22 1st Birthday Invitations to Celebrate Your Little One
It seems like just yesterday you were sending the baby shower invitations and birth announcements. But believe it or not, a year has gone by and your little one is turning one! They may be small, but they’ve already developed a big personality. So honor your baby girl or baby boy with 1st birthday invitations that match their developing character.
Host an animal-themed event for your barnyard-loving birthday child. Or create an out-of-this world celebration for your future astronaut. Whatever you choose, the right invitation will place them center stage on the big day. We’ve rounded up our favorite 1st birthday invitation templates for a cake-smash of a first birthday party.
Punny Invitations for Future Wordsmiths
Who doesn’t love a good play on words? These punny 1st birthday party invitations are pretty clever if we do say so ourselves. Use the design as it is, or add another first birthday pun, and email them to friends who you really click with.
1. Watercolor Jungle Invitation
Credit: Signature Greenvelope
A safari-themed invitation is great for wild little ones. Adorable animals and delicate leaf illustrations accompany “wild one” in a metallic effect text. Dress the guest of honor in a cute animal costume and decorate with flora and fauna for an awww-inspiring bash.
2. Winter Onederland Invitation
Credit: Claudia Owen
Winter birthdays don’t have to be a struggle. A light sprinkle, pastel tones, fun typography, and a sweet mitten illustration makes this first birthday invitation a wintry delight. There’s even room for your little one’s birthday photo on this adorable light blue winter-themed card.
3. Let’s Pawty Invitation
Design: Rachel Roe Art
Does anything beat a pup in a party hat? Get ready to pawty with this adorable invitation, featuring a dachshund and sprinkle design. Maybe a bone-shaped cake for your dog-loving little one?
4. Out of This World Invitation
Design: Patrice Horvath Design
Your little one has the whole galaxy ahead of them, so how better to celebrate than with a space theme? This space-themed invitation features hand-painted planets and splatter texture for an inter-galactic event. The birthday girl or boy will love the space theme, complete with aliens and futuristic foods.
Where the Wild Things Are
Celebrate the guest of honor with a menagerie of creatures. At the big one, kids are infatuated with animals. Pick their favorite — from a sweet giraffe to a friendly alligator — and build your party theme around it. There are a ton of animal-themed party ideas like a safari, circus, zoo, or jungle-themed party. Once you’ve settled on an idea you love, pick one of these first birthday party invitations to communicate the theme.
5. Hey Party Animals Invitation
Design: Rachel Roe Art
A simple cartoon meets realism with this balloon elephant invitation. Doesn’t the “Party Animals” text look like it’s being inflated? This sweet elephant can inspire anything from an African-themed safari to a day at the circus. Be sure to explain the theme in your invitation wording, so guests know if they should bring related gifts — like a book about safari animals.
6. Gouache Giraffe Invitation
Credit: Signature Greenvelope
If your little one is already standing tall, there’s nothing cuter than this sweet giraffe. A mix of text styles accompanies the endearing illustration, perfect for a girl birthday or boy birthday party in your choice of green, yellow, or peach color options.
7. Razzle-Dazzle Fish Invitation
Design: Patrice Horvath Design
Sweet and bright fish swim across this watercolor invitation. An under-the-sea theme is perfect for any kid who loves the water. This is the perfect theme for a baby’s first birthday pool party. Fill a kiddie pool with floating fishies, and serve up snacks like Swedish Fish and Goldfish.
8. Party Gator Invitation
Design: Signature Greenvelope
See you later, gator! This watercolor painting of a friendly alligator is accompanied by cute text for all of your party details, like place, time, and RSVP info. He’s perfect for a safari- or reptile-themed party.
You’re Number One
Sometimes, you don’t need any more of a theme for your kid’s first birthday party invites than the number itself. These sweet birthday invitations are all about the number one. Keep an eye out for any numerical kids birthday invites you may see — most are customizable. On party day, decorate with banners that say one, and take it a step further with a few foam fingers. After all, your baby only turns one once.
9. Whimsical Cake Invitation
Design: Anna K Design
Is the guest of honor ready to dig into their cake, face first? This layered cake is topped with the number one on a Victorian cake stand. Sweet treats surround, so guests can expect lots of cupcakes and goodies.
10. Our Little Sunshine Invitation
Design: Leah Bisch Studio
Unique hand lettering and gold-foil accents take center stage on this sweet sunshine-themed invitation. Stylized text is a focal point with a big white ribbon that puts your baby’s name center stage.
11. Number One Candle Invitation
Design: Claudia Owen
Customize this simple and sweet invitation with a big one candle on it. It’s a fun and impactful way to let your guests know they’re celebrating a very special moment with you!
Boho Inspired 1st Birthday Invitations
One of our favorite trends is a boho-themed birthday party, and it works just as well for a one year old as it does for any age. Take inspiration from these rustic and bohemian designs to match your party theme.
12. Trendy Tassels Invitation
Design: Owl and Toad
This tassel inspired invitation might be styled here for an adult birthday party, but it’s easy to transform into a first birthday party invite by changing the text. The boho textures and inspired color palette make this perfect for your rustic party celebration.
13. Retro Ditsy Daisy Invitation
Design: Jen Montgomery
Party in style with this fun retro floral-themed invitation. The invite feels classic and charming, with a beautiful balance of retro styling and contemporary flair. It has a repeating floral print and color scheme that reminds us of all things boho!
14. Kidchella Invitation
Design: Laura Bolter Design
Planning a festival-themed party for your little one? This kidchella invitation is the perfect way to let your guests know to expect a fun party atmosphere with a kid-friendly festival vibe.
Deliciously Sweet Food-Themed Invites
Get ready to snap plenty of photos of your little one enjoying their birthday cake, and use that sweet theme right from the start with a food-themed invitation. From donuts to confetti cupcakes, there’s something for every style.
15. Cupcakes Galore Invitation
Design: Pedaller Designs
Honor your (or your little one’s) love for cupcakes with this adorable cake-themed invite. Share all the important party details on the front, and invite your loved ones to celebrate your baby’s sweet tooth!
16. Donut Party Invitation
Design: Lissa Anglin
If you’re hosting a sweet one birthday party, this donut-themed invitation is the ideal match. Theme the whole party around donuts or just use this invite as a nod to how sweet your little loved one is.
17. Pancake Party Invitation
Design: Shari Margolin Design
Some parents like to dress their one year old up in a fancy outfit, but there’s nothing saying you can’t get all cozy in pajamas to celebrate this milestone moment instead. Pair those PJs with pancakes for a fun themed party, and use this pancake stack invite to spread the word.
Photo Cards That Are All About Your Little One
We know you have a ton of photos of your little boy or girl from the last year. Whether you hired a professional photographer for a styled cake smash or have a number of photos from your last vacation, the birthday guest of honor deserves to be front and center. These first birthday invitation cards are designed with your cute photos in mind. The challenge will be picking just one.
18. Confetti One Invitation
Design: Sunny July
Celebrate all the wonderful things about your little one with this confetti photo card. The adorable sprinkle effect and giant “one” highlights the occasion, while you can share your favorite snap of the guest of honor right above.
19. Double Bounce Photo Invitation
Design: Stacey Meacham Design, LLC
Rainbow bounce letters hop to it with this modern kid’s birthday invitation. This theme is perfect if you’ll be having a bounce castle or trampoline at the party — for the bigger kids of course. Your one-year-old will be bouncing around on their own, for sure.
20. Balloon Bunch Invitation
Design: Stacey Meacham Design, LLC
Show your little one’s face on one of these happy balloons. Of course, you can customize the number in the top right to “1.” Add all your necessary details and a shot of the guest of honor’s sweet face. This invitation is great for any photo of your kiddo. Since it will be cropped in, it doesn’t need to be very professional — all you need is a good smile to show off those few little teeth.
21. Triple Scoop Invitation
Design: Jessica Williams
How sweet is this ice cream-themed invitation? An adorable polka-dot cone complements modern stylized text for a geometric effect. Perfect for a summer soiree or an ice cream social, include your little angel at the top in something candy-colored.
22. Barnyard Party Invitation
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Old MacDonald was cute as can be! Perfect for your barnyard- or country-themed party, hand-drawn farm details frame a photo insert on this charming invitation design. A photo from a visit to the petting zoo or pumpkin patch would be right at home here. Turns out, hay is for horses and for this adorable invitation.
Ring In Year One With Loads of Fun
Whatever party theme you choose, the important thing is that your precious babe is a whole year old. Pick an invitation that puts the number one front and center, or opt for a photo card that shows the guest of honor’s half-toothy smile. At a year old, your little one is already developing their own personality, so let that lead the way! If they love elephants, opt for a circus theme. If pink is their favorite color, pick a pink invitation and decorate with the color.
When you know your theme, choose a 1st birthday party invitation to match. Every design can be customized, so you can make it feel extra special with the guest of honor’s name, age, and those all-important party details. Send those invites then watch them smash that cake!
