NYC Cake Smash Session: How We Design Your Custom Set

Every NYC cake smash session at my Flatiron studio is designed around the family it’s for — your colors, your inspiration, and the details you want documented. Today I’m walking you through exactly how that process works, using a recent set built entirely around one mom’s vision.

It All Starts With Your Inspiration

After booking, I ask every family to share what they’re drawn to — colors, textures, inspiration photos, anything that feels like your family. Some parents send full Pinterest boards; others send a few lines. Both are perfect. Here’s the note this mom sent me:

As promised, here are some photos I like decor-wise. Would love to have helium balloons and the balloon arch in the background. For the cake, if possible, can we please add a light blue ribbon in the middle like on the photo? No need for the name topper, we will just plan on picking the one you have in stock. No beige colors, no gingham print please. Please let me know if there is anything else we should think about/select.”

That’s all I need. From there, I source, style, and build the entire set before your family walks in the door.

Designing a NYC Cake Smash Session Around Your Vision

From this mom’s note, the design came together piece by piece:

The balloon work came first — a full garland in layered shades of dusty blue, powder blue, and white anchoring the background, plus helium balloons with trailing ribbon for height and movement, exactly as she requested. No beige, no gingham, just a soft tonal blue palette on a clean white set.

The Cake, Made to Match

The cake is always coordinated with the set design. For this session, I had Padoca Bakery wrap a light blue ribbon around the middle of a classic ivory buttercream cake — pulled directly from her inspiration photo. The blue “1” topper is one I made myself on my Cricut, which lets me match toppers to any session’s palette (that’s also how the “one” topper in my in-stock collection came to be).

The Details From the Studio Closet

The little styling pieces are what make each session feel finished. This mom chose a topper I keep in stock rather than a custom name topper — an easy option when you’d rather keep things simple. I also styled a Feltman Brothers heirloom bib with delicate blue embroidery and a scalloped “ONE” banner from Elizabeth Davis across the high chair tray, both from the studio closet.

Browse more first birthday sessions for boys on the blog.

What You Should Think About Before Your Session

If you’re planning a first birthday session, here’s what I’ll ask you to consider:

• Color palette — two or three colors is plenty; tonal palettes photograph beautifully
• Anything you don’t want — like this mom’s “no beige, no gingham,” knowing what to avoid is just as helpful
• Topper preference — custom name topper or one from my in-stock collection
• Balloon style — garland, helium with ribbon, or both
• Outfit — I’m happy to pull coordinating pieces from the studio closet

You share the vision; I handle everything else.

Book Your NYC Cake Smash Session

First birthday sessions at my Flatiron studio include full custom set design, the cake, and styling from the studio closet — all you have to do is show up. Visit Heirloom by Melissa to inquire about your date. These sessions book quickly around first birthdays, so I recommend reaching out 6–8 weeks ahead.

Love, Melissa