First Birthday Party Rentals: Seating, Tables and a Smash Cake Spot

The guest of honor is one year old and won't remember a minute of it, but the photos will live on a mantel for decades. That makes a first birthday a hybrid: half family brunch, half photo shoot. The rentals you need follow from that, and so does the layout, which has to work for people carrying babies.

Who is actually coming

Most first birthdays in the Chicago area draw 20 to 50 people. Expect:

• Grandparents and older relatives who want a comfortable chair with arms or a solid back.
• Parents of toddlers who will eat one-handed, standing, and be up and down.
• A few kids who can sit at a small table, and a lot who can't be pinned down.

Seat roughly 75 percent of adults and 100 percent of grandparents. Skip chairs for the toddlers and give them floor space with mats.

What to rent

Adult seating

Pick a chair that is comfortable for a long afternoon. Sturdy cross-back chairs (estimated $8 to $11) work for a rustic look, ghost chairs ($10 to $14) stay out of the way of a colorful decor palette, and garden folding chairs ($5 to $7) are fine for a backyard. Whatever you choose, keep arms or a firm back in mind for older relatives.

Tables

• One 6-foot or 8-foot table for the main food spread.
• A smaller 36- to 48-inch round or a cocktail table for the cake and smash cake. Round tables are easier to photograph from three sides.
• One or two child-size tables if toddlers will sit and color.
• 60-inch rounds for adult seating, 8 per table. See our round table size guide.

Linens

A floor-length cloth on the cake table hides crates, spare diapers and a cooler. Use the tablecloth size chart to match sizes. A tablecloth in a muted color works well with bright balloons.

Dishes and serving

Rent plates and flatware only if you are serving a full meal. Many first birthdays serve finger food, small plates and cake, and disposable works fine for that. Ask for a quote on both.

The smash cake corner

The smash cake photo is the moment everyone wants to catch. A good setup has three parts.

A timing plan

Most first birthday parties run 2 to 3 hours, and it's smart to schedule the cake before a typical nap time. Midday is usually best.

Chicago-area notes

If you're hosting in a condo or townhome, check your building's rules about deliveries and elevators. Ask whether tables can be brought through the lobby at a set time, and whether you need to reserve a freight elevator. For outdoor parties, a shaded spot matters more than a perfect backdrop, since babies overheat quickly. For colder months, Chicago winters call for an indoor space with enough room for coats. A coat rack or a bed in a spare room works.

Let us help plan the list

Book a free 15-minute seating call and we'll walk through your guest list and space, or request a quote for chairs, tables and linens in the Chicago area.