10 Tips for Planning the Best 1st Birthday Party | Pittsburgh Baby Photographer
It's always a joy to photograph babies at their first birthday party. I enjoyed photographing this baby girl recently at her beautiful birthday party. The theme was ducks, colors were yellow and blue, great children's music and there were fantastic decorations, guests and food. After having so much fun at this birthday party I thought I'd be fun to discuss planning a first birthday party.
10 Tips for Planning the Best 1st Birthday Party
1. Time | Plan the party for after naptime, so your baby is well rested (and less likely to be in a bad mood). Limit the bash to a few hours—parties can be overwhelming for small children, especially if there are a lot of guests. Find a quiet space before the party, so if baby needs a breather or gets fussy, you can take him or her there.
2. Guest List | The size of your party ultimately depends on your own preferences, as well as your budget—obviously the more people you have, the more food, beverages and space you’re going to need. Begin with your must-invite list: the people you wouldn’t celebrate without. If you can add to your head count, keep going.
3. Location | If you have a big enough home, throwing the party at your house could be a good option. Hosting the event at home means guests can hang out longer and baby has a place to nap if he or she gets tired. Plus, baby might be more comfortable in familiar surroundings. Booking a restaurant or even a children’s play space could be costly, but the big advantage is that you won’t get stuck with cleanup. There’s also no prep to deal with, and you won’t have to entertain guests as much. Otherwise, why not head to your favorite park? You can set up food and decorations at a picnic table (and some parks have grills). Plus, there’s already a play structure there to occupy the kids—just make sure that you have enough adults to keep an eye on them. Check with the local parks department to see if you need a permit or have to make a reservation for the space.
4. Theme | Does baby have a beloved elephant toy he or she sleeps with every night? Try zoo animals as a birthday theme. If your favorite part of the day is reading to baby at night, pepper the party with books. You can take inspiration from the season whether you’re having an indoor or outdoor party. We had a Little People theme for my daughter that loved these toys, a Ball party for my son who's first few words included ball and finally a Winter Onederland party for our daughter born in December.
5. Menu | You don't need to spend all day in the kitchen preparing party food and baking a cake. Plan your menu and keep it simple with sandwiches, pasta salads and iced tea for adults. For the little ones, serve up bite-size cakes and other treats, as well as no-choke finger foods and other baby-friendly options. You can order a cake from your favorite bakery or pick up the food from a local deli to make things a little easier on you. I've seen cereal stations where cheerios and other cereals are displayed in clear containers for babies and toddlers to enjoy.
6. Decorations | Instead of buying all of your decorations, you can make your own. You can decorate the room with photographs of your baby from every month of the year, hang up clothes that your little one has grown out of or ask your guests (the parents and the kids) to bring a picture of themselves at one year old to use to make a memorable photo collage. Rag garlands look cute. When I've made rag garlands I cut (or ripped) fabric 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches wide and about 21 inches long. Use a slip knot to tie the fabric onto the garland. I love having balloons at parties, most babies love them and they add instant festiveness! Opt for foil, or Mylar, balloons instead of latex to avoid choking hazards for kids. I've admired adorable first birthday infographic posters. The infographic poster shows your guests what your baby has learned and how your baby has grown over the year.
7. Help | Consider hiring a babysitter or asking a family member to help you balance your hosting duties with enjoying your baby's big day.
8. Play Place | Many of the babies in this age range are still on all fours, so baby-proof a play zone filled with age-appropriate toys for your little guests. Set chairs around the zone for parents to relax and watch.
9. Pictures | Be sure to take pictures of the cake and of your baby in his or her birthday outfit before the guests arrive. I've had some birthday parties for my kids and didn't have a chance to photograph them and I'm a photographer! I suggest tring to finish preparing for the party 30 before the party is scheduled to begin so you can relax and take some beautiful pictures.
10. Have fun! | Drinks will spill, accidents will happen and kids will cry, but you shouldn't sweat the small stuff. Relax and enjoy yourself with your baby and your guests. Birthday parties are meant to be fun and sometimes we get too caught up in all the details. Put on some music, break out the bubbles and just have some fun with your wee one. Your one-year-old will be a teenager before you know it.
And one more tip... I use one sheet of paper and write Guests, Schedule, Food, Drinks, Decorations, Activities, Music, Goodie Bags and Prizes, and on the other side of the sheet I write To Buy and To Do. This really helps me keep organized, on task and on budget.
I'd love to hear about your gorgeous parties and any additional tips you would like to share with us! Please comment below.
Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Ella & Tutu in Cologne | Pittsburgh Newborn and Family Photographer
Ella & Tutu in Cologne
Story by Anna Mares. Doll by Lenna McGraw. Photography by Laura Mares
Ella and Tutu have finally arrived in Cologne, but they are a little frightened by all the new faces and strange voices.
Luckily, Ella devises a brilliant plan. They will explore around the house and uncover some hidden treasures.
Shortly after hiking into the backyard they uncover something they had never dreamed of finding, their very own private garden. Ella carries Tutu's travel fatigued body into a flower palace with an amazed expression.
Ella gives Tutu a tour of the gorgeous flowers in the garden and Tutu adored every unique petal.
After exploring the garden, they decide to trek to the center of Cologne to see the beautiful Cathedral they have heard so much about, so Ella buckles Tutu into her stroller to prepare for the ride.
Once at the Cologne Cathedral, Ella and Tutu look through another beautiful garden. They find many unique flowers.
Soon they decide to wonder over to the majestic architecture. Together they jump off their bench to look around.
Ella and Tutu dance together in front of the cathedral and tourists giggle for them.
The girls make a silly pose for the camera and then run off to see the front of the Cathedral.
They stop in their tracks when they catch a glimpse of how high and large it is. Ella spots it first and then holds Tutu up for a better view.
Finally, before it's time to leave, Ella and Tutu lay down to gaze again at the full moon, clouds and the beautiful Cathedral. They want to take in every wonderful detail!
If you know of a girl that would like her very own rag doll, let me know and I'll get you in touch with the seamstress.
Pittsburgh Photographer| Pittsburgh Newborn Photographer | Pittsburgh Family Photographer
Pittsburgh Child Photographer | Pittsburgh Baby Photographer | Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photographer
Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Shinning Light Prenatal Education | Pittsburgh Newborn Photographer
Course Topics Include:
- Normal labor, birth and early postpartum
- Positioning to facilitate the normal progress of labor and birth
- Massage techniques to ease the pain of labor and to enhance relaxation
- Comfort measures, such as hydrotherapy, the use of heat, cold and pressure
- Relaxation skills to use during labor and after pregnancy to relieve stress
- Labor support advice for the partner and the professional (doula)
- Communication skills between the pregnant woman and her partner, and with members of the healthcare team
- Problems that could occur during labor and birth
- Guidance for the pregnant woman to make informed decisions about anesthesia and medical procedures
- Breastfeeding and the early postpartum period
The Confident Birthing courses are offered in small group settings, with a maximum of 8 couples per course. Please register early to ensure a space for you and your partner. Ideally, this course should be completed by the end of your 36th week of pregnancy.
Please wear comfortable clothes in which you can move and bring 2 pillows to class.
- $245 (per couple)
- Save $25 on this class when you purchase a NOURISH your Pregnancy package.
- Some health insurance providers offer reimbursement for Childbirth Education classes. If yours does, please bring the form to class and it can be signed and validated.
- This class is either four Wednesday evenings from 6:00-9:00 pm OR two Saturday afternoons from 1:00-6:00 pm
Ella & Tutu: The Best Tea Party | Pittsburgh Newborn and Family Photographer
Ella & Tutu: The Best Tea Party
Story by Anna Mares. Doll by Lenna McGraw. Photography by Laura Mares.
Ella and Tutu are going to a magical forest to partake in the best tea party ever! Ella is also planning to surprise Tutu with a secret about their upcoming journey to the city of lights.
Ella's suitcase, full of tea party supplies, starts to get too heavy for her, she asks her big brother Benny for help.
Ella is so giddy that she starts to giggle. She knows that the Tea Party is going to be the best.
Now they need a great place to set up the tea. Luckily, out of the corner of Tutu’s eye she sees the ideal spot.
Quickly, they sit down and set up their Tea Party. Tutu comes up with the idea to talk with a British accent. After a few seconds of English chatter they break out in laughter. Tutu requests some tea and crumpets.
Ella promptly pours a little tea and milk into Tutu’s cup.
The next course is Ginger Crinkles, and Tutu loves them.
After their tummys' can no longer store any more food, they decide to pay a little Hide and Seek.
Tutu hides, and Ella promises not to peek. She starts to count to ten “1…2…3…” She tries to picture all the places Tutu could be hiding.
She never guessed that Tutu could have climbed up a tree!
“8…9…10…” Ella squeals. Let the search begin.
After a few seconds Ella spots Tutu up in the tree. Ella shouts, “You silly monkey!”
Now it is time for Ella to share the secret. Together, Ella and Tutu search for the most hidden spot they can find.
When Tutu is settled, Ella whispers in her ear…
If you know of a girl that would like her very own rag doll, let me know and I'll get you in touch with the seamstress.
Pittsburgh Photographer| Pittsburgh Newborn Photographer | Pittsburgh Family Photographer
Pittsburgh Child Photographer | Pittsburgh Baby Photographer | Pittsburgh Lifestyle Photographer
Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Natalie's First Birthday Party | Real Pittsbugh Family | Pittsburgh Event Photographer
Natalie's First Birthday Party
I love spending time with small children, especially babies and I absolutely love every opportunity I have to photograph them too! I had the pleasure of meeting Natalie when her mom hired me to take her nine month old portraits. She asked if I'd be available to photograph her birthday party. Natalie is a pleasant toddler and I'm really glad I was able to photograph her first birthday. I love planning birthday parties for my own children and am always curious to hear how others plan. I asked Natalie's mom to fill us in on the details of how she pulled off a gorgeous first birthday party.
Tell us about your baby's first birthday party.
Laura, came about a half an hour before the party started to get some planned pictures of my daughter. She stayed for about three hours and got greta photos of everything. I was super busy and would never of had the time to take pictures on my own with 60 people at my house.
Describe your baby's 1st birthday.
We had fun, created new memories and celebrated my little one's birthday.
What was the theme of the Party?
Hello Kitty
Where was the party?
We had the party at our house.
How many guests?
60+
Tell us about the food.
We had it catered from Pasta Too and I had a server.
Who baked the cake?
My best friend made her Hello Kitty smash cake an I ordered cookies and cupcakes from Barton's, a little bakery in Elizabeth, PA.
Tell us about the party decorations.
I started making them months ahead. I found her vintage wooden Tiffany blue high chair off a local buy/sell/trade group.
Music/Entertainment
We booked a balloon person but she cancelled during the party.
Party Favors
Children received a Ty Hello Kitty beanie and a Hello Kitty glow stick.
What did your baby wear to the party?
A close friend made her a Hello Kitty "one" top and her outfit change was into a Matilda Jane outfit.
What was the highlight of the party?
All of the friends and family over to our house to celebrate Natalie's 1st birthday and my 91 year old grandma who made it to the party. She died two months later.
What's the best advice you can give to other families planning a first birthday party?
Plan ahead!!
Have you decided on a theme for her next birthday?
We are doing a Candyland theme.
Laura Mares is an experienced photographer specializing in capturing timeless family keepsakes. Laura works on location and in her fully equipped home studio, located in Mt. Lebanon, eight miles south of Pittsburgh, PA. Laura’s style is creative, natural, and timeless. Would you like beautiful portraits of your newborn baby, to update your child and family portraits or to document a milestone in your life such as a wedding, graduation, birthday or reunion? If you are interested in high quality, timeless photographs, book your session today, call (412) 654-3367 or email [email protected]. To view a wide range of gorgeous portraits and to get great tips, advice and beautiful inspiration follow us on Instagram and Facebook.