My lil girl turned one this past weekend. I have been to a few parties and witnessed all the hullabaloo that was supposedly for baby. The expectations and excitement were high, but my budget was low. I couldn't stomach spending a month's paycheck for a party my darling won't even remember.
At one party I attended, the little girl was presented with a fondant cake. I didn't even order a fondant cake for my wedding. Don't get me wrong — they are beautiful, but, what happened to the good old days of making your own or buying a sheet cake from the local grocer?
Sheet cakes are my favorite because you can get creative with them. I bought a white cake and had my daughter's picture printed on the white icing. I only had to give the baker a 4x6 photo and one day notice.
Like most one-year-olds, my daughter loves seeing her own reflection so it was literally the icing on the cake. She dove into it and giggled. That's what birthdays are about. Sorry expensive fondant cake, you lose.
Alberta Ferretti
British Knights
Fornarina
I hear you on the not going over the top. For people that do have the money - it would be wiser investment to make an actual investment for the child's future rather then spend $$$$ on something that will only be "photo memories" as I like to put it.
One year olds would be more conent with some empty boxes/buckets and some rocks or crayons to throw into and take out of those boxes then fondont!
1Oh and that is an awesome idea with the baby's picture on the cake - they love looking at "baby" pictures at that age!
2Yeah on my first birthday my mom, who is over the top when it comes to that stuff, got me 3 cakes. Each cake had a Carousel on it with different circus animals. The theme was a "3-Ring Circus". Looking back at pictures they were cute, and I got my own cake to just dig my hands and face into, but I know that when I have a kid, I will not be so intense like my mom haha.
3What a great idea!
4That's crazy to fete a child like that for their first birthday. Keep it simple. And definitely let the baby get cake all over. It's so cute!
5very cute idea
6Cute!
7We did the same thing for our little guy's first birthday.
8awwww, so cute!!
9awwww, so cute!!
10We've been to some huge 1st birthday parties. One had a 3 tier 3-d "bug" themed cake. The mother made bug jars full of designer chocolates and painted each guest's name on them. I thought it was to much, but I bet she had great pictures
11I just saw pics from a friend of a friend's child's 1st birthday. It was a theme party....catered by a popular Southern CA restaurant... There were 2 cakes. A sheet cake for the guests and a HUGE cake for the 1 year old to demolish...it had to have cost at least $30-$40 (not even including the 2nd cake...) Too much!!! The kid is 1! A bit much if you ask me.
12i don't see anything wrong with the parents enjoying themselves and looking back on the past year with an expensive piece of cake, what ever the age of the child. after a year of late nights and lots of exciting first's i actually think it's kind of appropriate for the first birthday. just because the baby won't remember it doesn't make it any less meaningful for the parents.
we only had one birthday with my oldest daughter before she started to slip into autism. and i can tell you now that if i had known that then i would have had the real circus at my house.
13I felt the same way before my son's 1st birthday. However, my parents really wanted to have a big party for him. It was not fancy by any means (it was in their house), but there were more people than I originally wanted. I have to say, we had such a great time. After that difficult first year, it was fun for US to celebrate. Also, my parents love doing things like this for their grandson, so it would have been mean to not let them do it. I think people should be able to have whatever kind of event they would like. I agree that it is just fine to do something small, but you shouldn't criticize others for doing things differently than you.
14i dont have a baby but i would make his or her their first birthday cake.
15Lickety - Good point - never thought of it that way.
I completely agree with having lots of people and enjoying the day and making memories - but for our little girl's party it was like all birthdays in my family - when it is about good friends and family rather then how much you spend on the party or the cake.
16fondant doesn't even taste good
17I despise fondant no matter what the occasion. It tastes disgusting, and even if you remove it, it leaves that grossness on the underlying cake and frosting.
I don't care if people go overboard with first birthdays if it makes them happy. The first birthday party is for the parents, not the child.
However, we do ours small and the birthday child doesn't get their own cake. I hate seeing my kid covered in frosting and cake particles. My younger son didn't even get a piece of cake, he couldn't have solids yet. *lol*
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