There’s nothing quite as special as hosting that first birthday party for your little one, and there is quite literally so many fun and creative ideas that put a spin on celebrating that first year of life.
Whether you’re planning for a little boy or girl, I’ve pulled together over 30 different ideas for first birthday party theme ideas that quite literally rock!
31 Unforgettable First Birthday Party Themes For Boys & Girls
1. Wild One Birthday Theme
Kicking it off with one of the most popular themes for a one year old, it’s the wild one birthday theme! A safari inspired theme that’s all about warm, bold colors, animals that live in the jungle (cue plenty of plushies!) and tropical inspired faux flowers for the decor.
The balloon arch setup below is a beautiful idea, continue this through with a party table of food, using safari or jungle themed tableware.
2. Sporty One
Vroom, vroom! Or, make it a sporty one for your little one.
Lean into a color that your little one loves and use the racing track pattern on a backdrop and balloons for that nod to the track. Note how it’s even used in the birthday cake below for such a cool theme that any one year old will love.
3. Winnie The Pooh Theme
It’s everyone’s favorite bear, and if your little one has grown up wearing Winnie The Pooh outfits and also cuddling Winnie teddies, this could be the birthday theme for you, and yours.
I adore the sweet sentiment, ‘our little hunny is one’, feature Winnie in a backdrop like this which looks great for photos with guests, introduce a giant plush and theme food around Winnie the Pooh, honey and bees.
4. Rawrsome One!
This rawrsome one birthday theme couldn’t be more perfect for dino loving kids! How adorable is the photo backdrop below? Complete with a little dino cut out featuring the little one’s face.
Ue bold, bright colours if you’re using a balloon arch, and for all decor accessories.
5. Mickey Mouse Theme
It’s everyone’s favorite mouse and it’s the cutest theme for a first birthday bash! Use reds, blacks, yellows and whites throughout your color scheme including a backdrop, cake and party food!
6. Let’s Par-Tee
A golf-themed first birthday with a twist, little ducklings and mini putt vibes make it the cutest ‘par-tee’ ever! Use soft neutrals in your decor, this party idea is ideal for hosting outside if the birthday is thrown during the warmer times of the year.
7. Taste The Rainbow
There’s nothing as joyful as the colors of the rainbow and this simple color scheme for a birthday party is one that can easily be pulled off, and you can include as many or as little colors as you like for the getup.
Feature little rainbow balloons, and rainbow colored food for the guests.
8. Butterflies
A dreamy butterfly theme for a party makes the day feel magical, with pastel balloons, fluttering accents, and an enchanting backdrop for your little one’s big milestone.
Use little butterfly decals or stickers to apply to balloons, tables or on the walls for a whimsical feel.
9. Peter Rabbit
Peter Rabbit is an enduringly popular theme for little ones, and it makes for the sweetest first birthday theme. Hire a bouncy castle for the day and soft play props that everyone will adore.
Add some Peter Rabbit teddies and decals to the equipment.
10. Beary First Party
Or, why not instead host something similar but with a bear theme, leaning into the sentiment of ‘beary first’ birthday, so adorable!
Use soft muted neutrals such as creams and browns for balloons and decor.
11. Berry First Birthday Theme
Berry loving little one? It’s got to be a ‘berry first’ birthday bash instead!
This is a lot of fun for a spring or summer theme, use soft pinks and reds in your scheme, using berry decor, florals and sweet bows. For the food table, plenty of strawberries and berries alike are a must have.
12. Minnie Mouse
A Minnie Mouse party is a timeless favorite for a first birthday, think bright pinks, polka dots, and character fun to make it a joyful celebration.
Add a light up number 1 to add to your backdrop, it will pop in photos and will create so many gorgeous memories.
13. Fairy first
This whimsical fairy fuelled birthday theme is such a sweet idea for a 1 year old. Add plenty of bold, bright colors to your scheme and flowers for that whimsical, fairy like feel.
Add props such as fairies and toadstools to play on that mythical world.
14. Dinosaurs & Egg’s
A dinosaur and dino egg theme is a roaring way to celebrate one, with hatching eggs, cute dinos, and prehistoric charm for little adventurers.
The soft, muted color palette with bold pops of blue and green creates such a lovely scheme to follow.
15. Bouncy Princess Castle
For little girls, a princess theme is always a good idea! But, so are bouncy castles!
Use pinks, reds, whites and oranges for a color scheme and theme the food with princesses in mind, such as princess cupcakes and cookies.
16. Classic Disney Theme
If you’re a family that love Disney as a whole, this one year old birthday party theme might be the best choice!
As part of your backdrop, add a stand with Mickey and Minnie ears for all the guests to take and wear during the party, copy this idea shown below!
17. First Rodeo
A first rodeo theme is full of western charm, cowboy boots, cacti, and rustic balloons. A fun touch is a ‘pick a pony’ display with teddy ponies for little guests to take home.
I adore the color scheme here, with browns, cow print balloons, green cacti and yee haw hats!
18. First Bee-day
A bee themed party is super sweet (excuse the pun) and one that is perfect for gender reveals, baby showers and first bee-days!
A lovely honey color palette including butter yellows, browns and creams. Theme bees throughout the party including food, tableware and party bags.
19. Happy Dude
For a free spirited happy little dude, this theme is such a cute idea. The greens, blues and whites used in the setup below create such a relaxed, soothing scheme, but of course, you could lean into any colors you wish for this.
20. Bluey Theme
A Bluey-themed first birthday is full of fun and laughter, with paw prints, playful balloon arches, and everyone’s favorite pup bringing the party to life.
A beautiful one to throw outside if the weather allows.
21. Ms Rachel
If your little one loves watching Ms Rachel, this has to be the theme for you that they will love!
Take inspiration from the below backdrop using bright and bold colors, rainbow balloons and a cut out of Ms Rachel.
22. First Year Touch Down
Score big with an NFL first birthday complete with football balloons, field-inspired backdrops, and plenty of playful spirit for your little MVP.
Lean into the ‘first year down’ sentiment which puts a spin on a touchdown. Greens and browns create such a fun color scheme for the party.
23. One-derland
Alice In Wonderland creates the most magical and whimsical theme for a first birthday party, but instead of wonderland, it’s ‘one-derland’, oh how we love a play on words!
Lots of Alice In Wonderland motifs are a must, and use soft pinks, blue and blacks for the color scheme.
24. Mastered His First Year
Bring the green to the party with a Masters-inspired theme for a first birthday bash to remember. Use golf balloons, mini trophies, and playful nods to the course make it a hole-in-one celebration.
25. Baby Shark Doo Doo
It’s the birthday theme that’s impossible to setup without singing along to the theme tune, right?
If you have a little one obsessed with the song, look no further! Use little shark and fish props, and use soft blues, yellows and browns for a fun color scheme.
26. Farmyard Inspired Theme
A farmyard first birthday brings the barnyard to life with hay bales, friendly animals, and colorful balloons creating a playful country celebration.
I adore these cow print balloons too, they contrast so well with the reds, blues and oranges used in the balloon arch below.
27. 1st Time Saving The World
A hero fuelled birthday party for your little one. For a spidey obsessed one year old, this birthday bash will go down a treat.
Use Spiderman’s costume colors throughout the color scheme, the old comics on the backdrop make such a fun extra too.
28. Showman
Step right up for a showman-themed first birthday, bright balloons, circus flair, and a ringmaster touch turn the day into a dazzling performance.
The customised prop for the little one creates such a personal feel to this setup.
29. Circus Theme
A circus first birthday brings all the fun of the big top, striped tents, bold balloons, and carnival treats create a show-stopping celebration.
Use reds, blues, creams and golds in your color scheme, and a circus topped cake for a beautiful centerpiece.
30. Hello Kitty
The sweetest theme for a little girl or boy who loves Hello Kitty.
Use soft pinks and whites in your color scheme to complement Hello Kitty, you could add a display of Hello Kitty teddies for each guest to take one home.
31. Rookie of the year
Nothing but net for this basketball birthday, with jersey details, a mini hoop, and court-inspired decor to celebrate your little rookie of the year.
This backdrop is complete with a little mini hoop which is a fun idea for mini shoot outs with guests, and with a little bit of help, of course!
However you celebrate your little one’s first birthday, we hope you have a beautiful celebration!
