will share with Andrew and a small party with her closest friends at the end of the month.

Chloe’s birthday is a bit more complicated and as it’s fast approaching, I need to start making some serious decisions very quickly.  All first birthdays are a big deal, but Chloe’s is even more so to me.  Chloe’s heart surgery was a big deal and coming to terms with her extra chromosome was also a big deal. 

Turning one is a huge milestone for Chloe and for our family. We have been through a lot these past 12 months and I want to celebrate the fact that “Yeah!  We made it!” We are happy (most of the time) and in a really good place right now.  It’s nice and I want to acknowledge that.  On top of all this celebrating, I also want to show gratitude to all those who showed our family so much love and support over the past 12 months.  We are so blessed to have so many beautiful friends and family in our lives who we truly cherish. 

This is where it gets complicated.  I am really good at organising events and have done many amazing things in the past where staff have felt valued and clients and guests have felt honoured.  But this magic that I can create is only made possible when someone throws me a decent budget.  When it comes to organising parties of my own which are unfortunately on a smaller budget and therefore scale, I am not so good. 

There are so many people out there who are so much better at doing birthday parties than me.  I have been to many parties where the amazing mum has created a really impressive spread of food and really pretty and clever decorations that have all worked so well.  I am great at coming up with ideas but I am not “hands on” creative.  I would want everything to be perfect so I would be too scared to even try to do it all myself.  With that in mind, things just become way too expensive.

I also find parties held at home stressful – especially when the said birthday is on a potentially wet August day and there is an extensive guest list.  The thought of cramming 70+ adults and kids into my home gives me a headache.  The chaos and stress would take away from the celebration and it would become just about having a party than the actual party itself.  And what would I do with all those kids???

If we had a much bigger budget, I would invite the 70+ people that I would love to celebrate Chloe’s first birthday with and shout them all lunch and drinks at a nice restaurant.  This would be the easiest and nicest way for us to celebrate and to express my love and thanks to all those who mean so much to our family.  But, I checked my lotto ticket this morning and this great idea is just not going to be possible this week.

All I can say is that whether we somehow manage to pull together a big event or if it ends up being a smaller, more intimate gathering at home, I want Chloe’s birthday to be relaxed, fun and memorable.  At her age, she won’t even know what’s going on and I wouldn’t be surprised if she falls asleep at one point or another. But that is no reason for us not to celebrate.  She might not remember but we certainly will. 

Time is ticking but I already have a theme in mind and words are quickly coming together for my speech.  Birthday planning and problem solving are currently in full swing so watch this space!

Have you organised a first birthday party for your child?  Did you do something over the top or instead have something small and quiet?  Or was it something different or unique even?