Hey friends, Courtney here!
I can hardly believe it—my son Forrest is officially one year old. Time flies; it feels like yesterday we were introducing him on the blog. We celebrated with a cozy, low-key birthday at home with close friends and family. It was a simple gathering full of warmth and little details that made the day feel special. Below I’m sharing photos and ideas from the celebration in case you’re planning something similar.
Rather than a strict theme, I focused on small touches that would delight Forrest—he notices tiny details, loves animals, and has a goofy sense of humor—so I added whimsical elements throughout the party that reflected his favorites. I also made a few easy crafts and recreated some Pinterest ideas, which I’ll describe along with the recipes I used for his smash cake and sugar cookies.
Here are twelve ideas and details from Forrest’s first birthday that you can use for inspiration:
1. A Special Party Hat
I bought an adorable birthday hat knowing he might not love wearing it—and he didn’t. He immediately wanted it off, but it made for cute photos and will be a keepsake.
2. Stuffed Animals in Party Hats
I spotted the idea on Pinterest and made small paper hats for his stuffed animals. I cut semi-circles from craft paper, formed cones, taped them, added pom-poms with hot glue, and tied baker’s twine to secure them. I also added puff-painted white dots on a few for extra charm. Mini wood animals got tiny pom-pom hats too—such an easy, whimsical touch that made him giggle.
3. DIY Party Picks and Cupcake Embellishments
To personalize store-bought cupcakes, I designed watercolor animal toppers and photos of Forrest wearing hats using a simple design tool, printed them, and glued them to toothpicks. I tucked an animal cracker into each cupcake for an extra playful detail. These personalized picks are an easy way to elevate bakery treats.
4. Month Milestone Banner
I printed Forrest’s monthly photos and a few matching shots of him in the same chair, punched holes in each, and strung them on baker’s twine to make a banner. Seeing his growth laid out was so sweet. If possible, print on cardstock or use real photo prints for durability.
5. Photo and Video Slideshow on the TV
We created a slideshow with favorite photos and short clips from the past year and streamed it to the TV so it played on a loop. It let guests enjoy more memories than we could display on the walls and was a lovely background feature throughout the party.
6. A Festive Smash Cake
I made a healthier smash cake using a recipe that uses yogurt as frosting and decorated it with a simple “one” candle, a few printed toppers on skewers, and a pom-pom. Forrest dug in and loved it; I tried a bite too and thought it was tasty and kept well as leftovers.
7. “Who Knows the One-Year-Old Best” Sheet
I made a trivia sheet about Forrest as a fun conversation starter. It wasn’t a formal game this time, but you could easily turn it into one with small prizes for guests who answer most questions correctly.
8. Sugar Cookie Party Favors
I made bunny-shaped sugar cookies and packaged them in clear treat bags with ‘from Forrest’ stickers. I used a reliable sugar cookie and royal icing recipe and, despite icing late into the night, it was worth the effort. Guests left with a sweet, homemade favor.
9. Whimsical Bunting
I hung fabric bunting behind his high chair and added a small pennant a kind follower sent before he was born. These soft touches made the photo area feel festive and cozy.
10. A Tasty Spread of Snacks and Treats
A party’s not complete without snacks. I picked up a variety of treats and cheeses from Trader Joe’s and set up a casual spread. A new favorite was a peanut butter caramel-coated popcorn that went over well with guests.
11. Simple Bouquets
Fresh flowers from the market added color and a cheerful touch to the kitchen table. Small, simple bouquets are an easy way to elevate the space without much effort.
12. Instant Camera
We kept an instant camera handy for printed mementos. While phone photos are great, the instant prints have a nostalgic quality I love. We’ve used the camera for special events before—these little photos are perfect for memory books and scrapbooks.
My grandma gifted a baby memory book that I’ve been filling out each month, and adhesive photo corners make adding Polaroids easy. Those small, tangible memories are priceless.
My sister Kylee and her daughter Lila traveled up to celebrate, which was extra special. They wore matching striped outfits and helped Forrest open a few favorite gifts. Since Lila and Forrest are close in age, it will be lovely to watch them grow and celebrate together.
It was a wonderful day celebrating our little boy. Thanks for reading along—I hope some of these ideas inspire a warm, simple celebration for your loved one’s first birthday.
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