I love planning first birthday parties and coming up with creative themes for them. The Winter ONEderland theme is one of my favorites to plan.
When I’m planning a winter wonderland theme for any type of event (birthday parties or baby showers), I like to envision being inside a holiday snow globe.
In this guide, we‘ll cover winter ONEderland party ideas for invitations, decorations, dessert table decor, party favors, themed hot cocoa bar options, and more!
Paired with the magic of the holiday season and the coziness of winter, you’ll swoon over how stunning this first birthday party theme can be!
Please note, there are affiliate links in this post.
Winter ONEderland Invitations
Set the scene right from the start with winter ONEderland themed party invitations! There are so many to choose from, regardless if the party is for a little girl or little boy.
These winter one-derland birthday party invitations are so adorable. Grab the printable template above and simply edit it with your own details and little one’s picture!
Winter ONEderland Decoration Ideas
Utilized winter-inspired decorations to transport your guests into a winter wonderland.
Color Palette
You can choose from a variety of color palettes for a winter onederland party.
White is usually the main color in order to create a dreamy atmosphere reminiscent of snow. Make it your own by tying it together with icy blues, light pinks, or you can go all in with the natural feel and add in greens, shades of brown, and berry reds.
Centerpiece Ideas
The centerpieces for your little one’s first birthday party will tie the entire event together.
Pro-tip: add fairy lights to your tablescape or centerpieces for a cozy, twinkling ambiance to really set the scene.
Here are a few options that are adorable (and won’t break the budget!):
Mini Christmas Trees
Consider adding mini Christmas trees to every table as a centerpiece. Place small photos of your little one’s first year of life throughout each tree.
Winter ONEderland scenery
Create a little winter wonderland scenery with wood slices, greenery and DIY terraniums using jars or bowls from the dollar store. Use epsom salt to fill the jars for snow.
Vase with pinecones and ornaments
I used vases similar to the ones pictures above for my wedding, and I found them at the Dollar Tree. For a Winter ONEderland birthday, fill them with pinecones, snow, ornaments, branches, etc. to drive the winter wonderland theme home.
PERSONALIZED SNOWGLOBES
How adorable are these personalized snow globes? You can create these yourself and use different pictures of your little one on each table.
Glittery Pinecones
You can gather pinecones (or purchase faux pinecones in bulk) and either leave them natural or spray paint them the color that matches your color palette.
While the paint is drying (or spray glue if you’re keeping them natural) add glitter for the snowy look.
Snowflake Sticks
This is such an easy DIY centerpiece idea! You can create snowflake sticks (or grab these for an even easier project), and simply stick them in a mason jar. You can fill the jar with fairy lights, fake snow, or colorful beads.
DIY WOODLAND TERRANIUM
Create your own winter woodland terraniums with mason jars, winter figurines like animals or trees, and fake snow. Use cotton or epsom salt for the snow.
Frosted Holiday Bouquet
A winter bouquet is always a great idea for a winter-themed birthday party. You can find winter floral pieces at the dollar store, Amazon, or any craft store. Find evergreen branches, pinecone picks, berry picks, and more.
Pinecones in a tray
Tablescape Ideas
Designing a beautiful tablescape will elevate your event instantly. You can create beautiful tablescapes on each table, or you can create a really stunning one on the dessert table.
Regardless of the route you choose, consider adding elements from nature that would go along with a winter wonderland atmosphere. Think evergreen garland, wood slice trays, pine cones, berries, and of course, think of ways to incorporate faux snow.
A woodland animal theme is a popular twist on the winter onerland party, because they blend beautifully together.
I love the above winter wonderland tablescape. A white runner is placed in the middle of the table, and polar bears, bare lit trees, and evergreen trees are scattered around the middle of the table.
Here’s another idea with a white table runner. Add greenery, small trees, woodland creates, candles and fairy lights to create a winter wonderland tablescape.
Snowflake Decorations
A Winter ONEderland party isn’t complete with snow! One way to bring snow into your space is by decorating with snowflake garland or hanging snowflakes from the ceiling.
Christmas Trees (baby picture ornaments)
Adding a Christmas tree to the event would add a whimsical touch too! You could add photos of baby’s first year throughout the tree and have all the gifts placed under the tree!
Winter Wonderland Backdrop
You can create a beautiful focal point of your party by creating a backdrop. You can do this behind the dessert table to really make it pop. For a winter ONEderland theme, I love draping white fabric over a wall or on a stand and hanging soft, twinkling lights along it.
You can also create a backdrop with a balloon arch for the perfect place for photos, which we’ll dive into next.
Balloon Arches + Garland
One of the best ways to really pack a punch in your party decor is with balloon garland or arches! You can hire a balloonist to bring your idea to live, or you can DIY it with a balloon garland kit.
Choose balloon colors that match your party’s colors – wither that’s a pale blue and snow-like white or clear and light pink like the balloons below.
Hang a custom winter ONEderland sign or banner with your little one’s name near the garland to complete the look.
Milestone Photo Banner
I adore the milestone photo banners that are trending for first birthday parties right now! It’s such a beautiful way to celebrate your little one’s first year of life, while adding to the winter ONEderland party decor.
Here are a couple options I think work perfectly for this theme.
This winter onederland milestone banner is perfect for a winter wonderland themed first birthday party!
The above milestone banner is a printable that you edit yourself with monthly photos of your baby. It features muted tones of boho winter botanicals that will really elevate the look of your party.
If you don’t want to deal with printables and editing them online, the above pre-made milestone banner is another great option! There are mini clothespins attached to the pack of each snowflake for you to clip photos with ease.
Hot Chocolate Bar
What winter wonderland party would be complete without a hot chocolate bar? Give your event a cozy, homey feel by warming everyone up with hot cocoa complete with toppings of their choosing: marshmallows, crushed peppermint, whipped cream, and more.
Be sure to decorate it with evergreen garland, floating snowflakes, and more elements from a winter wonderland adventure.
HIGH CHAIR BANNER
A high chair banner is a first birthday party must-do! This will really drive the theme home, and make for the CUTEST photos of your little ONE year old!
Grab this custom high chair banner for the perfect photo opp of your little one!
Banners, Signs + Garland
Add in extra elements to your party like banners, signs, and garland. Having these throughout the space will really tie everything together!
I love these “My First Year” signs with cute information about your little one. This winter ONEderland themed sign can be edited online and then printed at your local printer.
This is an adorable ONEderland sign you can have custom made with your little one’s name.
Layer in some personalized touches into the winter wonderland decor. One way you can do this is with crafter letters spelling out “ONE” or even your child’s name. You can find the above handmade letters here.
Consider adding holiday garland throughout your space to bring in the feel of nature in the winter.
Winter ONEderland Dessert Table
Before we get to the main event, the birthday cake, let’s talk about putting together an epic Winter ONEderland dessert table. If you do this right, it’ll be the focal point to your room, elevate the space, and tie the whole theme together beautifully!
Dessert Table Setup
I love how the woodland theme bridges perfectly with the winter ONEderland theme. The above dessert table brings in elements of nature with the cake stand and the small trees and pinecones scattered along the table runner.
Dessert Table Accent Treats
Everything on this dessert table is frosted in white in order to evoke the magic of winter. From the food to the table cloth, it’s spot on for a winter wonderland. The addition of greenery, pinecones and glittery fake snow elevates the table even more.
One of my favorite white food ideas is this donut hole tree, which can easily be replicated with a styrofone tree and toothpicks.
These Hot Chocolate Bars are so perfect for a winter wonderland dessert table!
These mitten shaped cookies are the cutest!
How adorable are these mitten and snowflake cookies? This is a great idea for an addition to your dessert table.
This “snowman” trail mix is perfect for a winter wonderland dessert table. Just add marshmallows, pretezels, and chocolate.
Cupcakes
Consider adding snowflake cupcake toppers to elevate the look of your dessert table and really drive the theme home.
Other Ideas to consider to elevate your dessert table:
- Label each dessert with a winter-themed name
- Create an instant ambiance to your dessert table with twinkling fairy lights.
- Add battery-operated flameless candles throughout the table.
- Add small pine trees, fake snow, and winter-esq figurines.
Winter ONEderland Cake Ideas
Consider Winter ONEderland cakes that embody the winter wonderland feel. Here are a few ideas to consider:
- Polar Bears
- Winter Woodland Animals
- Christmas Tree
- Glittery Snow
- Snow Flakes
This winter wonderland woodland theme is adorned with deer shaped gingerbead cookies! I love the rustic touch of the wood slab cake tray.
Party Favor Ideas
Send your guests home with a whimsical party favors! Here are a few ideas I personally love for this theme:
- Mini Snow Globes
- Hot Chocolate Kits in Mugs
- Snowflake shaped items like soaps, candles, candies.
- Christmas ornaments
How adorable are these personalized wood sliced ornaments?
Here’s a great example of giving out hot chocolate kits as party favors.
Give out these Christmas soap packages for parting gifts!
Overview
The Winter ONEderland party is the perfect theme for your little one’s first birthday! If you need a winter theme, this is defintely one to consider. It brings an instant coziness to your event, bring the warmth of the holiday season to the party!
