If your child loves Baby Shark but you’re not a fan of the bright, bold colors, there’s good news - you can still throw them the party of their dreams with a softer, more aesthetic twist. For my son’s third birthday, we did pastel baby shark. Using thrifted décor, a few budget-friendly store finds, and easy DIY touches, we created a sweet and memorable celebration without breaking the bank. Here’s how we did it (plus links so you can recreate it at home).

Baby shark birthday with rainbow pastel balloon arch and characters. Popcorn machine and buckets for snacks.

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A Small, Sweet Celebration

This was a simple, intimate party with just a few family members, so I kept the decorations minimal but still fun. Almost everything was thrifted or budget-friendly. Here’s what we used:

Character balloons -These balloons aren't linked anymore, so I linked a similar product instead.
Number Balloon
Popcorn machine
Popcorn cups
Temporary Tattoos
Character Cake Toppers - Different than the ones we used

The Cake

The cake was one of my favorite parts! I made a simple chocolate cake mix and topped it with my homemade peanut butter frosting. To create the “ocean castle” towers, I used upside-down ice cream cones, then crushed Nilla wafers to sprinkle over the top for a sandy effect. It was easy, delicious, and matched the theme perfectly.