It’s hard to believe our little baby Hannah is officially one! The time flew by so quick despite lots of long days… moms IYKYK! 😂

The baby’s first birthday is a milestone worth celebrating and in Korean culture, it’s one of the most cherished traditions: The Doljanchi 돌잔치! This festive event goes beyond balloons and cake it's a gathering filled with symbolism, blessings, and family legacy. I wanted to infuse both Korean and American traditions and worked it around a pink bow theme of ‘Little Miss-One-derful". I am excited to share all the details from the beautiful day and provide some tips if you are planning a Doljanchi/baby birthday celebration.

What is Doljanchi? A Doljanchi (돌잔치) is a Korean first birthday celebration rooted in history which dates back hundreds of years. Traditionally, it marked a child's survival through their first year, a time when infant mortality was high and was celebrated as a blessing for a long and prosperous life.

The highlight of the Doljanchi is the Doljabi (돌잡이) ceremony, where the baby selects an item from a curated set, symbolizing a glimpse into their future—think stethoscope for a doctor, microphone for a performer, or book for a scholar. It’s fun, symbolic, and a highlight of the party!

Planning Our Baby’s Doljanchi: From Pink Bows to Dolsang Traditions

Once I decided on a pink bow theme for our baby’s Doljanchi (Korean first birthday celebration), the planning truly began. I knew right away that I wanted a venue with gorgeous views, something that would really capture the essence of a Seattle summer. After exploring a few options, I found the perfect restaurant and booked it six months in advance to give myself plenty of time to prepare.

With the venue locked in, I dove into researching the Dolsang—the centerpiece table of the celebration—and the Doljabi, the symbolic “first pick” ceremony where babies choose from an array of items and their first pick is supposed to foretell their future profession. What I didn’t expect was how little information there was online for creating a meaningful and cohesive Dolsang table. Eventually, I turned to Google and Doljanchi photographers’ Instagram accounts for inspiration and found a few beautifully curated celebrations that helped spark some ideas.

Etsy and Amazon had a handful of Dolsang and Doljabi items, but sourcing everything I envisioned was still a challenge. I ended up running out of time to order a few pieces, but later discovered this Etsy shop that carried the basics I had been looking for all along.

So what goes on a Dolsang table? Traditionally, it includes items like:

Bojagi – Decorative, fabric-wrapped boxes that symbolize blessings and good fortune. Linked here (keep in mind you do have to wrap the boxes yourself but I found a ‘how to’ on Youtube)
Yarn cake – A symbolic item I, unfortunately, couldn’t find until after the party. Linked one here that I would have used.
Rice cakes – A must-have in any Dol celebration, I went with custom decorated (songpyeon) rice cakes to match the pink theme! Typically baeksulgi (백설기) rice cakes which are white and square with Korean lettering are also included but I unfortunately got them a bit late and wasn’t able to include them with the display.
Wooden sign – It read “First Doljanchi,” a sweet touch that tied everything together. Linked here

One of the most meaningful elements I included was gold jewelry passed down from my own Doljanchi—gold rings and bracelets that hold deep sentimental value. In Korean tradition, it’s customary to gift gold to a baby on their first birthday as a wish for longevity and a prosperous life. Most families receive anywhere from 5 to 15 Dol rings as gifts, and it felt incredibly special to continue that tradition with Hannah. I found this beautiful bow tray to display the jewelry on the table.

The next item to find was Hannah’s hanbok, a Korean traditional outfit that consists of a flowing skirt, matching jacket and a hat called a jobawi. I was able to find her hanbok from Etsy and found one that matched the pink theme! I was so impressed with the quality and it fit Hannah perfectly! Linked the hanbok here. Hannah was not a fan of the hat but luckily we were able to capture a few photos with it on!

The next things I had to figure out were the Doljabi items. Everyone chooses different items but I decided to go with these 8 symbolic items thanks to this kit I actually found off Amazon. ( I added in the paintbrush and didn’t use the pink pouch included)

Coins – Wealth
Thread – Long life
Stethoscope – Doctor
Microphone – Entertainer
Pencil — writer
Ball – Athlete
Gavel- Lawyer
Paintbrush – Artist

I set up a voting station for guests to vote which item Hannah would pick! She ended up picking the microphone!! So she could have a future in entertainment?! 😂

Since we hosted the celebration at a restaurant, I had the opportunity to customize the table settings and I was so excited to create one. I’ve always believed that a well-thought-out tables cape sets the tone for the entire event, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for guests as soon as they take their seats.

To bring the pink bow theme to life, I found these pink satin napkins and styled them into bows using these jeweled elastic napkin rings. It was such a simple touch, but it added a lovely, elegant detail that was perfectly on theme. I paired them with these white and gold chargers that complemented the napkins effortlessly along with menu cards I printed using this bow template which pulled everything together for a cohesive and elevated look!

I also created a seating chart tailored to the layout of the restaurant, which featured three long tables for the event. Rather than assigning individual seats, I designated specific tables for each guest and allowed them the option to choose their own seats upon arrival. In my view, this approach offers the greatest ease for both the guests and the planning process. This bow template bundle also included a template to create a seating chart which I printed add added to a poster board. (pro tip: fold the top of poster over the poster board and tape it behind the board using clear tape, it will look clean and look like it was actually printed on a poster)

For the sweets on the Dolsang table, I chose to keep things simple while staying true to the pink bow theme. I had the pleasure of working with a talented custom rice cake artist—Pink and Rice (in the north Seattle area)—who crafted exquisitely detailed songpyeon (five-colored rice cakes). Traditionally, songpyeon symbolizes harmony with one's surroundings and expresses wishes for a child’s health and happiness. While we didn’t eat them, they were absolutely breathtaking and added such a meaningful touch to the table. The beautifully decorated cookies were from Mizz Desserts who I found off Etsy and I couldn’t have been happier with how they turned out! They were shipped right on time and packed so well none of them came broken. As for the cake, it was purely for the cake smash. I found a local baker, The Dolce Corner, who created a lovely and perfectly themed cake. Highly recommend them for not only their stunning work but also their delivery service, which was such a lifesaver!

Following the doljabi we changed Hannah into a frilly pink dress, which was a last minute Amazon find for the cake smash!

Another special highlight was a violin performance by a very talented cousin who performed a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ for Hannah!

Then lunch was served and our guests enjoyed a 3 course seafood lunch and mingled and took photos!

For the favors we put rice cakes into these pink bow bags and included bow pens and a bow patterned compacts. I loved the idea of gifting cute reusable bags and fun items to match the theme! I also added a thank you tag to maintain the cohesive aesthetic and design.

For the kids who attended I had custom made coloring books to fit the party theme which were a great activity for kids to do and take home with them!

The day was filled with so much love, laughter, smiles and waves and we couldn’t be more grateful for all the love and support Hannah has gotten! The baby’s first birthday really is a once-in-a-lifetime event and a Doljanchi is a beautiful way to celebrate life, family, and tradition. Seeing our loved ones gather to celebrate this beautiful milestone and watching our baby take part in a ceremony that’s been passed down for generations was an experience I’ll treasure forever!

Planning a first birthday party or Doljanchi? Here are some tips and tricks I picked up along the way while planning!

Choose a theme and find a template bundle for invitations, welcome signs, name cards etc. This made things so much easier knowing I didn’t have to design any of those elements. If you are going with a pink bow theme I used this bundle and it was perfect! I printed everything at a local UPS store and they turned out beautifully!
If you are planning a Doljanchi, the one vendor you must hire is a photographer, preferably one who has experience with Doljanchis. This was the single best decision I could have made, the day was a bit crazy and hectic and there was no way I would have been able to capture the photos like the photographer did. Shout out to Anna Baek Photography for our amazing photos!!!
Start planning at least 5-6 months if you are planning a Doljanchi with so many different elements involved plenty of time is necessary. Most restaurants and venues require months in advance for booking. This also makes it easier for budgeting too!
I hired a balloon artist to create the balloon arch and so happy I did! I know my skill set (and it does not include crafty things lol) Plus with so many other things to set up and organize having a professional take over and create the balloon arch takes so much off your plate the day of! Shout to Pretty Girl Pops for the beautiful balloon set up!
Be sure to order items well in advance, especially if you are ordering from Etsy. There were things I ordered slightly too late and I was anxious making sure they arrived prior to the party and luckily they did just in the nick of time!
Utilize Canva for other signage needs! I created the Doljabi explanation on Canva and it turned out great! You can also order them on Etsy but it is a bit pricey in my opinion and you still have to print them.
The template bundle even included Thank you cards which I then printed on Zazzle! This flat card layout was perfect and I could add photos from the party, plus they pack and ship everything to your door which made it so easy!
For the day of the party, come prepared with milk, snacks and toys for the baby and make sure they get a good nap in prior! It’s a long day for the babies and a lot of stimulation.
From the advice of our photographer, we did the Doljabi first so we could get all those photos and then change Hannah out of the outfit into something more comfortable after. This was super helpful since the Hanbok is uncomfortable for the babies and worked out really well for us!