How to Throw a 'Time Flies' Airplane First Birthday Party for Your Little Pilot
If your little one is turning one and you're dreaming up a nursery-sky, vintage-airplane birthday, you're in exactly the right place. A "Time Flies" airplane party is one of our most popular first birthday themes for a reason — it's sweet, a little nostalgic, and endlessly easy to decorate around with hand-drawn planes, clouds, and that classic "time flies when you're having fun" sentiment. Here's how to put together every corner of the celebration, from the invitations to the last party favor.
Quick answer: To throw a Time Flies airplane first birthday party, send boarding pass invitations, hang a vintage airplane garland and "Time Flies" banner, top the cake with a personalized airplane cake topper, and finish the dessert table with matching cupcake toppers and propeller straws. All of our airplane party decor is hand-drawn and sold as individual pieces, so you can mix and match to fit your budget and space.
Send Guests Off with Boarding Pass Invitations
Start the countdown with Printable Vintage Airplane Boarding Pass Invitations, hand-drawn in a playful boarding-pass layout that instantly sets the tone. They're an instant digital download, so you can print them at home or a local shop and have them in the mail the same day. For a fun keepsake at check-in, add a Personalized Vintage Airplane VIP Pass for each guest — they double as a party favor.
Deck Out the Space with Vintage Airplane Decor
Hang the Vintage Airplane Party Garland across the dessert table or doorway, then layer the Time Flies Vintage Airplane Banner above it spelling out the party's name in blue flags and clouds. For a full photo backdrop, the Printable Vintage Airplane Backdrop pairs a Happy Birthday flag with classic airplane wings — another instant download you can print big for a statement wall.
Style a Sky-High Dessert Table
Top the cake with a Personalized Vintage Airplane Cake Topper, customized with your child's name on a little blue flag. Scatter the Vintage Airplane Cupcake Toppers (x5) across the treats, and label everything with Personalized Vintage Airplane Tent Cards (x4). A White Tabletop Picture Frame is the easiest way to prop up any of the party signs below right on the table.
Add DIY "Inflight Snacks" Cookies to the Food Table
One of our favorite real-party touches: a tray of airplane and cloud-shaped sugar cookies labeled "Inflight Snacks" makes an easy, playful food station guests won't forget. Pair them with a set of Personalized Vintage Airplane Tent Cards (x4) to label the rest of the spread with their actual printed names — a fruit tray as "Clouds," a bowl of snack mix or popcorn as "Jet Fuel," and the drink station as the "Beverage Cart." Set the tray right next to the dessert table for guests to grab on their way past the cake.
Fuel the Fun at the Drink Station
Mark the drinks with the Fueling Station Vintage Airplane Party Sign, then finish each cup with a Vintage Airplane Propeller Straw — the hand-drawn propeller toppers are a favorite little detail guests always notice.
Add Playful Signage Around the Party
Little details make a big difference. Welcome guests with the Personalized Welcome Aboard Vintage Airplane Sign, point them to the photo station with the Passport Photo Vintage Airplane Party Sign, and mark the favor table with the Baggage Claim Vintage Airplane Party Sign. Of course, no Time Flies party is complete without the Time Flies Vintage Airplane Party Sign itself, reading "Time Flies when you're turning one" for the perfect dessert-table centerpiece.
Send Everyone Off with Favors
Seal up treat bags with the Vintage Airplane Sticker Gift Tags, reading "Thanks for Flying By" on a hand-drawn red airplane. If you'd rather coordinate every printable in one go, the Printable Vintage Airplane Party Bundle brings the whole hand-drawn aviation theme together in one editable set.
Ready to get started? Shop the full Vintage Airplane Party collection to see every hand-drawn piece together and start building your little pilot's Time Flies celebration.
