A First-Time Parent’s Guide to Planning a Kid’s First Birthday Party

Entertainment

As first-time parents, we tend to celebrate all our child’s achievements, from their first word to their first steps, so it’s only expected that their first birthday is given the importance it deserves.

If you have experienced planning a birthday party before, this should be no different, but if you haven’t, there’s no need to worry. This article is here to help. We’ve created a timetable to make the whole process easier for you.

3 to 2 months before the party

  • Set a date. The birthday party doesn’t necessarily have to be on the date itself, especially if it lands on a weekday. Most parties are held on weekends to accommodate parents and other guests who have school or work.
  • Decide on a theme. While this isn’t required, it may help guide you to decorate the venue and make the whole party seem more cohesive. If your child expresses a preference for certain cartoon characters or colours, you can pick them to be the central theme of the party.
  • Decide on the guest list. Early on, you must decide how many people you’ll invite, as it could limit which venues can accommodate you. 
  • Book a venue. If you’ll be holding the party in a restaurant, resort, or other such locations, it’s a good idea to call in early to ensure you get your desired date. Popular locations tend to be fully booked months ahead, so it’s prudent to start planning early. 
  • Invite the guests. Once you have the venue secured, you should contact the guests as soon as possible to confirm their attendance. Include the time start and end time, venue, and other pertinent details.

2 to 1 month before the party

  • Shop for party favours. Party favours are a great way to thank guests for coming. A candy bag would be a budget-friendly choice for a mostly-kid guest list.
  • Order the cake. Before contacting the bakery, decide what you want the cake to look like. Send them photos of what you want the cake to look like instead of describing your vision through text.
  • Think of games or activities. Some venues have a party host included in the package. If not, you’ll have to think up ways to entertain the guests. You can hire a clown or a magician or plan a scavenger hunt.

4 to 2 weeks before the party

  • Shop for gifts. A birthday party requires a birthday gift, and your child deserves the best. Get them a trendy toy like a Playmobil Ambulance or a big doll house.
  • Ensure everything is finalised. Talk to the venue staff and the cake shop so you’re sure everything is ready.

There’s plenty that must be considered when planning a children’s birthday party, but by breaking down the larger tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks, you won’t get overwhelmed and you can plan things out more smoothly. Ask for help if you need it, and stay organised so you don’t lose track of any important tasks.

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Wedding Decoration Ideas

Love

Finally! The moment is here! You and the love of your life are going to be united in the holy matrimony forever. Congratulations! We are virtually cheering for you because it’s your best decision ever. We can already feel the over-the-enthusiastic vibes and the overwhelming aura surrounding you and your partner. But, we can also sense some tensions.

Tensions because of the current situation where you are obliged to go for an intimate home wedding, and you are absolutely blank about all the arrangements and decorations. While we are sure the rest of the arrangements will be well taken care of by your dear ones, we are here for decoration ideas. There is something beautiful about decorated venues. It just makes the D-day more impactful and memorable.

Don’t worry about the decorations; we have got your back. Just read these ideas, and you are good to go.

  1. Draped Ceilings: Make your wedding ambience look more elegant and beautiful with fabrics. If you are having a Christian wedding, then you can drape the ceilings with white or ivory white fabrics. But, if it’s a Hindu wedding; go for bright colours like yellow, orange, red, pink, etc. You can also get the fabrics draped in patterns for a more dramatic effect.
  2. Use Patterned Pillows: Home weddings are all about comfort and cosiness. If you are more of a minimalistic person, the only thing you need to decorate your hall or space is pillows and cushions. Decorate the couch meant for you and your partner with patterned pillows. You could also go for personalised pillows and cushions.
  3. Hang Your Flowers: One cannot think of wedding decor without flowers. It’s necessary. Flowers make the venue look more vibrant and magnificent. Instead of the flower vases or flower decorations on the wall, be more creative and hang your flowers. There are two approaches to it. One is to have hanging flowers all around the venue at equal spacing. The next is to have hanging flowers over the table, having your wedding cake and dining tables. For unity, when you make an online cake delivery of your wedding cake, go for a floral themed cake.
  4. Chalkboard Signage: The best way to decorate and jazz up your entrance, cocktail bar, and dining area is to have chalkboard signage. Use a chalkboard having an antique frame or old frame. Further, you can drape the chalkboard with flower garlands or greenery. Use fancy and readable fonts to write on the chalkboard, and you can also draw on the chalkboard.
  5. Have Table Lamps: Create a more intimate setting, depth, and height by using table lamps. On each table, you can have lamps with flowers. Even the centrepiece having your wedding anniversary cake should be adorned with flowers and table lamps.
  6. Hang Paper Lanterns: If you are having a day-wedding, then this is the perfect decor idea to incorporate. Hand paper lanterns from the ceilings. Create patterns or a contrasting effect with them for uniqueness.

So, keep all your worries at bay because you have plenty of decor ideas to dazzle up your home wedding venue. We wish you luck, love, and happiness!

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Custom Made Cake or Store Bought – What should I do?

Shopping

It usually starts with you seeing a beautiful cake in a magazine or online and thinking you want a comparable cake for your next special occasion. Many people see pictures of custom designed cakes in magazines and on web sites. They then head to the local bake shop with the picture to get a price quote. When they learn of the cost for that cake, they enter shock. A quick check of other bakers in the area reveals similar pricing for custom cakes. Why are these cakes so expensive, and are they worth it?

There is nothing like knowing something is unique and has been created only for you. But custom requires a lot of resources. When you buy a custom cake, you are asking for the bakery’s highest priced flagship item. You are also asking them to focus considerable resources to you for this cake and, resources that they cannot devote to other things that will make them money.

When you place and order, you literally put a team to work, that include bakers, and cake decorators, who reach the level of artists. There are designs to be drawn up, and then redesigns (many people change their mind about the details cake), for the cake. There are long hours put in to color match things, and select materials (both edible and not), based on the picture the baker is given. There is the added need to work with delicate materials, some of which are only usable once and if handled improperly can cause parts of the cakes to have to be completely redone.

The details on a cake that make it unique are often very time consuming. As an example, a single life size rose made of gum paste can take 2 hours to make. Every petal must be pressed in a silicone mold to vein it perfectly and each layer of petals must be lightened in color so that it looks like real rose petals fading as the bloom out the a perfect full rose. If there are figurines on the cake, each one must be made by hand and have perfect proportions.

What are my other choices?

An alternative is getting a high quality store bought cake. The quality of ingredients and manufacturing techniques has increased sharply over the past decade to the point where some store bought baked goods are on par with a good bakery. Companies like Café Valley supply cakes and other baked goods to supermarkets and other baked goods retailers and the quality of their cakes is exceptional. Larry Polhill, Café Valley executive has been a part of the growth of Café Valley and he has seen quality in the industry significantly improve.

Although these cakes are not custom, you can add custom touches and make the cake your own, and most importantly, the price is only a fraction of what you would pay for a custom cake.

There is no true replacement for having a custom cake made specifically for a special occasion. But if you go this route it will be costly. If you are prepared for the expense, it may be a great option. If not, buying a store bought cake might do the job.

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