1St Boy Birthday* Too Many Ppl to Invite!

I agree, that is a LOT of people for a first birthday party. Do you really need to invite 120 guests? Seems like it could be a bit overwhelming for the birthday boy. For my son's first birthday in Nov 2007, we did lunch and cake for family and close friends at home. It was about 20 or 25 people and that was a lot for my son. I would shoot for something a bit smaller.

I would invite aunts,uncles grandparents and cousins and that's it. Anyone else i would allow to drop by but a party that big for any age child is CRAZY.

120 people? It's not a wedding ;) We only invite immediate family (we have a big family) then our best friends. Your son would be so overwhelmed if that many people were there. You should have a going away party for your husband before he leaves, not make it on your sons bday.

Jessie, Having had a husband in the military and going on assignment I understand the importance to gather people together and create memories. When we get together for a baby shoer we can have 120 just family members come so add friends and it gets really nutty so I do understand.
I have a couple of suggestions that might help so that you are not over whelmed and stressed. 1. have several smaller parties, with just your personal family, then another with extended family and another with friends. This way you are able to visit and actually talk with your guests and none of you are to over burdened or emotional. I am sure that becasue you are in SF if its not raining it will be deeply overcast.2. Do you belong to a church? See if you can use their church cultural hall, or if you are military is there a place like the Veternas of America, or Moose Lodge , golf course, or even a restruant that you can rent. With that many people renting a place is generally the way to go. Pick your hours carefully as it will change the price of the room/area.
I am assuming that this in reality is a birthday party and a send off party for your husband so everyone sees him before he leaves. So keep in mind your goal and you will save some of the confusion. Hope you have a happy day and that you have lots of help and support from family and friends. I would also suggest that if you can have it potluck as it will save you hundreds of dollars.
Let us know how it turned out.

LOL! That's a HUGE party for a 1st birthday. Wait until you have more kids, the second one gets maybe 20 people and the third is lucky if you have just your immediate family.

I "get" that your husband won't be around next year. But truely, with that many people coming for ONE party neither of you will really be able to visit or spend time with anyone.

Maybe break it up. Have a first birthday party for your son for immediate family members. Then have another party for no reason at all with the other people. It will probably be better for everyone if you actually get to talk with them and visit instead of trying to have EVERYONE at one party.

Best wishes.

Oh my gosh!! who are you inviting!?! We did the kid's aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and god parents. It is a first birthday, it doesn't need to be over the top.

LOL! I had too many people for my daughter's first birthday. She ended up starting to get a cold THAT day, and it was overwhelming for both of us, but I totally understand where you are coming from!

Suggestions:
Bay Area Discovery Museum (may not be big enough) - Sausalito and much of it is outside
Maybe someplace in Fort Mason is available to rent for indoors? Or in the Presidio?
Academy of Sciences or Exploratorium - you probably wouldn't be able to all sit down together, though. Zeum is also fun
Crissy Field is a fun beach and there is a smallish cafe where you could be, but again, not sure if big enough.
Across the bay is Habitot in Berkeley or Tilden Park
Take a ferry ride all together and bring cake with you?

I would try to cut the list down to just those closet too you. We had a BBQ and cake at our house. If you must invite everyone than see if you can maybe rent a rec. center somewhere.

I agree with ILuvmylife. That is alot of people for a first birthday. I had my daughters first birthday in July, and it is hard not to invite everyone, but you just have to leave some people out. We had about 50 people at our house, and it was overwhelming for me. And I also agree that you should have a going away party for your husband later. Renting a hall would be your best bet, and I really don't know what else. You don't have much time left. Good luck.

Holy Cow! A one yr old birthday party for a kid that will not even really know what is going on with 120 people on a rainy day just seems crazy to me.
If your friends and family like to get together for parties maybe you should put this off till the weather is better or call it something else. I guess you'll get a slug of presents tho huh? You wont even be able to fit them all in your car if you are at a hall.. make sure you have someone to help you haul all the loot to your home afterwards.
I've never done anything that I had 120 people come to. It's giving me an anxiety attack as I type... I have to go breathe in a paper bag now.
Good luck.

I know in some cultures, it's typical to have a large party. At least, that was my excuse for my first son's birthday, we had 80 plus people. We had it in the park. But if I was worried about the weather, I would either rent a hall, or have it in a restaurant that's set up for large groups (chinese banquet, buffets, etc). Ask your friends if they live in a complex that has a community center or rec room that can be rented out. Lots of parks have community centers, which is a bonus because they're next to playgrounds, so if the weather is nice, you can still enjoy the outdoors. Get friends and family to help. Good luck and report back!

Why not spread the festivities out over the whole mo? Ask that just a few people come at a time and give them a time window in which to come visit. That way you can put some of them up at your house and they won't all have to pay for hotels.

Keep in mind that people like to feel needed. You can take a moment in a day when you have some close member of the family or a really good friend over to take them aside and ask them to go out and get some necessary dinner item or help you w/ chopping salad. We all love to chat and help in the kitchen. It's enriching to the relationship.

Some people think it's tacky to ask a guest to bring a salad or wine or some other menu item, but if your guests/family/friends are casual like mine, no one will batt an eye at it.

And if a few are staying at your house at a time thru the whole mo. be sure to have them strip the bed when they're done w/ it, and bring the sheets to the laundry room, or have them bring sleeping bags.

AND you and yours' won't be at the mercy of the weather this way.

If this is all a bit much for you, you may want to check out the cabins at your local KOA and have everyone pitch in a bit to get a nice big one. They have cabins w/ kitchens and baths now.

keep it simple. we did a big first birthday and invited 50 ppl and that was too many. i have no advise just remember he probably wont remember it and it is about him.

That is larger then my wedding! :) It's easy to want to include everyone but be realistic.. I would have it at a restaurant or rent a hall.. Don't do it at your house! Good Luck!

who is this party for? your son? your husband? or you? because your son will NOT enjoy a party with 120 people. i agree with another poster - RIDICULOUS. if this is a bash to honor your husband before he leaves, then have a going away party. that's two separate things. i always suggest people have a very small private first birthday party. at that age kiddos have a small circle of people they are comfortable and happy around - big crowds can overstimulate, stress out, and exhaust a one year old. again i ask - who is this party ACTUALLY for??

ARE YOU SERIOUS??? that is ridiculous , he wont remember how many people attended his birthday party..that will overwhelm him, this is his day not yours so why make him miserable on his b-day, he will be terrified, think of all the noise and commotion ..why not invite close family and friends or separate it into 2 different parties?