Classic First Birthday Party: Noah's Vintage Teddy Bear Celebration

Noah's "vintage bear" first birthday party was a milestone event in our lives that we were THRILLED to celebrate in a small, intimate celebration.

You can read read more details from the party as well as several first birthday planning tips taken from our party on Layla Grayce here.

I wanted to share with you more gorgeous photos of the special day, as captured by the incredibly talented Liza Voll, in this post.

 
I also will highlight the fabulous vendors {such as THE incredibly talented Loralee Lewis, who custom created the charming vintage bear paperie for the party!}, many of whom generously sent items for Noah's party as gifts for his first birthday.

My dear friend Kim of The TomKat Studio opened a fabulous online party shop, and had the most precious party supplies for the entire celebration!

She sent us so many goodies in pale yellow, pale blue and white, I was giddy with excitement when the box arrived, as was Noah! I loved the plates, napkins and cups--we alternated the two colors, as well as stripe and polka dot patterns. The bamboo cutlery, mini dot and stripe paper straws, giant 3' round balloons, striped baking cups, mini white gable boxes, sprinkles,...it all was fabulous! THANK YOU DEARLY KIM, you goodies made a perfect party!

Fellow blogger, shop owner and incredibly stylish and crafty mama Joanne of Oh Goodie! Designs created these gorgeous custom party horns. SWOON. The kids LOVED them, as did I! Speaking of Joanne, it was her son's most precious first birthday party cake design that inspired ours (see photos a little later in post).

We held the party in the dining room, using a long table for the guests to sit and eat cake, a dessert table, and a table with other custom party items, such as this adorable "Noah" hand-painted peg doll by the delightful and imaginative Jenny Dixon of Craft That Party.

 I cannot wait to get a little bell jar to protect it as we display it in his room!!!

I loved the "Warm Fuzzy Wishes" sign and cards that Loralee came up with--precious!

The cookies...Oh, THE COOKIES! Tara of Bambella Cookie Boutique created the most SPECTACULAR, gorgeous works of art...she re-created Loralee's design onto a cookie canvas of sorts, and they were the hit of the party!

 

 

 

The frame cookies she made were even more cookie to devour, and more beauty to admire. LOVE.

 

 

 

 



I am so excited to have discovered Le BonBon LA! They made the most gorgeous (spot on colors), yummy chocolate covered oreos. A delight to work with, I cannot wait for the next chance to devour some of their edible art!

Fondant artist and friend Brittany of Edible Details, busy with a rapidly-growing business and mom to a most adorable baby girl, still took the time to make the sweetest, most detailed fondant "1" and party hat rice krispy treat toppers, designed to match the invite. My husband took leftovers to work, and said they were gone within minutes. I loved them.

Hammond's Candies has been a personal favorite candy company of mine for years. We had their candy at our wedding, and it was a dream having their gourmet goodies at Noah's first birthday party.

From old fashioned-swirled lollipops to caramel corn, and lastly mini butterscotch puffs guests took home as favors, it was as beautiful as delicious (and the french square plastic milk bottles and baker's twine from The TomKat Studio made perfect packaging!).

Loralee had the brilliant idea of the wording "This chair belongs to Mama Bear" and each guest's name, perfect for place settings. At each seat was a party hat I hand made, including a yarn pom that Ryan and I made by hand.

My wonderful blogging friend and party enthusiast Pamela of Pamela Smerker Designs, made these most darling cube favor boxes. I decided to fill them with the chocolate covered oreos (two fits perfectly!) and stack them to resemble "blocks" with additional poms I made to look like plush "balls". They made perfect centerpieces down the long table. Pam's boxes are a personal favorite.

Alternating with the boxes and poms, were more of The TomKat Studio's french square plastic milk bottles used as vases, holding dainty arrangements of cheerful yellow flowers. And I found a fabulous new use for paper straws and straw flags: adornments for floral arrangements! Loralee's flags looked just perfect.

One of my absolute dearest friends and creative partners is Carolyn of Sweet Tea and Linen.

We have been working together for years now, and I knew she would make perfect table linens for Noah's party--I just realize HOW PERFECT until they arrived.

She put perfect pleats in the table runners, and stunning rouched swags in the dessert table topper. These were hands down some of my most favorite details at the party. Carolyn--I think you might just be a fairy godmother!

Party hats are a personal favorite item of mine. Noah had many for his special day, including a gorgeous one from friend, blogger and party gal Shawna of Shawna Brockmeir Styled Events. She and I have always shared a passion for all things preppy and monogrammed, so I knew she would be able to design the most perfect personalized party hat for Noah.

I LOVE the wide satin ribbon she used, and this is most definitely a keepsake we will treasure forever.

The cake, oh, the cake!

 Soft blue ruffles of buttercream frosting graced the yummiest vanilla chiffon cake with strawberry and whipped cream filling. YUM.

For Noah we had a 6" smash cake, baby-friendly vanilla without filling. It was a simple pale yellow smooth buttercream, topped with a perfect blue twist candle.

 I must say, he seemed more fascinated with the candle than the cake!

He looked absolutely darling in the custom lined fine-wale corduroy overalls made by my dear friend Lynn. Then my wonderful friend Ruth monogrammed them for me with Noah's initials.

A part of me wanted to keep it "all baby", and a smaller part of me wanted to add something a little grown up like his daddy. So I found this perfect bow tie bib which was the sweetest touch to his outfit.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this celebration such a joy. Stay tuned for a couple other darling birthday surprises Noah received for his birthday, not pictured her.


It doesn't take a birthday to find a reason to celebrate Noah, a wonderful thing I have learned only from being a mom.