Preston had a wonderful 1st year birthday celebration at one of his favorite places – the beach! The sounds of the ocean’s waves, children laughing gleefully, and an acoustic guitar strumming nearby created an atmosphere that was every bit of perfection. The beach is not only one of nature’s most magnificent playgrounds, but it served as the ideal backdrop for a picnic—so picturesque and effortless.
If you are looking to have a laidback party, that’s still fun and memorable (without overspending); then these ideas might just work for you.
My boys love the beach, so the location was a no brainer! Some parents might say that you shouldn’t go “over the top” for your kid’s birthday party. I say: to each, their own. If you want to have an extravagant party; then have it! Personally, I believe that balance is important. I focus on what I think my kids will enjoy and what my family will have a good time doing together.
Ok! So let’s talk themes! For Preston’s birthday I chose a nautical theme, even before selecting the location. Typically, we have our kid’s birthday parties at home in addition to going out to do a birthday activity or attend an event (on the same day or a different day). The kids love seeing the house decorated. However, since I had just decorated at our house only a few weeks prior for my oldest son’s birthday, I thought I would skip decorating at home and just set up at the beach.
When it comes to choosing a theme for a 1st birthday, it’s either easy because the possibilities are endless or that could be exactly why it’s difficult for some people. I say the possibilities are endless because a one year old might not have a favorite character or tv show yet. They are just happy with the simple things. We didn’t buy a ton of gifts because not only do we know family and friends love to buy the kiddos presents too, we know that delicious food and quality time (singing songs and playing) are so enjoyable to them. I purchased a small claw machine and filled it with a few small toys and goodies. This is a fantastic purchase and was as amusing as I hoped it would be. It was a joy to see the boys’ little faces light up when they’d won a prize.
I purchased these tiki lamps during the summer and hadn’t found an opportunity to use them. This happened to be just the right occasion. I utilized the lamps as a way to hang the pennant banner above the picnic spread and to frame the space. The pieces that pull everything together are the inflatable boat and the letter trays. The boat is an item we already owned, while the letter trays that spell out “P R E S T O N ” were a recent craft store find. If interested, I am sure similar trays can be found with a quick Google search. They were a hit! They are versatile and can be decorated however you’d like. I chose to use them as charcuterie and dessert trays. It turned out to be super cute!
Let’s Talk! If you found these ideas helpful, I’d love to know. If you have any questions about any of the items pictured, ask in the comment section as well. Thanks!
Love Travels Fast 