Charlotte’s birthday is this month! She is turning 5. I am so proud of her. She is just a beautiful soul from the beginning.
But we have a dilemma.
In the past we have never had a large birthday party for her. We generally do something at home, with a cake, and if family is near us, ask them over. Its always been very intimate. But since most of our years with Charlotte have been spent on military bases and she was too young to ‘get it’, I never went “all out” for a party. In fact, her 1st birthday her and I spent alone. I think her 3rd birthday we invited some neighbors over and had some cake at the house. I cant even remember the other years. Thats how little I apparently did.
I should also mention that I am the cheapest person on the planet and really have to justify before I spent any amount of money over $20.
This year is different. She is in her 2nd year of school, she has a million friends, the neighbor kids, our family is here, she has cousins local, and this girl wants a PARTY.
Cake, presents, and everyone fawning over her. Trust me, she gets it.
We would like to to have it at the gymnastics studio she is a part of. Its a great place, she has been going for years and attends camp and classes. Also, I refuse to have someone elses kids at my house that I have to entertain and I am not going to Chuck-e-cheese germy hell.
To rent out the gym for 2 hours is $315. It would include all the kids being about to play on the trampolines, jump pit, hanging ropes, and the staff to supervise and help. The cost is making me sick.
Someone tell me that isn’t overkill for a kids party and that I should do it.
~Trisha
Last year alone, I believe I spent about $500 between both of my children’s birthday parties (they are only 2 weeks apart).. Most of the money went towards food, but also a big chunk towards decorations. If you are not going to make a regular habit of these parties, $315 is not unreasonable.
That does seem like a lot of money. You can probably strike a deal with your daughter in which she has a big party for certain birthdays (i.e. 13th and 16th) and other times will be low key. That way she will be getting the best of both worlds.
My kids are grown up and I must be OLD, because that sounds like a lot of money to me. But, I’m with Classy Mom on the part about, IF you WANT to do it and she wants to do it AND it is not a financial burden, then go for it. BUT if it will cause a financial burden, then explain it to her that it is really something you can’t afford. I think kids understand that more than we realize, it is on TV all the time now and they may be disappointed at first, but they do understand. Then have her help you plan something else she will like.
But maybe I am just OLD and all wet!!
Hi, I actually own two gymnastics facilities in Indianapolis IN. We charge $200 for 2hours, however I’m sure we’re on the low end. The kids have a great time, and it’s really good for them. They all leave sweating
It’s very easy on the parents as well. We have waiting lists for our parties in the winter months. Have fun!
Another alternative is the park. Some parks even let you have those jumpy moon things that you can rent for relatively cheap. At a park, the clean up is easier than your home and there’s lots of room to run and play. Of course, that depends on how the weather is where you are. We are in Texas where it’s pretty warm. In the end though, it’s up to you. She’s your child and will be little only once and if she wants that and you are comfortable with it, then go for it
does that include any food provided by the gym? like pizza or a cake or something? For how many kids? that’s a lot of money.
When I was a kid my brother and I had most of our birthday parties at our church. They had a big multipurpose room you could rent out for just the cleaning fee. Then they also had roller skating and my parents usually got some kind of entertainment like a magician.
Besides going big for my first child’s 1st birthday (over 100 guests), I haven’t done another big one. My best/easiest/cheapest was a 3rd b’day at the fire station and then cake in the neighboring park/playground.
Jojo just turned 5 in October and I asked him what 5 friends he wanted to invite. He came up with a list of 4! Haha! They came over and I made a cake and they made shrinky dinks. It was 2 hours on a Saturday morning. That is all that either of us could handle.
I didn’t want to invite his whole class of 20 children because I was afraid some parents I didn’t know well would try to drop the kids off and leave, then it would get awkward.
Love the collage of Charlotte!
If she wants it, you want, and you can afford it – go for it! Birthday Parties make fabulous memories and it sounds like this is the year you finally have the guest list to merit doing something outside of the home. Cause seriously, you’d probably spend that much hosting a party at home with the guest list you have.
I think I’ve always spent close to $200-$300 just on food, decorations, favors etc. So far we’ve opted to host the kids parties at home ( 4 for Kenzie and only 2 for Kyle so far!) but that has really been our decision, since Kenzie never begged to go to a “venue” yet and I love the personal vibe of a party from home – if you can swing it of course. I have friends that have spent far more than $300 and those that love to keep it simple with cake and ice cream at Play Group. The important thing is just making it special however you do it. For the 4th party this year, as our guest list grew – I even had a Disney Princess (local of course!) come to the house for entertainment and sing and do story hour with the kids – that was $150. For Kyle’s 2nd party, I hosted during the week with Moms & a few kids. Since they are all too young for real games, we spent $100 to have the Music Lady come to do 45 mins with the kids. They loved both scenarios as did our guests – I was happy to find a way to entertain the kids while keeping our cozy at home vibe.
I’m sure it will be wonderful whatever you do! Happy Birthday Charlotte!
xo colleen
We’ll I’m a Birthday Party Coordinator for my day job and our parties have a base price of $200. Oh and thats just for an hour long presentation and ONE goody bag. If you want more ($5.50 each), invitations, or add-ons those cost extra…oh and you still have to come up with the food and decorations yourself
I have big birthday parties for ages 1,5,10,13,and 16. The birthdays between that are smaller. My son is turning 11 Saturday and He is having a sleep over with 5 friends and pizza party with movies & games.
My daughter’s birthdays are in March so I try to do them at the same time to save on money even though they are 5 years apart. This year will be the big party jada will be 5 and jas will be 10. I haven’t decided what we are going to do yet . But in the past I would rather spend the money and have everything included then have to do it myself then clean up! However I always order my own cakes and bring them because the price other places charge are not worth it and look awful.
Well, I am probably not the best person to ask this question, but I think they are only this old once and why not. Bella’s birthday party is this saturday and ok, for just to have the party at the location for 10 kids is $110.00, this is not including the cake and additional guest that want to participate. Last year, we had our other daughters at our house and got a double water slide. You know the big ones that you is blown up. It was alittle over $150.00 just for that. If you able to than why not.
Around here (NY) the indoor party places are around $225 and up for 1.5 hours and that’s for 10 kids if you want more kids you’ll pay more. Around $300 and up if you want 15 kids, 1.5 hours, invitations, juice, and I think one place does a snack as well – bring your own pizza/cake. For my daughter’s 2nd I’m swinging back and forth between just doing it at her school and doing it at the kids’ gym she goes to (I have a $25 discount coupon)… BUT still keeping it really small. I have a few more weeks to figure it out
I would have a heart attack if I had to pay $315 just for the venue. I guess I’m cheap too or at least I think you can have just as much fun going somewhere else. ha ha. It really is up to you and no you don’t have to outdo yourself every year. Up to this point you’ve done small and intimate. It’s nice to do something different and fun!
Ok, maybe it’s just me, but if you spend $300 + when she is in grade 2, you’ll be spending $3000 + when she is in grade 12. OMG!
Can’t you set up a review on that place an dget it cheaper?? LOL OKay now I”m thinking like a blogger
1st off let me say DON’T BE SO DANG CHEAP! this is your only daugther. Are you actually whinning about $300 bucks?? Try adding up food at home, you spending hours cooking, cleaning, and then cleaning up after. You just hit way over $300 and a mountain of aggravation. Suck it up. Put on a smile and put out the $. And let your daughter enjoy her Birthday.
My Cranky Pants is turning 2 this yr and his party s gonna cost us over $300..and that’s without the extra $20 bucks for each pizza n pop we order. and no goodie bags for the kids. Thanks to Jump zone!!
Trisha – I’m in the same boat as you. My daughter turns 3 in just over 2 weeks and I’m trying to find a reasonable indoor party venue (darn these winter b’days!). There is no way we’re having the party in our small apartment – having more than 2 kids over for a playdate gets me frazzled . . . I looked at JW Tumbles, The Little Gym and Gymboree and they quoted me $325, $260 and $225 (in order) – ouch! We had parties for her 1st and 2nd b’days, but each time the venue was at a (very nice) friend’s home. I cannot stomach the thought of Chuck E. Cheese either, so am now considering Build-A-Bear or the local children’s museum, which offers a pretty good rate compared to what I’ve been quoted. I’ve already put my b’day budget in jeopardy though – thought it would cute and also thrifty if my daughter and I made her own ‘princess’ invitations – one $40 plus trip to Michaels later and I’m not feeling quite so thrifty, and this total is after using two awesome coupons! Oh well, we do have enough glitter, princess stamps, ribbon, 3D princess stickers and fancy cardstock to make FABulous invitations! Now we’ve just got to do it in time . . . I have this feeling we might delay too long and I’ll end up frantically emailing friends two nights before the big event and the crafty invitation stuff will lie untouched on the dining room table . . .
The alternative is here: 2 hours of art fun for only $10.00 per peron… for 12 kids or $17.00 per person for the special touch…
‘COLORME’ Art Spa Birthday Party…. Check it out! dlm
We had a first birthday party for Fuller and that is it. I had wanted to do a 5th birthday party for him in October, but our family’s timing was all off and we just did little celebrations with family over the course of a week. I’m still a little bothered that we didn’t do a party for him for his 5th.
We don’t plan on doing a big bash every single year, so I think spending that much is actually ok. (Having the supervision is a big, big plus IMHO.)
I am planning my twins first and am doing a semi big party with our friends and family. We have never hosted a party and this is like a combination of lots of things. I am renting the HOA clubhouse and it is killing me to spend 150 for 5 hours. That is just the space, no help, no food included, no cleanup help, just the space. I wish I could hold it at my house but it is way too small. I don’t plan to do anything big like this until they are older. And maybe they will have their own job to help pay for it. I say if you do it, a five year birthday party will be fun, like a milestone. And maybe only do a big one every 5 years with smaller, more intimate parties in between.