Birthday party cost

[Deleted]

Her first and second were about 300 which is why we aren't doing on this year!

[eav2c]

About $500 for Colin's first birthday. We haven't thrown something like it since and only throw a little GTG for like 5 of us and that easily costs $100 and I don't even do decorations really. It's easy to get out of control, lol.

[jg183]

I think it depends a lot on whether you are inviting kids or adults.
We did more of an adult party for first bday (and will with #2).
2nd and 3rd birthdays have been more kid centered- playplace, easy food and drinks.

we rented a play place for 250. I spent 25 on his shirt (etsy) and favors will be about $1 each (dinosaur 50c, sticker book 50c). I ordered some stuff from party city for $42. And then I'll order a few pizzas and have snacks and desserts. I'm hoping for under 500.

Our playplace holds 50 people- we invited about 20 3 year olds plus their parents and some have siblings.

eta: we sent an evite this year (did mailed invite for 1st bday)

[alicia45]

We spend about $150 on dinner, cake and decorations for family that lives here.

Then we go on vacation the next weekend to celebrate my birthday and hers. We stay in a 5 star place, order room service, see the city of San Antonio and have a great time. We spend about $1500 for the weekend.

I love the tradition of a small family party and a vacation. She can have a kid party if she wants, when she asks and seems really interested in that.

[careyalis]

We are doing a bare bones, laid back, house party this year and it will probably cost us around $300 when it is all said and done. We are basically just having all of our friends and their kids over for an afternoon of playing/watching basketball. I ordered a huge chicken finger tray, a pinwheel tray, bbq from a local joint, and a bunch of side salads and stuff. I also got a cake and some treat bags for all the kids.

[laurack]

looking into options (and their cost) made me decide to probably not have a party. all these places charge hundreds of dollars for you to just be there. then you have to buy food

we are vaguely considering having something at our house and actually doing it like, a month later so the weather would be good! or no party.

doing it at our house, I'd probably spend $300 on food and drinks (making everything myself including the cake)

[TrudyCampbell]

We have spent well over $1000 in the past years.

[bigapple]

We've done home parties the past two years with homemade cakes and still spent several hundred on food and drinks. Not sure what I'm doing wrong, but I suspect it's the booze for 40+ adults

[musiclover]

Around $300 total I think.

[PatBenatar]

We just invite immediate family (grandparents, my brother, SIL/BIL, nieces and nephews) which makes things cheap and easy. I think we spent less than $100 last year on food/cake/small decorations. I'm doing the same this year.

When she's older and has friends, I'll get a bit more elaborate or rent a place, but I'm going to enjoy being low key for as long as possible.

[katfco]

For Abby's parties, we usually have spent no more than a hundred, and that's for anywhere from 3-10 guests, at Chuck E Cheese, at home and at a local ice cream place. I make the cake.

We haven't had any parties for Caleb yet, but I can't see spending more than that.

[Regina Philange]

We are skipping this year because of the new baby, but the past two years has been around $500. We had both at home. So that was food, renting a tent, and decorations and stuff.

[earlybird]

Around $300-350 all is said and done. L's parties have been small and we held them at home, so I'm not sure where it all goes. I suppose we spend a good amount on food/drinks and decorations.

[LilsLove418]

I'm stressing out over this. I've been pricing out places and they've all been pretty steep. I think we can get away witht having another family party at my parents. I was thinking of renting a bounce for the backyard, but Lily got kicked in the face over the weekend in one so now my Dad is completely against it. What else can I do for a 6,3 and 2 year old?

[teamhayes]

Mar 3, 2015 17:48:25 GMT -5 LilsLove418 said:

I'm stressing out over this. I've been pricing out places and they've all been pretty steep. I think we can get away witht having another family party at my parents. I was thinking of renting a bounce for the backyard, but Lily got kicked in the face over the weekend in one so now my Dad is completely against it. What else can I do for a 6,3 and 2 year old?

pony ride
Petting zoo
Magician
Have a firetrucks come

[dbe100408]

Probably $200. If I factor in clothing, probably closer to $300. We will be feeding everyone (about 50 people total), hosting at our home.

[fryjack2]

I'm embarrassed to admit what we have spent on the last 2. Its more along the lines of what you posted teamhayes and TrudyCampbell. BUT I justify it by saying that its a party for 2 kids so if its not THAT bad if I divide it by 2.

First year, we just got off house arrest (boston marathon bomber was on the loose and we almost had to cancel the party) and even though we had it at our house, we had over 50 adults and 25 kids. We had a ton of food and Georgetown cupcakes and plenty of alcohol. Plus decor. I had no budget and wanted to throw a holy shit we made it through the 1st year with twins and fuck you bomber party.

Last year, we rented out the Fire Museum here. Had awesome fire themed goodie bags, Georgetown cupcakes again, catered food, somewhat pricey decor, and a large guest list again. Then I ran the Boston marathon the next day so I didn't want what I had to do to be too involved.

I haven't started planning this year's party (and the next few years) but I think it will be a lot more low key.

[livinreality]

At home family only (20 people) is $75-$100, C party last fall was $250ish and that includes rental fee and he had friends on top of family so (50 including kids parents).

We cut corners by making all food, and minimal decorations. Oh and no alcohol provided, it was not allowed at the venue (and my inlaws don't drink and there kids pretend not to drink around them, my family brings there own, so weird) They also only get a 1st, 5th and 10th big parties, other years are family only.

[fusion]

Alcohol isn't the norm for parties here so that certainly helps.

[ninjabridemom]

We're going to spend hopefully $150-200 all together.

I'm making the cake and I'll buy some allergen friendly cupcakes too at the local bakery (less than $1 each, I love that place).

We'll get easy food, like pizza or maybe the local Spanish place.

No favors and I'm making decorations. It'll be at our house. We're making masks w the kids and playing pin the button on Pete the cat.

[ninjabridemom]

We just invited their friends from school and church nursery, no alcohol (we don't drink), so we'll see. We didn't invite grown ups except the parents of their friends of course.

[Deleted]

I think in general birthday parties are out of control. Kids used to be so happy with some balloons tired to the mailbox and a few balloons and streamers taped to the walls, a sheet cake, and ice cream. Even with those set up I got to choose growing up if I wanted a birthday gift or a birthday party. I almost always picked to have a party.

[Deleted]

Mar 4, 2015 9:46:16 GMT -5 jamaicam said:

Mar 4, 2015 9:35:07 GMT -5 @huahualove said:

I think in general birthday parties are out of control. Kids used to be so happy with some balloons tired to the mailbox and a few balloons and streamers taped to the walls, a sheet cake, and ice cream. Even with those set up I got to choose growing up if I wanted a birthday gift or a birthday party. I almost always picked to have a party.

I enjoy entertaining, it's part of the reason we have a house with a big garden and an outside bar etc. I want to celebrate my kids birthdays with the people who are important to them and that's why we will have lots of guests. If people think that doin all of that is out of control, so be it.

I don't think all of that is. I just think that expectations for parties have changed a lot in recent years, so people are spending more and more on them. I couldn't tell you how many hours I put into making all of the decorations and cakes for William's first birthday. I wouldn't have done any of that if it wasn't for Pinterest and what not that help influence what I thought was more normal for a first birthday party.

[eddy]

Y'all are too rich for my blood.

We do really minimal bday parties. 1. because I am lazy and hate throwing parties 2. because I personally don't think kids need a bid deal party for every birthday. It sets their expectations too high for me to perform for the rest of their life. :-)

So probably less than $100? Maybe it was $200 for the first bday? We do it at our house or the park. There are some years we don't do a party at all like last year when Leo turned 2. This year he wants a party so we will probably invite some friends over for food and drink. I don't do themes or anything besides maybe the cake. We don't have family in town so that cuts down on the guest list quite a bit.

[Faevantastic]

I think we spent $400 just on food and booze for E's first birthday party. This year I'm planning to do a burger and hot dog bar. I want to rent a bounce house, that's like $200 at least already.

[onehitwonder]

Since we didn't do a big one last year and W has been planning his party since October, it will likely exceed the $500 mark.

[teamhayes]

I am amazed that some of you can feed 25 plus people for under $100 bucks.

[dbe100408]

Mar 4, 2015 11:59:51 GMT -5 teamhayes said:

I am amazed that some of you can feed 25 plus people for under $100 bucks.

For us, it's going to be DIY food, plus VLCOL.

[earlybird]

We don't host get-togethers very often, so L's birthday is a good excuse to splurge a little and have friends over. I also get to indulge in artsy-fartsy crafts. Once a year for both is about right. So, at this point, her parties are totally for me. She would be more than thrilled with balloons, fruit snacks, and a few friends to play with. Hopefully, that never changes.

[skwcm80]

A huge 1st birthday party is a cultural thing. It isn't unusual to have first birthday parties that might seem to to be over-the-top from an outsider's perspective. I have vivid memories of my brother's first birthday party that was akin to a block party, and included at least 2 cakes, and multiple outfit changes.