Baby Beluca
How do you feel about birthdays? Do you welcome them and look forward to turning another year older? Do you get emotional or sad that time is passing so quickly? Although I love to host parties and am always looking for an excuse to celebrate, I must admit, I’m a little down that my baby boy just turned TWO years old. I just love the stage he is at; so cute, kind, and cuddly… pretty much everything he says and does it adorable. But I know from experience, this stage doesn’t last forever ;)
Despite feeling a tad emotional over the milestone, a second birthday is pretty special. First birthdays are momentous occasions; however, the guest of honour doesn’t really understand what all the adieu is about. This year, we talked about Luca’s upcoming birthday with him and prepared him for what was to come. He understood, was asking questions, and was super pumped up about his big day. Because of that, I was able to look past my pity party and get excited along with our little Luca.
For me, party planning always begins with establishing a theme. Back in April, I decided on a “Baby Beluga” theme. Not only does Luca love the book and song by Raffi, it’s also one of his nicknames, and it makes for the cutest little pun…”Baby Beluca.” I love a good pun. You might remember Bella’s third birthday party was a Coachella theme- “CoaBella.” I digress.
We typically host parties at our home. In my head I enjoy hosting because it gives me freedom to decorate ahead of time and decorate to my liking, create a pretty table scape, go all out with the spread of sweets and treats, I can bring the entertainment to us, and last but not least, there’s an open bar :P But with hosting at your own home, also comes great responsibility including running around to prepare everything beforehand, as well as to clean up before and after the party on your own, which is typically a big job.
We have a lot going on in our lives at the moment (stay tuned for more information on that coming soon) and with our world currently being in a pandemic, we decided having the party at a venue would be the best option. I always try to plan my little one’s parties around their current interests. So when searching for venues, I kept Luca’s love for physical activity and jumping in mind. I landed on The Backyard indoor play space and inflatables and thought it would be perfect. We had been to The Backyard for drop-in play, as well as for one of Bella’s friend’s birthday parties. So I already knew it was new, clean, and had plenty of open space- over 10,000 square feet to be exact. When I contacted them to book Luca’s party, I found out that they were currently closed for drop-in play, but were accepting birthday party bookings. I know how this must be extremely difficult for this small local business, which is another reason I chose The Backyard. These businesses need our support more than ever. I was also happy to learn of the small party sizes and additional measures they have taken to ensure the safest party experience possible.
Once the venue was secured, it was time to make the (small) guest list and send out invitations. I found this one on Etsy and thought it was perfect. I always send out digital invitations because it’s quicker and easier than paper invitations. Then it was time to source party decorations, which I typically find quite time consuming. I usually start the hunt when we are in the U.S. in the winter and find the best options at Target. With the beluga theme being more narrow than previous themes, I initially found it more of a struggle to track down decor.
It was such a huge relief once I connected with A Little Confetti Shop. This small, Calgary-based online shop curates the most adorable party supplies. They have everything from tablecloths, to plates, napkins, cutlery, backdrops, balloons, treat bags, baking supplies, and more! And literally everything they stock is Pinterest worthy. She sourced the most perfect shade of blue cake and dinner plates, napkins, cups, and an adorable little fringe backdrop. I just can’t get over how easy this made my job. She totally understood my vision and nailed it. I will definitely be calling on A Little Confetti Shop for all our future birthday parties!
The final piece of decor I needed to source was a balloon instalment. I love balloon garland as I find them to be a big statement and add the wow factor to a party. I always get Crystal from Method Events to do our balloons. She is so patient, talented, and understands and nails my vision. Given the layout of The Backyard, a balloon garland wasn’t the best option, so we opted for a framed #2 balloon instalment for the table. Method Events definitely delivered and it added so much to the party vibe. Luca especially loved the balloons and despite my best efforts, couldn’t help but try to pull them off and play with them. Check out Method for all your event planning, balloons, and more!
Another reason it was a blessing to have the party at The Backyard, was that it meant the spread would be pretty simple. This means less stress on me as the hostess! The Backyard orders pizza for the party guests and I was so happy that they had an allergy-friendly option for Luca. My lovely Mother-in-Law made the adorable whale and starfish cookies, delicious underwater cupcakes, and of course, the most beautiful cake. Luca’s “Gaga,” as he calls her, is the most talented and humble baker and we are so lucky she always spoils us with her delicacies. The best part is, everything tastes just as good as it looks!
The reduced stress that came from having the celebration at The Backyard, was most apparent on the morning of the party. I wasn’t scrambling, running around frantically, barking orders at my husband, or rushing to the store last minute. I was relaxed, enjoying the day, and even running ahead of schedule. The masked Backyard staff were so helpful in explaining the guidelines to us and the guests, setting up, and tending to us throughout the party. We all felt at ease and comfortable in the space. I can’t recommend them enough for your little one’s birthday parties! They also offer a beautiful venue for weddings and other special celebrations. Let’s help this little business out during this difficult time.
The party went off without a hitch. It was definitely the right place for our bouncy little Luca and big-sister Bella too. All the kids had a blast running, jumping, sliding, and chasing their little hearts out… and the adults did too! It was nice to get out of the house and run off some steam in a nice, clean and open space, with a small group of our closest family and friends. It was the perfect way to celebrate Luca King.
A big thanks to our friends and family who came to celebrate Baby Beluca. And thank you to everyone who wished him a ‘Happy Birthday’ on social media! It means so much and we were definitely feeling the love.
All photos by my husband, King Rose Visuals.
Xo KK
