How a Brand Designer Mom Planned a Retro-Themed 7th Birthday Party

After a child’s first birthday, turning seven is often considered the next major milestone.

In previous generations, girls celebrating their seventh birthday would often have grand parties, sometimes resembling a mini cotillion. Today, parents continue to mark the occasion in memorable ways, choosing themes that reflect their child’s personality and interests.

Turning seven is a significant stage in childhood. It’s a time when children become more independent, develop new skills, and gain confidence. For many parents, it’s also a bittersweet reminder that their little babies are growing up.

That’s why many families go all out for the celebration—from Filipino-themed parties and Wednesday-inspired birthdays to Disney Princess extravaganzas.

One mom took her son’s seventh birthday to the next level by creating an entire presentation deck for the event.

Mia, a logo and brand designer, combined her professional expertise with her creativity to bring her vision to life: a retro-inspired birthday celebration at Timezone. And judging by the positive response to her TikTok post, she definitely succeeded.

Mia shared on TikTok, “The 7th birthday party I threw for my son as a logo + branding designer.”

To organize her ideas, she created a presentation-style deck that outlined every aspect of the celebration—from the overall aesthetic to the giveaways and special details.

“As a logo and branding designer, I’ve done a couple of branding works for events, so why not gawin ko sa 7th birthday ng kid ko. Ginagawan ko na rin naman siya ng own name tag designs since he started school (kinder),” she shared.

“Nung nag-start ako ng planning, kasama siya nung nag-book kami sa Timezone. Then pag-uwi, pinasulat ko na sa kanya agad yung “Siete na si Uno” para ma-scan ko and ma-layout and maipagawa sa suppliers,” Mia told Smart Parenting.

Her son’s handwritten “Siete na si Uno” became the foundation of the party’s branding. From there, every element slowly came together to match the nostalgic retro vibe she envisioned.

Timezone turned out to be the perfect venue.

“Matagal ko na ina-eye yung Timezone celebration kasi masaya pag arcade. Alam kong mag-eenjoy both kids and adults, and mahilig rin mag Timezone si Uno.”

Mia also involved Uno in many of her preparations.

“Kasama siya nung Divisoria run namin for the party prizes. He personally hand-picked yung toys na ipapamigay. Since most of the kids invited are his Grade 1 classmates, kaya kilala niya, and alam niya kung ano magugustuhan nila.”

She even customized the photobooth experience.

“I also designed the photobooth strip I wanted and chose the colors to match the other details of the party. Thankfully, I found a photobooth supplier who accepted the design,” Mia shared.  

(Photobooth photos)

One look at the photos from Siete na si Uno’s birthday and you’d think you had stepped back into the ‘90s or early 2000s.

A big part of that nostalgic feel came from Mia’s decision to use flash photography. She found a photographer who perfectly captured the aesthetic she was after—grainy disposable-camera-style shots, overexposed snapshots, quirky angles, and all the charm of old-school photo albums.

For the celebration, Mia chose Timezone’s Extraordinary Package, which includes two hours of playtime with Powercards, 45 minutes in the party room, and a Jollibee meal.

It was the kind of party every child dreams of: hours of arcade games, friends to playwith, and a meal shared afterward.

For reference, here are the available Timezone party packages and inclusions.

Mia also added a Potato Corner booth inside the party room, which became a hit among both kids and adults.

Since Uno is a huge Pokémon fan, she made sure his favorite franchise was highlighted throughout the celebration. The party room featured Pokémon-themed balloons and balloon arches, while the birthday cake was paired with matching Pokémon cupcakes that guests could enjoy during the party or bring home afterward.

And what would a birthday celebration be without heartfelt messages?

One of Mia’s most memorable ideas was creating a unique message corner to capture loved ones’ messages to Uno in a cool, retro way. Inspired by a concept from her presentation deck, she prepared a 45-inch convex mirror decorated with a “Siete na si Uno” sticker, along with gold and white mirror pens.

Guests were encouraged to leave birthday messages for Uno directly on the mirror. After the celebration, it became a special keepsake and now serves as a decoration in Uno’s room.

Nothing beats a piece of memorabilia you can take home and treasure for years.

For the giveaways, Mia once again used her son’s handwritten “Siete na si Uno” as the main logo. After scanning the design, she created layouts for various party favors and worked with suppliers to bring them to life.

To complete the nostalgic vibe, she chose acid-wash baseball caps and tote bags.

“I thought of the custom tote bags with the celebrant’s handwritten ‘Siete na si Uno’ as party giveaways for all the attendees kasi mas useful siya and somehow fashionable din.”

“The cap idea naman came to me kasi mahilig din mag-cap si Uno and dad niya. And mostly ng ninongs and ninangs niya na invited, tuwang-tuwa naman suotin,” she added.

All in all, Mia shared that her working budget was around P50,000 to P60,000.

“Pero hindi naman ito sumagad sa P60,000, since sponsored din ng lola and ninangs yung cakes, cupcakes, and Potato Corner,” she said.

Her vision will not be complete without the help of her suppliers:

Event logo & branding design: Mia Pasco

Photobooth: AG&G Photobooth

Custom Caps/Tote bags: MPSalcedo Enterprise

Event Photographer: @paodidntwakeup

Custom Cakes/cupcakes: Gem’s Sweet Picks

Venue: Timezone Ayala Malls Feliz 

Booth: Potato Corner

From the thoughtful branding to the nostalgic details and arcade fun, Uno’s birthday was a celebration to remember.

Still looking for birthday party inspiration? Here are some unique party venues to consider.