Photos by Savvy Snapshots Photo + Films
If you know me, you know I love a good celebration. Birthdays, weddings, holidays — if there’s a reason to gather people together, I’m all in.
So, when I became a mom, I already knew birthday parties would be one of my favorite parts of parenthood.
We recently celebrated our son Jett’s 4th birthday at the Mississippi Aquarium, and it was every bit as memorable as I’d hoped.
Whether you’re hosting at a venue or in your backyard, I’ve found that it’s often the little extras — not the biggest expenses — that guests remember most.
1. CAKE POPS
Themed cake pops are one of the greatest party inventions ever. They’re the perfect size for little hands, less messy than cake and, for some reason, everything tastes better on a stick. Party Poppers does a great job with these.
2. CLAW MACHINE
This was the surprise hit of the party. I found a mini FAO Schwarz claw machine on clearance at Target and filled it with small plush toys from Amazon. Kids, adults and grandparents all lined up for a turn, and the stuffed animals doubled as party favors.
3. PHOTOGRAPHER
After spending weeks planning a party, don’t let your memories live only in everyone else’s camera roll. As the host, you’ll be greeting guests, serving food and keeping everything running smoothly. Hiring a photographer — or even assigning a friend or relative to snap photos — means you’ll actually get to relive the day later.
4. SOFT PLAY
For children 5 and under, soft-play rentals are worth every penny. We rented from Bouncy Bees, and the ball pit, animal hoppers and slides kept the little ones entertained for hours while giving parents a chance to visit.
5. SIGNATURE DRINK
A themed drink is such an easy way to make a party feel extra special. For Jett’s aquarium birthday, we served blue punch with gummy sharks swimming inside, and the kids absolutely loved it.
6. PHOTO DISPLAY
One of my favorite traditions is displaying photos from the past year of my children’s lives. Guests love seeing how much they’ve grown, but my favorite part is watching Jett point to each picture and proudly announce, “That’s me!”
Ultimately, kids won’t remember every decoration or perfectly coordinated detail. They’ll remember feeling celebrated. And for me, getting to create those memories with the people we love most is one of the greatest joys of being a mom.