For My Daughter Elliana's First Birthday we wanted to celebrate the big event that everyone would remember, but keep it simple enough since she was only 1.  I started planning and getting prepared about 2 months before.  We decided on a Princess Theme since our little princess was turning one. I decided on the guest list and limited it to about 30 including kids and adults. The invitations I used were printed right on the computer.  I found a great scroll paper at Walmart and printed this text:  Hear Ye, Hear Ye, calling all noble knights and maidens fair to the Wilson Castle for a Royal Celebration. The King and Queen request the honour of your presence at the First Birthday of Princess Elliana Gabriele.  Your carriage should arrive at our address, The Celebration will be held from (time to time)  in the afternoon on (date). The regal Chef has prepared cake and ice cream which will be served in the majestic ballroom.  The castle must prepare for your arrival. RSVP requested by (date).  The invites were rolled up and tied with a ribbon and all were hand delivered except for the out of town guests. The night before the party I put together most everything.  Our house was turned into a castle. On our front walk I used some red fabric to make a "red carpet" and made a great entrance.  I borrowed some gray stone columns from our church and placed one on either side of our front door with ferns and other plants. My husband had found our family crest online and was able to print it on iron-on transfer paper, which I used to make a banner for our front door by just putting it on some fabric. I made a simple hem and a pocket for the dowel rod and we hung it on the front door.  The guests were greeted by the "King Dad" and our 3 year old.  The adult guests were each given an index card with a photo of a queen, jester, etc.  But the guest didn't know who/what was on the card. These were taped to each guests back.  And they could only ask the other guests yes or no questions to figure out the answer.  This was a lot of fun.  Then whoever guessed the right answer won a door prize. I turned our dining room into a castle by using some large cardboard boxes I got at work (freebie).  I painted them a silver/gray color and using a black marker, I made my own stonework to simulate flagstone.  Using two smaller boxes, I cut out the smaller squares on top of the turrats. I had everyone around me save their milk cartons and I sprayed them a gray color as well. They were turned on their side and all glued together so the bottom was showing and I made a stone arch.  This is where our little girls throne or (High Chair) was placed, so it was like she was sitting in her castle.  Her high chair I had wrapped in purple crushed velvet.  The back of her high chair only used about a yard and I got that for about $5 at a fabric store.  I also made bows out of pink tulle for the front of her high chair and attached with small hooks. The castle was a great photo opportunity for our guests. The cake table was covered in a pink tablecloth and a white lace tablecloth for an overlay. The table was covered in rose petals.  This table held the Crystal punch bowl, napkins, and cake and ice cream.  The cake was a castle made out of 2 boxed cake mixes.  They were iced together and on each corner I used flat bottom ice cream cones and sugar cones. I made little flags with a W on it to simulate the Wilson Castle.  The door to the castle was made out of a graham cracker. It was a very cute cake.   The kids were all entertained by making their own crowns I ordered from Oriental Trading. They decorated them with stickers, jewels, and markers. photo magnets also from Oriental.  The boys made a "prince" one and the girls made a cute "princess hat". Then each of the kids were called into the living room where a real live princess came to read Cinder--elliana (since that is my daughters name).  I thought it would be cute to have a storytime. A friend of mine was able to borrow a princess costume from the local school's drama department. She dressed up, looked beautiful.  And she did a great job reading the story.  After storytime, the boys all got suited up to go Slay a Dragon, Pinata that is! I found an adorable red dragon pinata at birthdayexpress.com and filled it with tons of candy.  The kids and parents loved it!  I had purchased small colorful paper goody bags for the kids and they filled it with as much candy as possible. Finally we had cake and ice cream and had a blast watching our little one year old devour her cake.  She also loved opening presents.  I made thank you notes and mailed the kids pictures along with them. That way the parents would have a picture to put in their photo magnet craft.  it was an awesome party that everyone enjoyed.  I can't wait for her 2nd birthday!!! Hope these ideas helped.