100-Day Celebration Invitation (Baekil) — A Gentle Guide
A family-first celebration at 100 days old is rooted in Korean tradition. Here is how to write a soft, thoughtful invitation for close relatives.
What is a 100-day celebration?
In Korean tradition, “baekil” marks a baby’s first 100 days of life. Historically it was a milestone that acknowledged the baby had made it through the most fragile early weeks, celebrated quietly with close family and a table of white rice cakes. Many Korean-American and diaspora families still keep the tradition alive, often alongside Western baby milestones.
If you are new to the tradition, think of baekil as a small, intimate family gathering — not a full birthday party. Ten to twenty guests, a simple meal, and a photo session is typical.
Why a digital invitation fits
A baekil is smaller and gentler than a first birthday. A paper invitation often feels too formal for a living-room gathering. A digital invitation lets you share photos, a soft welcome message, and practical details without the printing overhead, and it sends well through text or email to family spread across different cities or countries.
The four-part structure
1. The cover photo
Pick one favorite portrait from the professional 100-day photoshoot — many families schedule a session around this milestone. A vertical crop fills a phone screen best.
2. The welcome message
Our little [Baby’s Name] is 100 days old. Thank you to everyone who has supported our family through these first tender weeks. We would love to mark the day with you.
3. Time and place
If you are hosting at home, consider sharing only the neighborhood on the invitation and sending the exact address privately after guests confirm. A password feature on the invitation adds another layer of privacy.
4. A photo gallery
Five to ten pictures that follow your baby from the first hospital photo to 100 days is an easy way to move even the most reserved relative to tears.
Photo preparation tip: Photos from different days end up in mismatched ratios, which makes a gallery feel scattered. Our free photo aspect-ratio tool can unify them all to 1:1 or 4:3 in one click. Nothing is uploaded — the crop runs right in your browser.
Collecting messages from family
Baekil often brings together older relatives who may not be comfortable typing much. A simple guestbook where a guest only needs to write their name and a single sentence works well. Save the messages — they make a lovely addition to a printed 100-day album.
A note on cash gifts
Korean baekil does not carry the formal cash-gift culture of a wedding. Most families skip any account or gift information on the invitation entirely. If extended family expects to contribute, a simple line like “your presence is plenty” sets the tone.
Frequently asked questions
We are nervous about sharing our baby’s face publicly. What do we do? Share the invitation link only through direct messages, not group chats or social media. A password lets you control who can open it even if the link gets forwarded.
Can we include grandparents who live overseas? Yes — they can open the invitation from any phone or laptop. Many families also record a short video message from overseas grandparents and play it during the celebration.
Wrap-up
A 100-day celebration is meant to be gentle — small, warm, and unhurried. Everything about the invitation should match that: soft language, a single favorite photo, and a private link that travels only to the people you want in the living room.
If you are new to the tradition, the easiest first step is a free sample. You can draft the cover photo and welcome text, walk your family through it, and only publish if it feels right.