Top Tips when planning your ultimate baby bash
Once upon a time, this mommy was a girl about town and the only event planning I ever did (outside of work) was for my own birthday parties. These days I’ll be lucky if I remember my own name after a busy day at work and a busy night at home with my little prince.
But I wouldn’t change it for the world, mom is a title I’ll gladly wear alongside the bags under my eyes.
My son Jacob, recently turned 6 months old on 31 July 2022, and to celebrate his halfway journey to One I chose to have him blessed also. Due to this nasty pandemic we’ve suffered, I’ve kept him safely tucked away from the world, so this is the first time he had met his extended family and mommy’s friends.
You’re only ever 6 months old once, so it had to be memorable.
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I chose The Little Prince theme not only for the obvious reason of my son being a little prince to me but the story of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince is actually about the importance of looking beneath the surface to find the real truth and meaning of a thing. It teaches that the responsibility of relationships with others leads to a greater understanding and appreciation of one’s responsibilities to the world in general. It is our relationships that make the world around us significant and meaningful. These are all valuable lessons that I wish to impress upon my son.
Baby Bash Inspiration
So where’s the first place to look for inspiration when planning the ultimate baby bash? you guessed it, Pinterest!
I found really cute digital save-the-dates & invitations which I sent out via whatsapp – this saved me a ton from the cost of the more traditional printing and posting of paper invites. Also the faster the invite is received the sooner you’ll get your RSVP. Sticking to the theme I also sent a pdf version of the book (which I downloaded from the internet for free) just in case any of the guests had not heard of the book.
Next up, I saved many ideas of how I wanted the party to look and feel in terms of decor. Light blue, gold and white were the main colours I chose from the characters in the book. These colours magically weaved their way into every aspect of the party.
The stunning balloon arch thanks to All Season’s Weddings and the backdrop wall banner thanks to 3Sixty2 together with the sweet treats I prepared and the cake baked for him was the focal point. It also turned out to be the feature wall for our photos.
My tables were simple yet elegantly set. Pure white linens with beautiful woven base plates from Tales And Fairies Events, topped with a plain white plate and powder blue linen napkin from my friend Johnny with a delightful bespoke Little Prince character sugar cookies with thanks to Bake’t. The thank you cards, once again found online, which I printed out to give to each guest with their edible thank you gift.
As it was an afternoon tea, the food was simple and light. Tasty finger foods and sweets were the order of the day, paired with tea, coffee, and juice. With special thanks to Cake Sublime for the divine pearl & baby blue french macarons and The Cupcakery of CT for the awesome cake for Jacob. The cupcakes, chocolate-dipped Oreos and marshmallows plus wafer finger biscuits, and other sweet treats were all handmade lovingly by myself.
“To me, you will be unique in all the world“
The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The centerpiece was a single long-stemmed red rose under a glass bell jar. Just like in the book, the red rose was one of the main characters and The Little Prince’s best friend.
The venue came with a projector and a screen, so I did not miss the opportunity to share all of his baby photos we took professionally when he was 12 days old. My nephew played DJ and assisted me with a slideshow and music, so there was no need to fork out additional funds for music.
Finishing Touches
I also created a welcome poster (using one of Jacob’s baby photos) in Canva which I printed out at a local print shop and placed at the door on an easel for that extra personal touch.
Lastly, as a final touch, I had a video guestbook nook. I asked all the guests to share 2-minute well wishes videos instead of writing in a book and to send them to me via WhatsApp so that I could make a memorable compilation for when he gets older.
Planning a party can be stressful, but not if you have a few steps in place.
Dos & Don’ts when planning your ultimate baby bash
1. DO Use Pinterest and other social media sites to get tips or ideas for a themed event and create a pinboard to collect ideas. You’ll find many things you could probably create yourself.
2. DO Find a venue early! When booking ahead of time and in the off-peak season it can often save you a lot more, than booking a venue in the heart of summer
3. DON’T forget to ask what is included in the venue hire. This could be of great value and you don’t want any hidden surprises.
4. DO Send out save the dates well in advance. This will help establish your catering numbers well ahead of time even if you don’t have your invites ready yet
5. DO send out digital invites either via WhatsApp or email. This saves time and money.
6. DON’T try to do everything by yourself, delegate and you will save yourself a lot of stress. I’m so thankful to Carmens Adams for taking such awesome pics and my mom, sis and nephews for helping me out.
7. DON’T be shy to ask family and friends to get involved. I’m sure everyone has a creative person in their inner circle who would be more than happy to help. From setting tables to baking goodies for the event, they will surely love being a part of this memorable event.
8. DO have thoughtful thank you gifts for guests to take home. These don’t have to break the bank. Just a nice gesture to say “Thank you for celebrating with me”
9. DO have a feature wall for great photos. DO take loads of photographs or designate a photographer should you be running around (like I was). So that baby can look back on this special day. Backdrops are fun to make, you can use anything like balloons, fabric, flowers lettering. But if you’re not feeling creative, you can always hire one from Tales and Fairies. They make custom backdrops in Cape Town.
10. Lastly, DO have fun and remember the reason why you’re throwing this event after all. DO spend time with your baby during the event. Let him get used to meeting new people whilst in the safety of his mother’s embrace. He will surely know how loved he is, long after the party is over.
For more of my adventures in motherhood & travel follow me on Instagram @thejaxblog & @thejaxandson
