First Birthday Invitation Wording: 45+ Examples

A first birthday party is really a party for the parents, attended by people who have not slept in a year. The invitation should say that quietly and get the logistics right. Here are 45+ wording examples.

Send yours as a free invitation ecard.

Classic first birthday wording

1. Ella is one! Please join us to celebrate. Saturday 12th, 2pm to 4pm, 22 Grove Road.
2. Our little girl is turning one. Come and celebrate with us on Saturday 12th, 2pm.
3. Please join us for Jack’s first birthday. Sunday 13th, 12pm to 3pm, at ours.
4. One whole year! Come and celebrate Isla’s first birthday. Saturday 12th, 2pm.
5. We are celebrating Sam turning one. Sunday 13th, 11am to 1pm. Lunch provided.
6. Please join us as Ella turns one. Saturday 12th, 2pm to 4pm. RSVP by the 5th.
7. It is Jack’s first birthday! Party on Saturday 12th, 2pm, at the village hall.
8. Come and help us celebrate our daughter’s first birthday. Saturday 12th, 2pm.
9. One year old! Join us on Sunday 13th from noon.
10. Isla is turning one and we would love you there. Saturday 12th, 2pm to 4pm.
11. First birthday party for Sam! Saturday 12th, 2pm. Cake at 3pm.
12. Please join us to celebrate one whole year of Ella. Saturday 12th, 2pm.

Relaxed and honest wording

1. Ella is one and we survived. Come and celebrate both. Saturday 12th, 2pm.
2. One year of Jack, and one year of no sleep. Party Saturday 12th, 2pm.
3. We made it! Come and celebrate Isla’s first birthday on Saturday from 2pm.
4. Sam turns one. Low-key, lots of cake. Sunday 13th, noon.
5. Come and eat cake with us — Ella is one! Saturday 12th, 2pm.
6. First birthday, minimal fuss. Saturday 12th from 2pm at ours.
7. Jack is one. He will not remember it, but we would love you there. Saturday 12th, 2pm.
8. Celebrating a year of Isla and a year of surviving. Saturday 12th, 2pm.
9. One down! Party at ours, Saturday 12th, 2pm to 4pm.
10. Come and celebrate our girl turning one. Saturday 12th, 2pm. Bring nothing.

Themed party wording

1. Ella’s first birthday — teddy bears’ picnic! Saturday 12th, 2pm, Brookside Park.
2. Jack is one! Jungle party, Saturday 12th, 2pm. Come as an animal if you like.
3. Isla’s first birthday tea party. Saturday 12th, 2pm to 4pm. Cake, sandwiches, chaos.
4. Sam is one! Garden party, Sunday 13th from noon. Weather permitting.
5. Come to Ella’s first birthday farmyard party! Saturday 12th, 2pm.
6. Balloons, cake and one very confused one-year-old. Saturday 12th, 2pm.
7. Jack’s first birthday picnic. Sunday 13th, noon, at the park. Bring a blanket.
8. Little Isla is one! Soft play party, Saturday 12th, 2pm to 4pm.

Wording for the practical details

1. No gifts please — Ella has more than enough already.
2. If you would like to bring something, a book for her shelf would be lovely.
3. Cake at 3pm, so do come before then.
4. Party food provided for the children, and proper food for the adults.
5. Please let us know about any allergies when you reply.
6. Siblings very welcome — the garden is secure.
7. Parents please stay — this one is as much for the grown-ups.
8. Naps permitting, we will start at 2pm.
9. Parking is on the street. It gets busy after 1pm.
10. RSVP to Anna on 07700 900123 by the 5th.

Short lines

1. Ella is one! Come and celebrate.
2. One year old — party at ours!
3. First birthday! Saturday, 2pm.
4. Cake, balloons, and a one-year-old.
5. Come and celebrate our girl turning one.
6. One down! Join us.
7. First birthday party — details inside.
8. We would love you there.

How to word it well

1. Keep the window short. Two hours is plenty — the birthday child will be asleep or overwhelmed after that.
2. Say when the cake is. It is the only fixed point in the afternoon and guests plan around it.
3. Handle gifts explicitly. Most one-year-olds already have too much and parents are grateful to say so.
4. Say whether parents should stay. At this age they almost always do, but confirm it.
5. Mention naps. Every parent invited is working around the same problem.

Send it — and pair it with a gift

A free invitation ecard is easiest with a new baby in the house. See also 1st birthday wishes and birthday party invitation wording:

FAQ

What do you write on a first birthday invitation?

The child’s name and age, date, a short time window, the address, cake time, and a line about gifts. Keep it brief.

How long should a first birthday party be?

Two hours at most. Beyond that the birthday child is usually overtired and the party stops being fun for anyone.

How do you say no gifts?

Plainly and warmly: “No gifts please — she has more than enough already.” Parents of one-year-olds are believed on this.

Should parents stay?

At a first birthday, almost always. Say so explicitly so nobody plans a drop-off.

What is a good short line?

“Ella is one! Come and celebrate.”

When should invitations go out?

Three to four weeks ahead. Any earlier and the nap schedule will have changed twice.