“The secret, Alice, is to surround yourself with people who make your heart smile. It’s only then that you’ll find Wonderland.” We were surrounded by smiles at this “Willow in ONEderland” first birthday party. Mom went all out on the theme and it was absolutely adorable. It’s all in the details, and our KC vendor friends helped with the finishing touches.
Hi! My name is Brittany and I’m the mom referenced above! I am so excited to be a part of the Macaroni KID community, and share about my daughter Willow's first birthday party!
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As soon as I spotted the life-size cutouts of Alice and the Mad Hatter on Facebook Marketplace this summer, I knew immediately that the theme of Willow’s first birthday party would be “Willow’s ONEderland”. I spent the past few weekends hammering out the details and crafting more decor, as well as reaching out to local businesses.
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I hosted a baby shower years ago at Milestone Events and knew their open-concept space would be perfect for bringing my vision to life. As soon as guests walked in, they transcended to Wonderland. Decorating the space and tables was super easy. I had various banners hanging up on the walls, photos of Willow over the past year, and used laminated playing cards scattered on the tables to play on the Queen of Hearts and card guards from the movie. On top of that, I had a few little teacups and saucers scattered around the room.
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All of the littles immediately flocked to the soft play setup and ball pit provided by Playhaus KC. They offer a variety of color combinations and have various packages to choose from, along with the ability to do custom vinyl. Betty and Tony Tran were a breeze to work with. Not only do they deliver to your location, but they also take care of the setup and take down. The personalized stickers on the blocks and ball pit were perfection! (Tap here for an IG Reel of the full setup!)
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The adults' favorite part was undoubtedly the food selection. With it being an early morning party, we had to ensure there was a variety of breakfast items, and of course - coffee! Lena from Graze and Gather crafted two charcuterie boards, with multiple delicacies and cheeses to choose from. She also pulled out all stops with meats shaped like roses and edible flowers (for those who were feeling a little adventurous). The little touches of glitter and pink drew the theme in as well. Aside from classic charcuterie boards, Graze and Gather offers a unicorn board filled with sweet treats, grazing tables, and does custom orders to fit your party theme.
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Not only is Nikki Vavra a pastry chef at a local restaurant, but she also has her own small business. She made delicious fruit tarts, bomboloni donuts, and a beautiful smash cake. If you haven’t had a bomboloni donut before, it is a fluffy Italian donut filled with lemon pastry cream and dusted with cinnamon sugar. They absolutely taste as delicious as they sound!
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Before the party planning even began, I knew we’d be getting custom cookies from Lane, the owner of Baking by Boehm. This is the sixth time I’ve ordered from Lane, and she never fails to take my inspiration and put her own spin on it. Coincidentally enough, when I reached out to her about Willow’s upcoming birthday party, she had already ordered Alice in Wonderland-themed cutters. Not only are the cookies yummy, but it’s her attention to detail that gets me every time!
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Each of our guests left with a personalized goodies bag. Inside, there were Alice in Wonderland-themed stickers and a few other small trinkets. Guests also got either Cotton Candy or Cheesecake flavored popcorn from Popculture KC. Each child also got to pick which color playdough they wanted to take home with them. Valerie from Creative Play KC 4.5oz jars of soft, non-toxic, cotton candy scented, sensory playdough to compliment the theme and colors from our party. Creative Play KC also makes larger sensory bins, lacing boards, and much more! She also does private sensory play party packages!
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On their way out, I also asked guests to leave a message for the birthday girl in her Promptly Journal. This is a baby book/journal that goes from pregnancy to eighteen years of age. Willow will be able to look back at photos and notes left by loved ones, throughout the years.
I am so thankful to all those that brought my ideas to life and helped celebrate my daughter’s first birthday. Kansas City has so many talented party vendors and small businesses and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them!
Entertainment: Playhaus KC
Cake & pastries:
Custom Cakes & Sweets by Nikki Vavra
Charcuterie: Graze and Gather KC
Cookies:
Baking by Boehm
Party favors:
Creative Play KC
Party planning: Macaroni KID KC
