Turning one is a MAJOR milestone for any child. Some parents host elaborate parties with over-the-top themes while others choose celebrate with the basic birthday essentials of cake, balloons and presents. Your baby is too small to remember any of this day, so celebrate however you want based on your personal preference and budget. We attended a spectacular hot air balloon themed first birthday that was hosted by our cousin, Nitesh and his wife Yogita, for their son Rihaan. We can't believe this little guy is already one! It seems like only yesterday we attended the What Will It Bee themed gender reveal party. The year most certainly flew by!

Nitesh and Yogita incorporated a beautiful color palette featuring various shades of blue, white, yellow and orange. The key to a stunning dessert table is height and three dimensional elements. Yogita combined sapphire fabric with sky blue wallpaper with white clouds to create the backdrop. She also added whimsical hot air balloons, ducks and the sun. DiMare Pastry Shop created the delicious two-tier vanilla cake. The cookie fondant toppers on the cake perfectly coordinated with the adorable backdrop. Yogita also baked yummy chocolate cupcakes.

Desserts:
Cloud Marshmallows

Hot Air Balloon Sugar Cookies
Blue and White Swirl Lollipops
Mango Milkshakes
Blue and White Gum Balls
Trifle Pudding
Mango Kulfi
Kesar Pista Kulfi

The menu was delicious.

Appetizers:
Spinach Rolls
Watermelon & Pimento Peppers with Feta Cheese
Bhaji
Baby Corn Manchurian
Fish Manchurian
Chicken 65

Mains:

Mutton Biryani
Chicken Tikka Masala
Black Eyed Peas
Pandora Masala
Mutter Paneer
Raita
Carrot and Bell Pepper Chutneys
Sambar
Naan

We love themed photo booth props! Yogita and Nitesh even created an adorable miniature hot air balloon with a large red balloon and an oversized basket. And yes even adults stepped inside the basket for an adorable photo op.

Guests departed with hot air balloon themed gift bags, filled blue and white chocolates, gum balls and bubbles.

Yogita and Nitesh, thanks again for hosting an amazing party. We know all of your family and friends had a blast and the adults may have had more fun with the photo booth props and hot air balloon than the kids.

"Your life is like a balloon...if you never let yourself go, you will never know how far you can rise."

––Linda Poindexter

Up, Up and Away