Winter Onederland Party: Glittering Ways to Celebrate a One-Year-Old

Your precious baby is turning one! It seems like yesterday that you were planning a baby shower and getting ready for your bundle of joy’s arrival. Now it’s time to start planning a first birthday party. 

Whether your child is a wintertime baby or you’re simply a fan of seasonal celebrations, you can’t go wrong with a winter onederland party. A fun twist on a winter “wonderland” theme, this birthday party idea is packed with enchanting elements ranging from snowflakes and snow-flocked pine trees to polar bears, penguins, and Arctic foxes.

Here, we’ll share our favorite winter onederland party ideas that span whimsical decorations, festive foods, and wintry invitations to create the ultimate first birthday bash.

15 Winter Onederland Party Ideas

With these delightful winter onederland party ideas, you’ll have the perfect first birthday celebration put together in no time. We’ve covered all the bases with affordable DIY options along with over-the-top ideas to celebrate this special moment. Plus, you’ll find gorgeous winter-inspired invitations for inviting guests to the big event.

1. Set the Scene with Plenty of Faux Snow

Design: Claudia Owen

Whether you’re hosting the party at home, heading to a friend’s house, or renting a venue, adding faux snow to the space instantly sets a wintry scene. Use cans of fake snow to flock miniature trees or lay out rolls of artificial snow blankets to create a snowy atmosphere. Choose a design like this Winter Onederland Invitation to prepare guests for your special theme party.

2. Decorate with Classic Party Supplies

Traditional birthday party decorations like balloons, streamers, and signs instantly dress up any space. Choose snowflake balloons to match the wintry theme or silver balloons for a glamorously frosty look. 

If you want to follow traditional color themes, sprinkle pink and silver confetti on the floor and tables for a baby girl party or opt for blue confetti for a winter-themed party for a baby boy.

3. Use Arctic Animal Cut-Outs or Inflatables

Design: Ashley DeMeyere Design 

Wow your one-year-old and young party guests with cardboard cut-outs or inflatables in the shapes of snowmen, penguins, polar bears, and other wintry flora and fauna. If you’re handy, you can make DIY cut-outs using thick cardboard or thin pieces of plywood. 

If you prefer to buy decor, look for inflatables that match the wintry theme. Invite guests with the animal-packed Arctic Arrival invitation. Simply swap out the winter baby shower text with your own details for a perfectly customized design.

4. Hang a Birthday Banner

Announce the star of the show with a winter onederland banner. Add the baby’s name on the banner and hang it over the entry door to greet guests. You can also make a miniature highchair banner to honor the birthday girl or boy as they dig into the birthday cake.

5. Use Real Greenery for an Elegant Feel

Design: Llinella

Decorate tables with rosemary sprigs, pine boughs, and DIY dried orange garland for a natural, bohemian take on the winter onederland theme. For a big impact, use evergreen trees (perhaps mini Christmas trees) to create a winter landscape. Add faux snow to the tree branches and a few string lights for a magical ambiance.

To invite guests, consider customizing this Cute Winter Botanicals card that features a photo slot surrounded by greenery. It can be used as a Christmas card or invitation thanks to the large supported backside where you can add important birthday party details.

6. Create a Photo Backdrop with Balloon Garland

A photo booth is practically a prerequisite for any birthday party these days, so give yours a winter-friendly DIY twist with a fabulous balloon garland of silver balloons and snowflake accents. Be sure to offer fun photo props like fur shawls, snowflake-rimmed glasses, and stuffed Arctic animals for a playful touch.

7. Get an Over-the-Top Birthday Cake

Design: Stellax Creative

Go big and celebrate with a custom birthday cake that’s sure to wow your guests young and old. For a winter onederland cake, consider adding Arctic animal toy toppers, a “Frozen”-inspired castle, or glistening snowflakes. (To invite guests, consider the Prismatic Snowflake Invitation, which features a glittering, geometric snowflake that looks like it’s right out of the movie.)

Be sure to order a miniature smash cake — a cake designed for babies to dig their hands into — for your little one to enjoy. Add a custom cake topper featuring narwhals, polar bears, or your baby’s latest photo.

8. Serve Winter-Themed Food

For this party theme, sweets like coconut snowballs are the perfect treats while powdered sugar makes a great imitation of real snow on other desserts.

For appetizers, serve cheese balls molded into the shape of snowmen, snowflakes, pinecones, or reindeer. (You can use cookie cutters to get the right shapes!) White foods like yogurt-covered pretzels, popcorn, and white chocolate bark make great additions to charcuterie boards.

If you want to serve heartier foods, try wintry flavors like pumpkin, butternut squash, and French onion soup. Winter-inspired main dishes include stews, fondue, and casseroles — just be sure to create kid-friendly options for little guests.

9. Create Magic With Twinkle Lights

Build a cozy, sweet vibe by draping string lights on tables and around the room. Whether they twinkle or not, these lovely lights add a whimsical touch without overpowering the rest of your decor. You can also fill mason jars with LED string lights and place them on tables or anywhere that needs a little pizazz.

10. Make Arctic Animal Cupcakes

Design: Mint Parcel

If you don’t want to shell out big bucks for an over-the-top cake, consider DIY statement-worthy cupcakes. Make winter-themed cupcakes and add cupcake toppers with your child’s face on them. Guests can take these home as mementos from the special winter onederland 1st birthday celebration.

Match your party theme with a creature-inspired invite like the Arctic Wonderland invitation. It comes in four artist-curated colorful backgrounds and features a penguin, polar bear, otter, fox, and seal in a chilly environment.

11. Build a Hot Cocoa Bar

Speaking of chilly, easily elevate your winter wonderland birthday party experience with a hot cocoa bar. To minimize the mess, prep ahead of time by adding measured amounts of chocolate powder to mugs or mason jars so guests can just add water (or milk). You can also set out hot chocolate toppings like marshmallows, sprinkles, and nuts.

12. Create Floral Centerpieces

Design: Claudia Owen

Set an enchanting scene with centerpieces that fit right into the winter theme. Decorate tables with metallic vases filled with blue flowers and silver-dusted twigs to create a wintry scene. An invitation like the Delicate Pine Boughs design ties into this decor idea with lovely leaves and a shimmery envelope liner. 

13. Have a Snowball Fight

Snowball fight! OK, this might not be what you had in mind for party games for the kids, but you can put an age-appropriate twist on it for your little one-year-old. Gather the little ones and have them gently toss snowballs outdoors or play cotton ball toss indoors instead. For older kids (or even the adults), it’s game on!

14. Build a Beautiful Tablescape

Design: Signature Greenvelope

If food is central to your party, it’s a good idea to spend some time on your table decor since that’s where guests will spend a lot of their time. 

Start with white tablecloths to mimic the look of snow. Add metallic placemats and glittering silverware in gold or rose gold hues for a glamorous look. Light blue napkins create a hint of icy vibes and string lights draped down the middle of the table lend a cozy ambiance.

Invite guests to the wintry celebration and set the snowy scene right from the start with the Handlettered Snowflake Invitation. It boasts several snowflakes and metallic accents for a whimsical feel.

15. Say Thanks with Party Favors

People took time to come celebrate your little one’s first birthday party. Show them how grateful you are by thanking them and sending them home with little party favors.

For young children, fill goody bags with winter-themed stickers, coloring books and crayons, and bubble bottles. For adults, miniature bottles of champagne can be a great thank-you gift. Treat bags filled with hot cocoa mix, candy bars wrapped like presents, and scented candles are also nice ways to show appreciation.

Celebrate a Winter Onederland First Birthday Party

Guests will certainly remember your event with these winter onederland theme ideas. From cute Arctic animals to glittering snowflakes and glistening lights, there’s a clever way to dress up your event for this theme.

Ready to invite guests to the special event? Head to our collection of winter birthday invitations where you’ll find festive designs for this seasonal theme party. 

Once you choose a design, customize it by playing with the color scheme and typography. Add elements like music or wax seals and then upload your guest list. In just a few clicks, you’ll be ready to send and start gathering RSVPs. In fact, with digital invitations, you’ll get easy RSVP tracking too.