Jude's first trip around the sun: A magical birthday celebration in south-west Sydney
If you have started, or have a first birthday party to plan around the corner, you would not want to miss how this special 1st birthday party turned out in south-west Sydney!
The first part of planning the birthday party was booking the venue, and it was at Voyager Point Community Centre. From the outside, it looks small, but on the inside, it has a decent space (which can hold about 50 guests comfortably), a furnished kitchen, and a separate area for unisex toilets, and a parents changing room (which is handy when you want to put your pram inside). This community centre also had a small playground, exercise area, and tennis courts just outside.
The kids and adults entered the community centre via the ramp (again, a big plus for families with prams), with a coffee cart upon entry. The coffee cart was popular at this birthday party, with lots of adults and parents having several coffee orders.
I had white tables and gladiator folding chairs for child-free adults and parents who decided to keep their babies in the pram. I also had white picnic tables with cushions (to match the colour scheme) for babies and toddlers (who wanted to stand, cruise and walk around the table) while parents sat onto the cushions, watching over their young kids.
The table centrepieces comprised of a giant balloon, accompanied by silk flowers in glass vases (of 3 different vase types). We also had plates, cups and cutlery set on the table, each with a customised cookie (in clear wrapping, finished with an orange ribbon).
We had a Mediterranean grazing table, with hot and cold canapes for guests to enjoy. As we had guests who had halal dietary requirements, we had several vegetarian food options, so that all guests could be well-fed at the party. The presentation of the entire food table was decorated by Karina from La Paparedda.
The guests were drawn to the backdrop, where it contained a solid backdrop with writing “Jude’s first trip around the sun”, along with thin hollow arches, filled with balloons. The backdrop was completed with a sun cutout, an umbre cake on a clear plinth, and a white vintage high chair with “one” bunting”.
However, the talk of the town was the soft play, with the 1.5 metre ball pit being the most popular. The soft play area also had stairs and slide with a ring, 2 hoppers, and 6 building blocks, all on foam mats and closed with fencing for safety reasons. We also had Emma from the Wiggles arrive and engage with the young guests for an hour, with dancing and bubbles, with Wiggles music in the background.
Family means a lot to me. And watching the mum arrive to the party only 20 minutes before the party started without needing to setup or help at all reminded me how important it is for my busy parents and clients to be in the moment, and just arrive, relax and celebrate without the stress of running around and physically setting up which will lead them to not enjoying the party itself.
Event professionals involved in “First trip around the sun” 1st birthday party:
Event Planner & Management: Special Events by Tracey
Event content creation: Captured BTS
Theme: First trip around the sun
Photographer: Mavis C Photography
Prop Hire: The Treasure Room
Gladiator chairs: Hire for Style
Balloons & backdrop: Beas and Honey
Floral centrepieces: Forever Florals and Events
Rainbow stickers: Stickeroo
Tableware (cups, cutlery set): Five Stay Party Co
Welcome sign design: Design My Party Studio
Soft play hire: Little Explorers Soft Play Hire
Kids entertainment: Playtime Kids Entertainment
Cake: Das Makes Cakes
Cookies: Biscute by Angela
Catering: La Paparedda
Coffee cart: The Coffee Counter Sydney