First birthday party planner
A first birthday is really a party for the grown-ups, built around one very small guest who still naps. Keep it short, plan the timing around their schedule and put your effort into the things you'll keep: photos, a few words from family, and a page of notes about who they are at one.
- Start planning
- 6–8 weeks ahead
- Guests
- Usually 10–30, mostly family and a few parents with babies
- Planner length
- 3 months, starting now
Free to preview. Opens with the party pages, title and a 3-month calendar already set — change anything.
1st birthday countdown
Start 6–8 weeks ahead. These dates go on the countdown page of your planner, with tick boxes.
6 weeks before
Pick a date and a time that sits between naps, set the budget and draft the guest list.
4 weeks before
Send invitations, book a photographer or ask a relative to take photos, choose the theme.
2 weeks before
Order the cake and a small smash cake, check guests' allergies, buy decorations.
1 week before
Confirm numbers, make the photo shot list, plan the food that can be made ahead.
On the day
Set up during the morning nap, do the smash cake early before tiredness sets in, keep it to two hours.
1st birthday ideas
Pick one and build the plan around it. There are blank ideas pages in the planner for screenshots and sketches.
One-derland
Soft whites and pastels, paper snowflakes and a winter-wonderland cake. Easy to decorate and photographs well.
Wild one
Jungle animals, leafy greens and a little crown for the birthday baby.
Their first year in photos
A string line of one photo per month, from newborn to now. Guests always stop to look.
Time capsule
Ask each guest to write a note for the child to open at 18. Seal them in a box on the day.
Brunch at home
A late-morning party fits between naps and needs no evening babysitting for the other parents.
What's in the planner
Every page is linked from a tab, so you tap once to reach the guest list or the budget.
- Event Overview
- Party Countdown
- Party Budget
- Guests & RSVPs
- Menu & Drinks
- Shopping List
- Decor & Supplies
- Vendors
- Day-Of Timeline
- Photo Shot List
- Gifts & Thank-Yous
- Ideas & Inspiration
- Monthly and weekly calendar
- Notes
Tips for a 1st birthday
- Schedule the cake for the first hour, while the baby is still happy.
- Ask parents about food allergies when they RSVP — note them on the guest list page.
- Set up a quiet corner with a playmat for younger guests.
- Write down what your child loves right now: first words, favourite toys, little habits. It becomes the best page in the planner.
1st birthday questions
How long should a first birthday party be?
Around two hours is plenty. Plan it between naps — late morning or mid-afternoon usually works best.
How many people should we invite?
Most families keep it to close family and a handful of friends. A smaller party is calmer for a one-year-old.
Can I plan the party and keep baby notes in one planner?
Yes. Add the Pregnancy & Baby pages alongside the party pages and you have feeding and sleep logs in the same file.
Other birthdays
Also: anniversary planners by year, wedding checklists by timeline, or the party planner.
Plan the 1st in one place
Countdown, budget, guests, menu, decor, photos and thank-yous — hyperlinked for GoodNotes, Notability or print.