10 Ways Kids’ Birthday Parties and Weddings Are Alike

In my early adulthood, I was bombarded with fancy invitations requesting my attendance at the lovely union of Alex and Jamie. Fast forward to now, and those invites have been swapped for bright, cartoon-themed cards inviting me to join in the fun as my son, Ethan, celebrates his big 10! It turns out, my social calendar is still dictated by the events of others. A kid’s birthday bash and a wedding share more similarities than you’d think!

1. Weekends Are Booked Solid

Wedding season was a blast: slip on a dress, write a check, and enjoy the open bar. Now, my weekends start with “What’s on the agenda today?” from my little one. Saying “We’re off to a pottery painting party with a girl named Lily” is way better than a trip to the dry cleaners!

2. The Initial Excitement Fades

Remember the thrill of your first wedding invite? The open bar, the dancing? But as invites piled up, the sparkle dimmed. The same goes for birthday parties. After a few, you start having dreams of being chased by giant inflatable characters!

3. Odd Meal Times Are a Given

Who doesn’t love a gourmet meal served at 11 p.m.? Oh wait, that’s just a wedding! At birthday parties, the pizza might arrive at 3:30 p.m. Fortunately, that counts as lunch and dinner, right?

4. Gift Unwrapping Isn’t a Big Deal

At weddings, once the money is sent, I’m ready to go. No one expects kids to unwrap presents in front of everyone, which is a good thing. I’d hate for my child to shout, “Aunt Mary gave me this last Christmas!” during the festivities.

5. Crummy Party Favors Are a Must

Sure, a tiny engraved frame is a sweet memento from a wedding, but it only holds my rejected selfies. Birthday party goodie bags, filled with cheap toys, bring pure joy to kids. They’ll play with them for all of five minutes before they join that picture frame in the landfill.

6. Circular Dancing is a Theme

Think about it: The Chicken Dance, the Hokey Pokey, and random twirling. And don’t even get me started on kids’ party dances!

7. Cake is Overrated

When the cake-cutting ceremony starts at weddings, I’m usually slipping away. Watching kids blow out candles is way more entertaining than two adults trying to slice cake without a mess.

8. Photo Ops Galore

I had no idea how many different combinations of people there were until wedding and birthday party photos became a thing: one with Grandma, one with Grandpa, and don’t forget the obligatory cake shots.

9. Gossiping About How to Do It Differently

At weddings, I’m wondering about costs and guest lists. At birthday parties, it’s the same chatter—everyone’s got opinions on how they would’ve handled things differently!

10. Time Flies, Doesn’t It?

One moment, you’re celebrating their first steps, and the next, you’re planning their wedding. Time really does slip away!

In conclusion, while kids’ birthday parties and weddings may seem worlds apart, they share lots of common ground. From the planning to the food—and even the awkward dancing—there’s a bit of humor in the chaos.

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