Mother spends $13,000 on her son’s lavish 1st birthday party – and the tragic reason why 

An Australian mother has revealed the tragic reason behind why she spent $13,000 on her son, Lachlan’s, first birthday party last month.

Jackie Lam, 31, from Melbourne, struggled to conceive for months, before she suffered a miscarriage the year before last.

Lachlan was the doting mother’s ‘rainbow baby’ – the first baby born after the tragic loss of a child by miscarriage.

‘I have always been someone who is into parties and events, and someone who likes to bring people together,’ Jackie told FEMAIL. ‘I knew I wanted this day to be special, and it was bittersweet.’

 

An Australian mother has revealed the tragic reason behind why she spent $13,000 on her son, Lachlan’s, first birthday party last month (pictured: the lavish celebration)

Jackie Lam, 31, from Melbourne, struggled to conceive for months, before she suffered a miscarriage the year before last (pictured with Lachlan)

Jackie Lam, 31, from Melbourne, struggled to conceive for months, before she suffered a miscarriage the year before last (pictured with Lachlan)

Lachlan was the doting mother's 'rainbow baby' - the first baby born after the tragic loss of a child by miscarriage (pictured at his first birthday party) 

Lachlan was the doting mother’s ‘rainbow baby’ – the first baby born after the tragic loss of a child by miscarriage (pictured at his first birthday party) 

According to the former corporate employee, she and her partner were so delighted when baby Lachlan was born, that they knew they wanted to mark his first birthday as a milestone (pictured: some of the elaborate desserts on offer)

According to the former corporate employee, she and her partner were so delighted when baby Lachlan was born, that they knew they wanted to mark his first birthday as a milestone (pictured: some of the elaborate desserts on offer)

According to the former corporate employee, she and her partner were so delighted when baby Lachlan was born, that they knew they wanted to mark his first birthday as a milestone:

‘We come from a Vietnamese heritage and in our culture, the first birthday is always the most significant, rather than the sixteenth or the eighteenth,’ Jackie said.

‘In the back of our minds, we knew we wanted to have a big celebration when he turned one, but we didn’t start planning it until two months before the party.’ 

'We come from a Vietnamese heritage and in our culture, the first birthday is always the most significant, rather than the eighteenth,' Jackie said (pictured: Lachlan and his dad)

‘We come from a Vietnamese heritage and in our culture, the first birthday is always the most significant, rather than the eighteenth,’ Jackie said (pictured: Lachlan and his dad)

Jackie and her partner started planning the lavish celebration two months before the big day, spending the majority of their lavish budget on the catering (pictured)

The party was themed around 'Where The Wild Things Are'

Jackie and her partner started planning the lavish celebration two months before the big day, spending the majority of their lavish budget on the catering (pictured)

'The chunk of the $12,650 budget went on catering and creating the amazing desserts,' Jackie explained (pictured with her family) - she created some of the decorations herself

‘The chunk of the $12,650 budget went on catering and creating the amazing desserts,’ Jackie explained (pictured with her family) – she created some of the decorations herself

The lavish first birthday do encompassed invitations for 140 guests, and took place at a stunning waterside venue, with food and drink – including alcohol – for all attendees.  

‘The chunk of the $12,650 budget went on catering and creating the amazing desserts,’ Jackie explained.

‘They were probably the biggest ticket items. Apart from that, we created some of the decorations ourselves, and my sister baked the cake.’

The menu for the day included slider burgers, mini pizzas, fish and chips and salads.   

There was also the costly fully-loaded dessert station, which featured mini eclairs, tarts, chocolate logs, mango mousse cakes and macaroons.

The menu for the day included slider burgers, mini pizzas, fish and chips and salads, as well as desserts like mini eclairs, tarts, chocolate logs, mango mouse cakes and macaroons

The menu for the day included slider burgers, mini pizzas, fish and chips and salads, as well as desserts like mini eclairs, tarts, chocolate logs, mango mouse cakes and macaroons

'I will never forget that moment when I saw him walking in with his dad. His face lit up when he saw all of the things,' Jackie said (pictured with Lachlan)

‘I will never forget that moment when I saw him walking in with his dad. His face lit up when he saw all of the things,’ Jackie said (pictured with Lachlan)

Jackie takes such pleasure from conducting events that she has now set up a business on the side relating to parties

Jackie takes such pleasure from conducting events that she has now set up a business on the side relating to parties

On the day itself, Jackie confessed Lachlan loved it as much as her friends and family: 

‘I will never forget that moment when I saw him walking in with his dad. His face lit up when he saw all of the things,’ she said.

‘We themed it around Where The Wild Things Are, and called it Wild One. I love inspiring imagination, especially in children.

‘Seeing their faces – I get so much pleasure from celebrating things with the people I love.’

The mother said she gets a lot of pleasure from celebrating things with the people she loves (pictured: the venue)

The mother said she gets a lot of pleasure from celebrating things with the people she loves (pictured: the cake)

The mother said she gets a lot of pleasure from celebrating things with the people she loves (pictured: the venue and the cake)

Friends and family brought plenty of presents for the lucky boy (pictured)

Friends and family brought plenty of presents for the lucky boy (pictured)

Speaking about what the future will hold, Jackie said that she is unlikely to go as 'all out' for Lachlan's second birthday, which isn't often seen as such a big deal (pictured)

Speaking about what the future will hold, Jackie said that she is unlikely to go as 'all out' for Lachlan's second birthday, which isn't often seen as such a big deal (pictured)

Speaking about what the future will hold, Jackie said that she is unlikely to go as ‘all out’ for Lachlan’s second birthday, which isn’t often seen as such a big deal (pictured)

Speaking about what the future will hold, Jackie said that she is unlikely to go as ‘all out’ for Lachlan’s second birthday: 

‘A McDonald’s party might work for next time,’ she laughed. ‘I don’t think the second birthday needs to be as lavish.’ 

She also said that she is aware that while some people might judge her for the party, she also believes that it wasn’t ‘hurting anyone either’.

‘I think our videographer, Aldin Ortinez, put it well,’ she said.

‘He said: “While I do understand the inherent insanity of paying five figures for a kid’s birthday party, there’s also a grain of truth in the saying “love knows no boundaries”.

“I am in the wedding industry, I would know. If you stop regarding it as simply a birthday party, and put it firmly in the category of memorable once-in-a-lifetime experiences, then the answer has to be a resounding yes.

“Every child deserves a day to celebrate the love they bring into their parents’ lives.”‘

Jackie confessed that she has been so inspired by putting on the event, that she has started a business in events, A Peachy Affair Events, designed to help others create their dream party. 

‘Our lavish first birthday party mightn’t be for everyone, but it was a perfect celebration for us,’ she said. 

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