In consideration of the yet-to-be-known success of our first year of parenthood, (we are all still breathing so that does equal some success) there was not a more perfect theme than the circus for our son's 1st birthday party.
Our family is a three-ring circus.
Our ringmaster is very demanding.
We walk a tightrope.
We must juggle.
We jump through hoops.
Or rather rings of fire.
I am a human cannonball.
Popcorn or peanuts for dinner?
Quite often.
The invitations went out to all our guests. I love the circus theme with a modern red, white and blue color story. The style of the invites slightly channeled an iconic "
MOM" tattoo and the well-loved
Hatch style prints.
We included a fun insert to encourage our guests to be a part of the circus!
Our little ringmaster donned a white tuxedo shirt with a spiffy, black bow tie. Make them
here or buy them
here. He was ready to keep the show moving.
I became keen on personal portions when I was at lunch with a friend when she promptly scooped her portion of our shared appetizer on her plate and stated that the rest of the dish was mine. I was so happy because there was not going to be any uncomfortable questions about who ate more or the lonely last bite that no one eats just to be polite! Such a waste! I thought to offer the same idea at our party with personal portions of carrots and celery in cups filled with veggie dip. Double dipping is totally allowed!
Our guests had plenty of photo props to take fun pictures to keep as a memory of this day.
We offered bow ties, spongy red clown noses and a variety of mustache shapes on old-fashioned
paper straw sticks from
Bake Me Happy.
Our little one's cake was topped with circus animals and balloons. We kept a circus theme menu by offering pizza, popcorn cotton candy and animal crackers. We added
macaroni and cheese for a little homemade love. Beverages included
Jones Sodas which offers a fun campaign that will add your photo to their bottles if they like what you submit. And for the faint of heart, the very rare "Anti-Aging Elixir" was offered (aka water)! Our candy vases were filled with red and white chocolate sixlets and one of my favorite candies
Goetz's bulleyes. Yum!
Floating above our heads were airy tissue poms in turquoise blue and white.
I made the tissue poms but you can buy them
right here from Pom+Love in any colors you choose.
For our birthday boy my husband and I updated this mini
slip-covered bean bag chair. Which may look familiar to you?
We really are a three-ring circus but
I wouldn't change it for anything.
It really is the Greatest Show on Earth.
Other really great ideas if you love the circus theme idea:
-popcorn
cupcakes anyone?
-just in case your eyes are not popping, this
circus idea site will make you go blind
-and one for all you
perfectionists!
Looking for more of your tangerine crush?
