Sebastian's One Silly Goose | First Birthday Party
- Paloma Culver
- 7 days ago
- 14 min read
If there was ever a party that deserved its moment in the spotlight, it’s this one. When our Sebastian turned one, we celebrated with the cutest “One Silly Goose” birthday party! Full of playful details, bright yellows, greens, and blues, vintage touches, and plenty of geese, of course.
From a personalized outfit and custom signage, to rental décor, themed activities, a lemonade bar, a treat cart, and the most adorable cake smash moment, every corner of this party had a little magic tucked inside. And because no celebration is complete without thoughtful details, we filled the space with framed photos, cozy seating, floral moments, a sweet audio guestbook, and fun surprises for guests of all ages.
Ready to see how it all came together? Let’s waddle in.
New to our blog posts — Linked Products! I’ve included links to products I personally purchased and used for this party! To help you create this look yourself! Please note that some of these are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them. These links help support my work at no extra cost to you, and I only share items I truly love and recommend!
• KIDS TABLE •
The very first thing I have to highlight from Sebastian’s Silly Goose 1st Birthday is without question, the kids’ table. It was straight out of Pinterest and easily stole the show!
To make it the star of the room, we placed it directly in front of our largest backdrop setup. It was set for eight little party guests and dressed in my all-time favorite disposable tablescape combo. We used french creme dinner plates and scalloped yellow dessert plates topped with pastel party hats, each one embellished with handmade yarn pom poms I crafted late one night while watching TV. I originally ordered plain hats off Amazon, but you know me… they needed extra pizzazz so I bought some yellow yarn and used some cardboard laying around and got to crafting.
Every detail was personalized from custom party emblem stickers on the paper cups and crayon packs to Meri Meri striped napkins and wooden utensils that kept things playful but elevated. Each seat also got a clipboard with custom coloring sheets, plus plush geese wearing matching party hats (because commitment to theme is everything).
And of course, florals! Raye's Flowers & Gifts in Leitchfield, KY, designed a large faux arrangement for the center of the table so I wouldn’t stress about little hands toppling fresh blooms and water, and now it’s an investment piece I can use for years to come. To balance the long layout, we added mini floral arrangements on each end for extra charm.
The kids’ table and chairs were rented from Party-Layne Party Rentals in Clarkson, KY, and they were the perfect foundation for this dreamy setup.
Our Rentals Used:
Clipboards
Faux Floral Arrangement
Plush Geese
Woven Placemats
Checkered Linen Table Runner
• SWEETS + DISPLAY •
No first birthday is complete without cake and let me tell you, Bloom Bakery in Elizabethtown, KY absolutely knocked it out of the park with Sebastian’s treats.
She created the dreamiest tall goose-themed cake for the adults, pastel blue icing covered in hand-piped little geese and tufts of grass that matched our color palette perfectly.
For Sebastian’s smash cake, she kept the theme going with a smaller cake with polka dots and ruffles and let’s just say he wasted no time digging in. No hesitation, no fork, straight in with both hands like the true Silly Goose he is.
And because I’m extra, we also had custom-decorated sugar cookies for guests to take home as favors. I ordered wax paper treat bags from Amazon and added custom party emblem stickers to each one, because everything deserves to be branded.
Of course, a cake this cute deserved a setup to match. We used our white market cart to display everything, then added a matching vinyl panel to tie it into the party palette. I hung the sweetest embroidered name banner from Cru Outfitters across the top, layered in cake stands and wooden trays, and let the desserts speak for themselves.
This cart setup was chef’s kiss perfection.
Our Rentals Used:
White Market Cart
White Cake Stands
Wood Trays
• PARTY FAVORS, BECAUSE EVERY LITTLE GOOSE DESERVES A GOODIE BAG •
If you’ve been here a while, you already know I’m a sucker for party favors… but I’m an even bigger sucker for a good favor display. And let me tell you our champagne wall with acrylic shelves may officially be my favorite rental for showcasing favore bags. Practical? Say less.
I found the cutest jelly bags on Amazon, tied them with coordinating ribbon and custom-designed thank-you tags, then packed them full of goodies:
Coloring sheet
Goldfish crackers
Sticker
Custom plush yarn goose handmade by Yarn Fusion in Leitchfield, KY (watch her make them HERE!)
Fun fact: Yarn Fusion also made all the party favors for my baby shower! Every guest got a hand-crocheted fruit or veggie keychain. So naturally, she had to be part of Sebastian’s big day too.
A Display as Cute as the Gifts
Because favors shouldn’t just be given, they should be presented. I styled the setup using our white champagne wall with four acrylic shelves as the centerpiece, then added custom blue vinyl lettering that read “Party Favors for the Little Goslings.” Yes, I googled the plural for goose, it felt suspicious.
To balance all the white, I brought in our 5-foot arched backdrop custom painted yellow and hung a fabric banner leftover from my baby shower to tie into the color palette. A few balloons on the opposite side and a goose prop topper, and voila, Pinterest-worthy favor station complete.
Our Rentals Used:
Champagne Wall w/Acrylic Shelves
Goose Prop
Fabric Banner
• FOUR BACKDROPS? OF COURSE. IT'S NOT US WITHOUT THEM •
Would it really be a Cultivating Celebrations party if we didn’t create a show-stopping photo moment? Absolutely not. And for Sebastian’s birthday, we didn’t stop at one, we built four different backdrop areas throughout the venue to fill the space with color, charm, and celebration.
The Main Statement Backdrop. Our Silly Goose's Main Stage
The first thing guests saw when walking in was our largest setup for this party a 20-foot-wide backdrop installation that included:
7' Yellow Round Top Backdrop
6' Blue Arched Top Backdrop
Small Rattan Wall
White Market Cart
Over 25 feet of balloons in the party's signature color palette
To bring it to life, we layered in all the little details, a custom embroidered name banner from Cru Outfitters, a fabric ribbon banner, and of course, a goose prop perched proudly in front. This was the backdrop I dreamed of for my One Silly Goose.
The Photo Booth Wall: Powered by The Mod Booth
Next up was our Greenery Wall, dressed with balloons in opposite corners and the custom party emblem sign hanging front and center. This served as the backdrop for our photo booth kiosk from The Mod Booth in Elizabethtown, KY.
Heather has been part of so many family celebrations that it wouldn’t feel like our party without her. Guests took turns snapping photos, GIFs, and boomerangs, and the activity from that corner was constant.
The Milestone Wall: Twelve Months of Sebastian
Possibly my favorite sentimental touch, our brand-new Milestone Wall, featuring 12 gold frames, one for each month of Sebastian’s first year. We crowned it with custom vinyl lettering that read “One Year of Sebastian.” It was so sweet watching guests pause, smile, and point out their favorite “Sebastian expressions.”
The Party Favor Wall: Even Departures Should Be Photo-Worthy
And last but certainly not least, the party favor display, which you already saw earlier. Styled on our champagne wall with acrylic shelves and topped with balloons and a goose friend, it doubled as both a gifting station and a final photo moment as guests headed out.
Our Rentals Used:
White Market Cart
7' Round Top Backdrop
6' Round Arch Backdrop
5' Rounded Arch Backdrop
Greenery Wall
Rattan Wall
Champagne Wall w/Acrylic Shelves
Milestone Wall w/12 Frames
Goose Props
Fabric Banners
Our full catalog of balloon installs can be found here.
• BRANDING THE CELEBRATION: DETAILS TELL THE STORY •
Beyond the balloons and backdrops, one of my favorite parts of designing parties is branding the celebration. What does that mean? It means choosing a consistent set of colors, fonts, and icons, then weaving them into every printed element throughout the space. It’s one of the easiest ways to make a party feel elevated, intentional, and cohesive.
The best part? We offer custom event graphics through our sister business, Cultivating Culver, so we design everything in-house.
The Party Emblem: The Star of the Printed Details
For this party, the hero graphic was our custom birthday party emblem, a Silly Goose crest that we turned into stickers and used on everything:
Crayon packs
Kids’ cups
Treat bags
Even enlarged as signage for the photo booth backdrop
One graphic, used five different ways for maximum impact with minimal effort.
Custom Sticker Sheets: The Favorite Favor of the Day
As much as I loved the emblem, nothing topped our party favor sticker sheets. We partnered with KM Printing in Leitchfield, KY to bring them to life, and they created the funniest “Face It, He’s One” sticker sets featuring Sebastian’s best expressions from his first year.
They were quirky, personal, and surprisingly cost-effective about $1.60 per favor and I still laugh today as I peel his tiny little faces off.
Coloring Sheets: Cute, Cheap, and Kid-Approved
For an easy table activity, we designed exclusive coloring sheets featuring “Sebastian’s 1 Silly Goose.” Since he loves swimming, we illustrated a goose in a floaty holding balloons. Paired with crayons at each seat, it kept the kids busy and doubled as a keepsake.
Built-In Thank You Notes: A Sweet Touch for Guests
One thing I always aim to include is a thank-you card within the party setup. Because let’s be honest, if we wait to mail thank-you cards after the party, it’ll be four months before we remember we forgot.
So instead, we placed personal “Thank you for coming” cards at each place setting. Each one included a note from Serg and I, along with a recent family photo. It was a simple but intentional way to acknowledge our people while they were right in front of us. Most guests tucked them into their bags to take home.
Custom Graphics Included:
Coloring Sheets
Custom Face Party Favor Sticker Sheets
Thank You Cards
Thank You Tags for Gift Bags
Bag Toppers for Sticker Sheets
Menu
Sign
Lemonade Stand Drink Ticket
Invitation
Vinyl for Bar and Cake Cart
• ADULT TABLES: GROWN UPS DESERVE PRETTY SETTTINGS TOO •
I’ll be honest, I physically cannot go minimal when it comes to my own celebrations. So even for the adult tables, we went all out with full place settings, but my sister convinced me to balance practicality with style by mixing some of our glass rentals with elevated disposables for easier cleanup.
We started with Caribbean blue linen tablecloths, then layered each seat with:
Woven placemats
Checkered linen napkins secured with woven napkin rings
Glass goblets from our rental collection
Scalloped plastic dinner plates (Amazon find!)
Gold disposable utensils that looked beautiful without breaking the budget
Centerpieces with Movement + Freshness
For the centerpieces, we alternated between two styles: Fresh floral arrangements from Raye’s Flowers & Gifts paired and helium balloon bundles. Helium balloons are my favorite for round tables. Balloons add height and movement, making the entire room feel more dynamic and joyful.
Each table also included a framed photo of Sebastian from throughout his first year, paired with a little ceramic goose. A sweet and sentimental touch that stayed on theme.
A Final Layer of Thoughtfulness
Every adult setting also included our printed thank-you notes, tucked beneath the napkin for an extra sprinkle of detail. Because no matter how big or small the celebration, I always want our guests to feel seen, appreciated, and part of our story.
Our Rentals Used:
Woven Placemats
Glass Goblets
Yellow Plaid Cloth Napkins
Acrylic Frames
Blue Linen Tablecloths
• SOFT PLAY ZONE: WHERE THE KIDS LIVED ALL PARTY LONG •
Hands down, the most loved part of the entire party for the kiddos was our Soft Play Playground. When Sebastian was only a couple months old, a friend was selling her soft play set and I immediately bought it knowing it would be perfect for his first birthday. Best decision ever! I wanted a fun activity for the kiddos and since they were more toddler aged I knew a large inflatable wouldn't' be the best option, because of our little guests sizes.
What I didn’t expect was how hard it would be to tear him away from it for cake and photos. All the kids flocked to this area and basically never left, which meant the adults could relax, chat, and enjoy themselves without worrying about where their toddlers had wandered off to.
What Was Included in the Play Setup
The playground featured all of our soft play rentals, including:
Foam mats in yellow and white
Banana rocker
Arched slide with step
Cow bouncer
Rabbit bouncer
Climbing blocks
Surrounding fencing to create a safe enclosed zone
And to really top it off, we rented a mini white bounce house from Party Layne Event Rentals in Clarkson, KY, which we dressed up with balloons and a ball pit for extra fun. They even brough yellow balls to add as accents to play into the color palette.
Why I’ll Never Host a First Birthday Without Soft Play Again
If you’re throwing a party for little ones, a soft play zone is worth every penny. It keeps the kids entertained and contained which, if you’ve ever hosted toddlers in a venue, you know is a dream combo.
In short: the kids went wild, the parents got to relax, and I’ll recommend soft play to every mama from now on.
• SHAKE LEMONADES FOR THE WIN: FEATURING LEMONY SIPS •
I firmly believe every party needs at least one unexpected surprise, we brought in Lemony Sips, a mobile lemonade vendor that specializes in shaken lemonades and they were a total hit!
They offered four refreshing flavors for guests to choose from:
Watermelon
Blackberry
Ocean Water
Strawberry
We still had the traditional water and sweet tea station by the buffet, but I wanted a sweet, memorable treat that people would talk about later and based on the empty cups and sticky smiles, it delivered.
Lemonade Tickets: Branding Is Life
To make it extra fun (and organized), I designed custom lemonade tickets. Each guest received one complimentary lemonade on us, with the option to purchase more if they wanted. It was so cute watching adults and kids walk around proudly holding their little drink tickets. Doing the ticket system with Lemony Sips was amazing! I gave them the head count from our RSVP list and I paid for the set amount of guests/lemonades. This allowed me to have no unexpected increase in cost from the lemonade bar. I highly recomment working with Jesinda! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, them!
Styling the Lemonade Bar
Of course, the drinks needed a styled moment of their own. We used a bar we had previously refinished in all white as the base, then added:
Custom vinyl that was plaid and said "Sebastian's One Silly Goose"
A matching acrylic menu sign designed by Coco + Sage in Louisville, KY
Fresh florals from Raye’s Flowers for a soft touch
Blue scalloped cocktail napkins to match the theme (and catch sticky fingers)
It was refreshing, photogenic, and one of the most talked-about stations of the day.
Note: I was so busy on party day that I completely forgot to photograph even one of the many lemonades I drank. Whoever didn’t show up that day unknowingly donated their drink ticket to me, I call it the Party Planner Tax.
Our Rentals Used:
White Bar w/Vinyl Inlay
Acrylic Signage
• ALL IN THE DETAILS •
Believe it or not, there were still even more details tucked into this birthday party and these are some of my favorites.
Birthday Outfit + Party Hat
Let’s start with the outfit, because I’m still obsessed. Cru Outfitters created Sebastian’s birthday look: a light-blue plaid jumper with yellow trim, a big number one front and center, and the sweetest little embroidered goose. They even made a matching party hat with Sebastian’s name and a yellow “1” stitched right on top. I simply gave them the color palette, the theme, Sebastian’s size, and told them they had creative freedom and they blew me away!
That’s the magic of hiring small businesses and letting them do what they’re passionate about. Not only did they create the outfit, but they also made his name banner for the treat cart!
I forgot the highchair for the party in my planning...
Now for one of those “how did I forget this?” moments…With all the planning and details swirling in my head, I completely forgot about one of the most important items of the day—the highchair. How does a party planner forget the chair the baby sits in to eat cake?! A week or two before the party, the realization hit and thankfully, my mom came to the rescue.
Somehow she had the perfect vintage highchair in her collection. The patterned plastic cushion was yellow, blue, green, and orange… as if it had been custom-designed for the party. It honestly looked like I scoured the internet to find it, but really, my mom just happened to have the magic piece stored away. Moms really do save the day.
JAW Creations in Leitchfield, KY made the cutest highchair banner—ribbons, playful colors, and the sweetest paper goose. I actually had the banner made weeks in advance… I just forgot the chair to put it on.
Acrylic Signage for the Lemonade Bar + Audio Guestbook
To tie in more custom elements, I commissioned Coco + Sage in Louisville to create acrylic signage. She crafted a lemonade bar menu listing all the drink options, plus a sign for the audio guestbook with instructions that read:
“Sebastian’s Memory Audio GuestbookShare an audio message of your favorite memory with him or something you’d love for him to know. We will share these messages on his 18th birthday! Pick up the phone and leave your message. When finished, please hang up the phone to ensure your message has been recorded.”
Cue the tears, because the messages are so sweet. I may have cried when listening to a few of them as I saved them on a hard drive for him.
Yard Sale Ceramic Geese
The buffet tables were decorated with ceramic geese I found at a yard sale nearly a year before the party. The second I saw them, I had a feeling they would have a purpose at Sebastian's party. They looked like treasures! I've even had people offer to buy them off of me. A valued yard sale find for sure!
Photos + Decorative Frames
Throughout the room, I displayed framed photos of Sebastian from his first year. I spent months collecting decorative frames from the Target Dollar Spot, then painted several to match the party colors. It was a simple touch, but it made the whole space feel personal, sentimental, and filled with love.
Can you picture your little one celebrating their first birthday with a theme as sweet and whimsical as this? Whether it’s a cozy backyard gathering or a full-scale themed celebration, there’s always a reason to make their milestone magical.
These baby days go by fast, give them a party filled with memories, laughter, and moments you’ll cherish forever.
This event was styled and coordinated by Cultivating Celebrations, LLC. If you’re in Central Kentucky, we’d love to help bring your little one’s party theme to life, and we highly recommend the small businesses and vendors featured throughout this post. (Their contact information is listed below!) Ready to start planning your own One-of-a-Kind celebration? Let’s make it unforgettable.
Event Coordination & Styling, Balloons, Rentals, Table-Scape, Photographer:
• BUSINESSES MENTIONED IN THIS BLOG POST •
Bloom Bakery
Follow them on social media:
Visit their website
Cultivating Celebrations
Follow them on social media:
Cultivating Culver
Follow us on social media:
Raye's Flowers & Gifts
Follow them on social media:
KM Printing
Follow them on social media:
Storehouse Coffee + Gifts
Follow them on social media:
The Mod Booth
Follow them on social media:
Cru Outfitters
Follow them on social media:
Visit their website
Yarn Fusion
Follow them on social media:
Visit their website
Coco + Sage
Follow them on social media:
Lemony Sips
Follow them on social media:
JAW Creations
Follow them on social media:
Party-Layne
Follow them on social media:
Visit their website
CJ Event Rentals
Follow them on social media:
Visit their website
White Lantern Lake Wedding & Event Venue
Follow them on social media:
Crosscut Cabinetry
Follow them on social media:
Affiliate Disclaimer
This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services I genuinely love and believe add value to my readers. Your support helps me continue creating helpful, inspiring content. Thank you for being here!
Comments