A first birthday invitation needs the baby's name, the date, a start time that suits the baby's naps, the venue and a number to call. Many Indian families mark the day twice, with a puja or havan in the morning and a party in the evening, so say clearly which one the guest is invited to. The wording can come from the parents or, for fun, from the baby.
What to include
- The baby's name, the way you want guests to use it. If the whole family calls him Chintu, you can say so.
- The date and a start time, plus the cake-cutting time if you want guests there for it.
- The venue, with a map link. Banquet halls often have more than one hall, so give the hall's name.
- Which event the guest is invited to: the puja, the party, or both.
- A contact number, ideally not the new parents' own, since they'll have their hands full.
- A theme or dress code, if you have one.
Plan the time around the baby
The right time for a first birthday party is whatever fits the baby's routine. A one-year-old who missed a nap is not going to enjoy the cake. Many parents choose late afternoon or early evening, after the afternoon nap, and keep the party to two or three hours.
Print a cake-cutting time if you want guests there for it. Parties often start later than the time on the card, and the cake is the moment everyone wants to see. “Cake cutting at 7 pm” gets people there by 7.
Puja and party
If you're holding a puja in the morning and a party in the evening, send two separate invitations. The puja list is usually shorter, and guests won't have to guess whether the morning is meant for them.
Wording from the parents
The names, dates and venues in these samples are examples.
Our little Aarav turns one.
Join us for his first birthday celebration.
Sunday, 24 January 2027
5:30 pm onwards, cake cutting at 7 pm
Hall 2, Shagun Banquets, Andheri West, Mumbai
Neha and Rohan Kapoor
RSVP: Priya (Aarav's aunt), 98XXX XXXXX
A year ago, Anaya arrived and changed everything.
Come and celebrate her first birthday with us.
Saturday, 23 January 2027, 6 pm
Our home: B-402, Sunrise Towers, Baner, Pune
Wording in the baby's voice
Writing as the baby is a small joke most guests enjoy. Keep it short and keep the details plain.
I'm turning one, and I'd love you to come.
There will be cake, which I plan to wear.
Aarav's first birthday
Sunday, 24 January 2027, 5:30 pm
Shagun Banquets, Andheri West
Please come and bless me on my first birthday.
Ayushya homam: 9 am, at home
Lunch: 12:30 pm
Love,
Little Meera
Many South Indian families perform an ayushya homam, a prayer for a long and healthy life, on the first birthday. In other families it's a small Ganesh puja or a havan. Use whatever name your family uses.
Hindi wording
हमारे लाडले आरव का पहला जन्मदिन
इस खुशी के मौके पर
आप सपरिवार आमंत्रित हैं।
रविवार, 24 जनवरी 2027
शाम 5:30 बजे से
शगुन बैंक्वेट्स, अंधेरी पश्चिम, मुंबई
आपके आशीर्वाद की प्रतीक्षा में
नेहा एवं रोहन कपूर
Gujarati wording
અમારા લાડકા આરવનો પહેલો જન્મદિવસ
આ ખુશીના પ્રસંગે આપ સહપરિવાર પધારશોજી.
રવિવાર, 24 જાન્યુઆરી 2027
સાંજે 5:30 વાગ્યાથી, કેક કટિંગ 7 વાગ્યે
શગુન બેન્ક્વેટ્સ, અંધેરી વેસ્ટ, મુંબઈ
નેહા તથા રોહન કપૂર
Themes that suit a first birthday
A theme gives the invitation, the cake and the backdrop one look. At one year old the theme is really for the adults and the photos, so choose something the family likes.
| Theme | Colours | On the invitation |
|---|---|---|
| Little Krishna | Peacock blue, yellow, gold | A peacock feather, a flute, a small matki |
| Jungle friends | Leafy greens, sand, orange | An elephant, a lion cub, leaves at the corners |
| Twinkle little star | Navy, silver, soft yellow | Stars, a moon, and “twinkle twinkle, Anaya is one” |
| Baby elephant | Soft grey, pink or blue, gold | A painted Indian elephant with a small howdah |
| Balloons and pastels | A pastel mix | Balloons and bunting, clean and simple |
When to send it
Send the invitation two to three weeks before the party, with a reminder and the map link the day before. For family in other cities who might travel, a month's notice is kinder.
If you want a design quickly, you can describe it to ShubhLink AI, for example “first birthday for Aarav, jungle theme, soft greens”, and change it by chat; the AI invitation maker guide shows how. There are also ready birthday templates. The baby shower and seemant guide covers the celebration before the baby arrives, and more birthday guides are collected under birthdays.
Questions people ask
How far in advance should first birthday invitations go out?
Two to three weeks before the party, and about a month for guests who'll travel. Send a reminder with the location the day before.
What time should a first birthday party start?
Late afternoon or early evening, after the baby's nap, is common. Keep it to two or three hours and print the cake-cutting time so guests arrive for it.
Can we put a baby photo on the invitation?
Yes, it's common. Only people with the link can see a digital invitation, but guests can forward it, so choose a photo you're comfortable having shared.
How do we politely say no gifts?
A line such as “Your blessings are the only gift Aarav needs” is gentle and clear. Put it near the bottom, after the details.
Filed under Birthdays
Written by ShubhLink Editorial Team
The team behind ShubhLink's invitation templates and ShubhLink AI. We write down what families ask us most, and check each guide before it goes live.