Young, Wild, and Three Birthday Ideas for a Free-Spirited Celebration
It seems like it was just yesterday you were celebrating your child’s first birthday. Two years have gone by in the blink of an eye and now it’s time to plan a party celebrating their third trip around the sun. As they say, time flies when you’re having fun! And you can keep the fun going by planning a young, wild, and three birthday bash.
Here, we’ve gathered our favorite third birthday party ideas to help you host the perfect celebration, whether you want a vibrant safari-inspired event or a boho take on the young, wild, and three theme.
Young, Wild, and Three Birthday Party Ideas: 10 Ways to Celebrate
The great news about planning a young, wild, and three birthday party is that you can take this theme in a variety of directions. For a retro approach, you might want to celebrate with a groovy 70s-style party or lean into a safari theme to honor your little wild animal. With this list, you’ll find everything from birthday party decorations to cake ideas and activities.
1. Choose a Wild Theme
Design: Claudia Owen
Invitation Inspiration: African Safari Invitation
The young, wild, and three theme is all about being free and having fun. If you like the idea of having a retro focus, perhaps you could ask guests to wear groovy 70s-inspired party outfits or opt for an 80s-style party with fun decorative motifs like roller skates, disco balls, and neon colors.
On the other hand, you could go in a different direction and opt for a jungle theme party with safari decor. On-theme birthday decorations featuring wild animals, animal prints, and jungle elements will set the scene for a roaring good time.
Celebrate a free spirit with a boho-themed young, wild, and three celebration. Pastel hues, neutral accents, and contrasting patterns will create a mellow vibe that’s lively yet understated.
However you want to celebrate your three–year-old’s wild and fun personality, start by choosing a specific focus as it’ll create cohesion and make it easier to coordinate decor, food, and activities.
2. Make a Statement With Balloons
Is it really a birthday party without balloons? These festive decorations set the scene no matter which young, wild, and three theme you choose. Opt for rose gold foil balloons or confetti-filled balloons to add a hint of glam to a wild, boho celebration.
Animal print balloons are an excellent choice for jungle-inspired celebrations or you can choose birthday balloons that feature animal shapes like monkeys, tigers, elephants, and giraffes.
For retro themes, choose balloons in vibrant colors like orange, yellow, and pink. Mix and match different colors for an eye-catching effect.
3. Play With Color Palettes
Design: Owl and Toad
Invitation Inspiration: Retro Daisy Card
Use different color palettes to accent your wild theme. Select soft, neutral hues like tan and pastel pink or blue for a boho vibe. For safari-themed celebrations, choose green and brown tones. Use brightly-colored hues for a groovy young, wild, and free retro theme. Metallic accents are also great for adding a glamorous touch.
4. Spell It Out With Balloon Garland
Order a balloon garland kit to spell out the words “Young, Wild, and Three.” Choose balloons that match your wild theme whether you want glamorous gold or boho-chic pastels.
Hang the balloon garland on a blank wall to create a photo backdrop where guests can take pictures with the birthday girl or boy. Or simply place the balloon garland over an entryway to greet guests as they arrive.
5. Dress Up Your Tables
Design: Claudia Owen
Invitation Inspiration: Classic Cheetah Print Invitation
Use classic birthday party supplies like tablecloths, napkins, and paper plates to build your wild and three theme. For a safari birthday, find a tablecloth with monstera leaves and pair it with animal print accents and servingware featuring various jungle creatures.
For a boho vibe, opt for a neutral tablecloth and add metallic paper plates. For 70s-inspired young and wild themes, opt for a tie-dye tablecloth and brighten up the space with bold-colored plates.
6. Hang a Happy Birthday Banner
Make a statement with a birthday banner that’s sure to catch guests’ attention. Create a DIY jungle-themed banner by using a large strip of butcher paper. Tape wild animals to the paper and write “Happy Birthday” using different colors to mimic the look of animal print.
For a young, wild, and three boho celebration, choose a pastel-hued background and add a photo of the birthday honoree. Alternatively, you can choose a paisley partner or fabric to create the banner. Add gold glitter to dress it up and adorn the sign with metallic balloons.
7. Create Themed Centerpieces
Design: Shari Margolin Design
Invitation Inspiration: The Wild Side Invitation
An easy way to dress up any party theme is to add centerpieces to your table decor. If you’ve chosen a boho look, use wildflowers and pampas grass to create centerpieces in ceramic vases.
For a jungle-inspired 3rd birthday party, grab a large glass vase and fill it with sand. Stick jungle leaves in the sand and add tropical flowers like birds of paradise. For retro party theme, fill vases with colorful beads and fill them with eucalyptus branches and daisies. Add paper signs on popsicle sticks with phrases like “young, wild, and three” or the number “3” in various colors.
8. Have Fun With Your Cake Design
Let the birthday girl or boy blow out candles on a stunning cake or tier of cupcakes. Custom order a birthday cake or make one yourself — like this safari-themed cake. Add a cake topper featuring the words “young, wild, and three” and serve with ice cream for an extra special dessert.
Another option is to serve cupcakes for easy bite-size servings. Select wild animal cupcakes or brightly-colored cupcakes and add peace sign cupcake toppers for a retro vibe.
9. Plan Themed Party Activities
Design: Signature Greenvelope
Invitation Inspiration: Watercolor Jungle Invitation
Keep your guests entertained by planning age-appropriate games. For a toddler birthday party with young guests, plan a parent and child scavenger hunt. Guests can search for themed items like safari animals hidden around the party space.
For a retro kids’ birthday party, set up a tie-dye station where parents and children can create their own tie-dye T-shirts. Just be sure to offer some clothing protection and include a note in your digital invitations so guests can plan accordingly.
10. Thanks Guests With Party Favors
Thank the wild ones who attended your themed birthday party by sending them home with a special goody bag. Stickers in animal prints, retro designs like rollerskates, and boho-style florals are a fun way to stay on theme. You can also fill the thank-you bags with snacks like animal cookies.
Go Wild and Have Fun
With these young, wild, and three birthday ideas you can kickstart your party planning and get ready for a fun-filled celebration. Be sure to browse Greenvelope’s full selection of kids’ birthday party invitations to find a design that perfectly matches your party theme.
Once you’ve chosen a design, make it your own by using our customization tools to change the font, color, and layout. When you’re happy with your custom design, upload your contacts and hit send to instantly invite everyone on the guest list via email or text.
Continue browsing our Stationers blog for more third-birthday party ideas. You’ll find everything from party theme ideas to tips on choosing decor, planning activities, and prepping like a pro.
