“Live for moments you can’t put into words.” There is so much truth to this quote, I can’t even explain it. My kids are growing up so fast, that all I want is for time to slow down so I can take it all in! Making memories doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate. Making memories can be as simple as being in the moment and having a good laugh with your family.
Today I’m sharing some tips and ideas that are simple and can still make special birthday dreams come true. You can make memories that will last and not break the bank. Be with those you love and enjoy playing, laughing and the moment at hand. Keep scrolling for a short list of ideas that will make any birthday child feel special – and will create lasting lovely memories for the whole family!
I’ve also linked similar outfits (pink tulle, birthday crown, etc.) if you want to shop our look. We took this photo a week ago today, on Sofia’s actual 3rd birthday. She wanted to dress up as a princess for her birthday and I was happy to make that happen! My pink tulle dress has been worn and used in several photos with Sofia since she was born, so I’ve definitely gotten my full value! 🙂
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Tips & Ideas
- Send an e-card: You don’t need to pay for invitations. Almost everyone has email these days, so an e-card is an easy, cute and affordable way to invite friends and family to your bday celebration. Some of my favorites are evite and paperless post. For those who don’t have email (for example, older family members), give them a call to say hello and give them the birthday details. You can also write a letter which is more personal and still cost effective.
- Try to plan the party at times when full meals will not be expected. For example, 9-11am for young kids who nap, or 1:30-4pm for kids who don’t nap anymore. You can still have snacks and cake, but a full meal won’t be expected. Also, kids birthdays don’t need to last all day. Keep it to a couple of hours so it is manageable and not overwhelming. If you do want to include more food, do a pot luck! It’s fun and gets your friends and family involved, while keeping costs down!
- Go to the dollar store or look online for a deal on party supplies. You can get balloons and other fun decorations for a deal! I found a great birthday bundle online with free shipping and beautiful decorations that made Sofia’s eyes light up! It was under $12 and came with pom poms, a banner, hanging decorations and more. I posted an image of the decorations I ordered above – and am so happy with my purchase!
- Depending on the time of year, have the party at a playground. We picked a park that had a fantastic kids playground last year and it was under $30 to reserve the picnic tables through the park system. I called ahead and filled out the paperwork to ensure we had the tables reserved. You don’t have to reserve them, but other people will, so keep that in mind. Even if you show up early, someone else who reserves them has the right to take them from you. We used the tables for the cake, gifts, drinks, snacks, and for people to sit and take a rest. The playground is free and the kids have a blast running and playing on the equipment. It is a huge money saver and win for kids that are playground age!
- If you have kids with birthdays that are close together, consider throwing one party for both of them. My kids are both July babies, so we do 1 party for both kids. We still do something special as a family on the actual day of their birthday, but 1 party is fun and saves us a lot of money and planning. It also makes sense when inviting friends and family, so you aren’t asking them to reserve 2 weekends and make the trip twice. You are combining things to make it easier on everyone! 🙂 There are lots of themes that work for boys and girls – so keep that in mind. You can go generic with a color scheme that fits both kids, or pick a kids TV show/movie that they both like. We threw a Paw Patrol party at the park last year and it was a big hit for both my kiddos!
- Make the cake yourself – or consider a cupcake cake! I’ve done both and it has worked out beautifully! Making your own cake (yes I used a boxed mix) is fun because I got the kids involved. For a more traditional cake, I got some little toys that were on theme (figurines that were cute and inexpensive) to use as decorations – and my kids got to keep them as toys after the party. You can also make cupcakes and frost them all on top so they have a flat surface. This method is a cupcake cake – which you can see here! I put two cupcake cake images (look above and below) to give you some ideas – the turtle and sunflower are both SO cute and easy to do! A cupcake cake will allow you to decorate the cake like a normal one if you want to (so you can write happy birthday), or make them into a fun shape – AND you won’t need anything to cut the cake because everyone can just take a cupcake from the bottom. It is a huge help when the party is at a venue like the park. No need for plates, forks, knives, etc. You’ll still need napkins though! 🙂
- Have your kiddos pick their favorite meal for their special day. This does NOT need to be part of the party. I let my kids pick their favorite meal for dinner on their birthday and it is always super special. If they are too young to say what their favorite is, pick based on what you believe their favorite is. I’m sure you know what meal they go crazy over – like pizza, spaghetti, pancakes, etc. Have fun with it! Maybe it means breakfast for dinner! How fun and memorable!
- Think about keeping the party small. You don’t have to do a huge gathering to have fun! Take photos, run and play, and make it memorable by actually playing with your kids! Having a ton of guests can also mean hosting and not really spending time as a family. My kids would rather run around and play with me than have a ton of guests and no quality time. Keep that in mind as you plan. You can have a great time without overdoing it with a huge gathering. Make it about quality time and being truly in the moment. Take some memorable photos and videos on your phone to share with them later on – so they can remember those precious moments or relive how fun it was to blow out the candles on their cake! 🙂
- Have fun with party games! So many fun kids games have little or no cost! These are some fun examples:
I hope these ideas help you to have a beautiful birthday party that makes your child’s dreams come true – while not breaking the bank! It is truly about making special memories and spending quality time together with the birthday child! xoxo
