Your little one’s first birthday is a huge milestone. It marks the completion of a full year’s worth of growth and is filled with laughter, happiness, and a whole lot of cake smashing — just see some of our favorite first-birthday parties featured on PartySlate.
The best 1st-birthday party themes engage guests of all ages and embody the joyous celebration of your kid’s momentous first year. From captivating décor to one-of-a-kind entertainment, this important occasion deserves a day as unique and extraordinary as your one year old.
Keep reading to explore how these elevated party themes capture the essence of your child’s blossoming personality. From bold adventures, whimsical fairy fields, and colorful wonderlands, it’s time to celebrate in style. Check out these 17 1st-birthday themes to kickstart their second year around the sun.
1. Cue the Rainbow Hues With a Vibrant Birthday Theme
This rainbow colorscape, planned by Illana Rubin Events, captivates guests with its vivid display of eye-catching umbrellas, colorful picnic tables, and rainbow-striped bar. Click to see how the dessert spread successfully captures all colors of the rainbow, as well.
2. Bring Your Disney Dreams to Life With an Encanto Birthday Theme
MICHELLE FLORES PHOTOGRAPHY captures all the Disney magic with this immersive, yet elevated, take on Encanto. Featuring live music, a bounce house, and a playful color palette, this setup is sure to wow your little one on their big day.
3. Explore the Great Outdoors With a Safari Birthday Theme
This safari-themed celebration calls for adventure. Tropical florals and lush greenery by Green Petal Design let this vibrant birthday roar to life alongside jungle-hued centerpieces and life-sized animal sculptures. Click to see how the pool décor also takes this creative safari adventure to the next level.
4. Come One, Come All to a Circus Birthday Theme
Step right up to this thrilling spectical planned by AE Events. From live entertainment, festive foods straight from the fair, and circus games ready to wow, this mesmerizing celebration is set to make any first birthday a memorable experience for all.
5. Stay Bright and Boho With a Beachy Birthday Theme
This elegant, beachy wonderland, planned by Event Du Jour, takes center stage with a boho-inspired floral installation. Meanwhile, Event City LA kept this celebration sophisticated and breezy with a white bounce house, ball pit, and painting station.
6. Spread the Love With a Valentine’s Day Birthday Theme
Michigan Avenue Events brings all the love to this beautiful pink and red-hued Valentine’s Day theme. With colorful, customized Sweetheart mini-cakes, a table spread filled with rosy florals, and stunning personalized stationery by Ceci New York, this Thoi Noi Vietnamese first-birthday party wins over kids and adults alike.
7. Step Up to the Plate With a Baseball Birthday Theme
This Messy Table LA hits a homerun with all the bites fit for a baseball game. Adults enjoyed a sophisticated charcuterie spread while the little ones snacked on ballpark favorites such as Cracker Jacks, popcorn, and sunflower seeds.
8. Feel the Festival Vibes With a Coachella Birthday Theme
KeAira Chantell Events captures the festival vibes with this Coachella-themed celebration. Additionally, Déjà vu Sweets incorporates creative desert elements such as cacti-frosted ice cream cones to match the whimsical balloon installations.
9. Say “Oui” to a Parisian Birthday Theme
Sarabeth Events whisks guests off to Paris at this picnic celebration. With fresh crêpes, an accordion player, and a dapper monkey dressed for the occasion, this Parisian dreamscape is “très magnifique.”
10. Chug Along With a Train Birthday Theme
This baby blue-hued train celebration by Bob Gail Events immerses guests with a ticket booth station, customized coloring pages, and a concession stand serving snacks perfect for traveling adventures.
11. Pass the Sweets With a Candyland Birthday Theme
Tica Rose Events creates a sweet display of personalized illustrations to bring this Candyland fantasy to life. With a pastel rainbow color palette and splendid array of treats, this sugar-rush celebration is ready to impress.
12. Make it Unique With a Unicorn Birthday Theme
Destinations by Design encapsulates the fantasy genre with pink and purple florals for this unicorn birthday theme. From lush tablescapes to a surprise visit from a “real” unicorn, this dreamy celebration elegantly captures the magic.
13. Frolic in Flowery Fields With a Fairy Birthday Theme
This enchanting fairyscape by Event Du Jour will have guests swooning with its lush display of florals and pink-hued décor. From a custom drink menu with “fairy good drinks” to whimsical floral sculptures overlooking the table, this theme will have guests fluttering with excitement.
14. Make a Splash With a Surfer Birthday Theme
This surfer celebration by Modern Party Co incorporates waves of blue with custom trucker hats, a surfboard backdrop, and beachy-blue tablescapes which are sure to make a splash. In addition, Shag Carpet Productions hangs ten with a Vintage VW bus-turned-bar that is sure to wow guests.
15. Explore New Depths With an Ocean Birthday Theme
Balloon and Paper brings the sea to land with incredible marine-life balloon displays. From a giant octopus to intricate archways and bubbles throughout, this ocean celebration will have guests reaching for their cameras.
16. Create a ONEderful World With an Airplane Birthday Theme
Creative Crayons Workshop takes to the skies with a custom coloring tablecloth for this airplane-themed celebration. The detailed keep-sake beautifully reflects elements of the theme with maps, suitcases, and cameras that are essential for a first trip around the sun.
17. Giddy Up With a Rodeo Birthday Theme
This rodeo-themed birthday by Michelle Durpetti Events incorporates all things western with displays of cowboy hats and bandanas, hay bales, and festive garlands. Click to see how pony rides take this rodeo to the next level, as well.
People Also Ask…
How do I choose my first birthday theme?
Choosing a first birthday theme should represent your little one’s budding personality. Incorporate a sense of familiarity with favorite toys and characters that speak to their current interests, or play with their favorite colors to find the perfect color scheme that’s sure to wow. Whether it’s trains, fairies, or even their favorite movie, we’ve got you covered with the best party theme inspiration to bring your celebration to life.
Where can I find party vendors?
Creating a memorable first birthday requires a talented team of party vendors to elevate the celebration, so it’s both stress-free and picture-perfect.
Use PartySlate to find incredible kids’ birthday vendors, and be sure to explore our curated vendor directory, as well. You can also check out the vendors listed below for additional information.
Where can I find more kids’ birthday party inspiration?
For more on how to create the perfect birthday celebration for your kid, we’ve got you covered. Be sure to check out the guides listed below for additional inspiration and ideas.
featured rentals
Smith Party Rentals
We love how Smith Party Rentals brings something new to the table. With their unique and and sleek inventory, It’s no wonder why this team of experts is in high demand. photographer: Samm Blake