Our Little Cub is ONE!
I can remember the feeling of walking into our home for the first time with our newborn so well. I even recall the scent of fresh linen from cleaning the house and my last little bit of nesting before we headed to the hospital. I close my eyes and can see the afternoon sunlight pouring in through the windows. Our fluffy cat, Henry, cautiously walking up to this little wrinkled 2-day old babe suspicious of its tiny movements.
Bringing Hayes home was one of the most joyous moments of my life. It was a full circle moment for me when we celebrated him turning one in the very space we first walked into our home as a family of three. Although it wasn’t the big bash I had always pictured having for my baby’s first birthday, it was a celebration we will always cherish. It was sweet, simple and intimate, which I’d say was a perfect representation of Hayes’s first year earth side.
DETAILS + LINKS
COLOR PALETTE
I decided to go with a neutral color palette—taupe, brown, white, black + greenery. I ended up adding small pops of yellow in the florals.
SWEETS TABLE
This table was one of my main focus areas. I always suggest choosing 2-3 things to really focus on when throwing an event—this really helps to avoid doing too much and getting overwhelmed thinking that you need ‘all the things’. For this event, it was the sweets table + smash cake area. The sweets table featured a honeycomb backdrop (which actually came about as a last minute idea to cover up the screws that hang an art collage) and bear-themed treats. I cut out little brown bags to look like bears so guests could load up on goodies doubling as the favor. The ‘table runner’ was actually just a set of dishtowels from Ikea—for only $3! I also clipped photos to a metal wire memo board to prop up. I used my stash of antique milk glass to put greenery and florals in. I love using family heirlooms or going to garage sales (pre-pandemic) to find unique vases and glasses—they always make the cutest decor!
‘Oh Honey’ + ‘Hey There Baby Bear’ Sign (custom made by Tassel + Trim), Metal wire memo board (similar one on Amazon), Glass jars (Ikea), $3 'Table runner’ (Ikea), Gold spoons (Target), Custom cookies (Southern Home Bakery), Bundt cakes + cupcakes (Nothing Bundt Cakes), Honeycomb backdrop (custom made by Tassel + Trim), Wooden cutlery (Becomes Earth), Printed photos (Artifact Uprising), Bear cake topper (Tassel + Trim), Smash cake topper (Tassel + Trim), Glass jars (Ikea)
SMASH CAKE AREA
For this area I wanted it to be simple but fun! I created a large balloon banner and used a scrap piece of wood to adhere Hayes’s monthly photos to. I moved the highchair away once the smash cake was over so we could use as a photo backdrop—I love when spaces can serve multiple purposes. I am always looking for ways to make things simple when throwing an event, you don’t have to go ‘all out’ in every area—it is always a good idea to evaluate how you can get the most of each space you design.
Smash cake topper (Tassel + Trim), Balloon garland (Lushra), Monthly photo board (custom made by Tassel + Trim), Highchair (Joovy), Bubble romper (Chubby Bubby Bear), Booties (Amazon), Printed photos (Artifact Uprising)
OTHER PARTY DETAILS
Drink stirrers (Tassel + Trim), Milestone print (Tassel + Trim), Invitation (Tassel + Trim), Play kitchen (Ikea), Play kitchen leather handles (Ikea), Balance bike (Retrospec), City 3D Puzzle (Pottery Barn), Photos by my friend and talented photographer Kari Land (Kari Land Photography)