Our Under the Sea 3rd Birthday Party: The Ultimate Backyard Celebration
There’s something magical about summer birthdays, and when your kiddo asks for a backyard celebration in the middle of June, you go all in! For Noah’s third birthday, we created an unforgettable (Noah’s Turning Three) Under the Sea birthday party, transforming our outdoor space into an ocean-inspired wonderland. Hosting summer gatherings is kind of our thing—we’ve got a third of an acre to work with, so why not make the most of it?
Under the Sea Party Decorations
We kicked things off by putting up a big party tent to provide some shade for guests. Of course, we didn’t stop there! We decorated with an abundance of ocean-themed party decorations, from sea creature balloons to waves of blue and green. A bounce house was a must, and we rented a beautiful white one with a slide from our friends at Inflate Wine Country. To take it up a notch, we added a stunning balloon garland, making it the perfect photo-op spot.
DIY Under the Sea Party Ideas
As a DIY party enthusiast, I couldn’t resist adding some personal touches. I created a candy dispenser backdrop for a local event, and it ended up going a little viral on TikTok (hello, 600K views!). We also made a custom shelf backdrop to hold our Under the Sea party favors. Back then, I had a custom laser shop, so my husband and I went all out with personalized party decorations, from backdrop signage to cake and cupcake toppers. Every little detail was designed and crafted with love for our kiddo!
Practical Party Favors for Kids
Let’s be real—kids' party favors can sometimes be a whole lot of junk that gets tossed the next day. Instead, we opted for something fun and practical: each child received a sand bucket with shovels and a sticker sheet. The best part? Our Brazilian dessert table was fair game for take-home treats, making for a sweet (and much-appreciated) alternative to traditional goodie bags, at least we think so.
Under the Sea Party Food Ideas
When it comes to birthday party food, we love a good spread. We served up a delicious mix of summer favorites: salad, pasta salad, fish cakes, BBQ chicken, and other tasty appetizers. For dessert, we went all out with a mix of homemade and store-bought treats. Our Under the Sea dessert table featured chocolate cupcakes, Brazilian brigadeiros, personalized treats like decorated Oreos, Rice Krispies, and marshmallows, plus lollipop octopuses. And of course, we had our favorite store-bought berry Chantilly cake—with the berries removed so the custom cake topper could be the star of the show!
An Unforgettable Under the Sea Birthday Party
Noah, our little sea animal-loving guy, had an absolute blast celebrating with friends and family. The smiles, the laughter, and the memories made it all so worth it. After such a big celebration, we decided that his next birthday would be much more low-key. Stay tuned to see how that turned out!
Nothing quite beats that little smile, makes all the effort for a cute party worth it.