When my daughter turned three, we celebrated with a magical Under the Sea mermaid birthday party! The Little Mermaid theme was the perfect fit, and planning it was such a fun experience. Watching her grow is bittersweet, but I’m so grateful for these memories. If you’re planning a Little Mermaid or Under the Sea party, read on to see how I brought it all together! Affiliate links are included.
Under the Sea Decorations
Every year, I make a balloon arch for Aubrie’s big day, and it’s always a special part of the setup. My husband and I love reminiscing about her first birthday, when we stayed up late blowing up each balloon by hand. These days, we have an automatic pump, and let me tell you—it’s worth every penny!
In addition to the arch, I added some cute jellyfish hanging decorations, and festive tablecloths, and created an “Under the Sea” wall with blow-up letters and green streamers. We kept the decorations mostly in the dining room, with a gift table and the balloon arch outside to give it a welcoming touch.
On the food table, I included a few Little Mermaid figurines, a book I snagged from Aubrie’s bedroom, and a framed invitation on the cake table for a little extra personal touch. I also added some other Little Mermaid touches, like hanging up her Ariel dress which was perfect for the Under the Sea mermaid birthday party.
Under the Sea Food
For the food, I wanted to keep things simple yet filling, while still sticking to the Under the Sea theme. I made “crabwiches” by using croissants, ham, cheese, lettuce, and googly eyes. I saw this idea on Pinterest. These were a huge hit and a fun twist on traditional sandwiches! The trickiest part was hot gluing each googly eye to little food sticks to It took some time, but the end result was totally worth it!
For the sides, I made a macaroni salad and called it Mermaid Macaroni, and served strawberries, which I named Seaberries. I also served a premade charcuterie board, which I dubbed Sharkcuterie, and of course, chips and Goldfish became Fish and Chips. I used my label maker to add labels to each item, making it even more fun and themed!
To drink, I served a punch I called Ocean Water, made with Blue Hawaiian Punch and zero-sugar Sprite. It’s super customizable, so you can add a variety of things, but it’s perfect for the sea-inspired theme. Of course, we also had bottled water on hand for guests as well.
Under the Sea Cake
I always have fun decorating cakes, but I’ll admit—it’s a lot of work! This year, I decided to take on the challenge myself again, and I’m so glad I did. I found some great pieces that really helped bring the Under the Sea theme to life, and I’ll be sure to link them for you if you’re interested in trying them out.
Three-Year-Old Gift Ideas
Gift-giving is truly my love language—I just love picking out presents that perfectly match where Aubrie is in life right now. This year, some of her bigger gifts included a balance bike and a gymnastics mat, which I know she’ll have so much fun with as she continues to grow. Click the picture below for more ideas.
She also received a Little Mermaid storytime stacker, puzzles, a Mermaid Barbie, and a few other fun goodies. Watching her face light up as she opened them was priceless!
Grateful for the Memories
As I look back on Aubrie’s 3rd birthday, I am truly thankful for this memory. I love making birthdays special, and while it’s fun to go all out, it’s totally okay if you don’t do the same! Aubrie is my one and only, and I truly enjoy celebrating her with a fun theme each year. I’m also so grateful for the family and friends who joined us in celebrating this milestone with her.
If you liked this post about my daughter’s Under the Sea mermaid birthday party, be sure to check out her first birthday, which was Sunshine-themed, and her second birthday, which was Minnie Mouse-themed!
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