Perhaps it is the Pinterest-obsession, Facebook-showmanship, or access to graphic design tooled world that I live in, but no one here has a "normal" party anymore. All of the birthdays I've gone to have to have special freaking water bottle covers and foods that match the theme (have you ever been to a rainbow theme party?), over-the-top favors (last one was a full pirate dress-up outfit), custom banners (one where the birthday child was made into his own muppet), special balloons....It's not enough to have a cute birthday outfit, you have to have an etsy-created, monogrammed "theme" ensemble.
As a non-creative, non-wealthy, non-design-y person, I feel terrible not giving my child this kind of a party. I am planning DS #2's 1st birthday and thinking how much more special some of the other parties we've been to are and what great memories for the parents (I doubt the kids care lol). So...someone tell me I'm crazy and that you just throw "normal" birthday parties.
Most parties I've been to have a theme, and I have thrown a rainbow themed party before (the cake rocked), but I don't think they're over the top and they aren't really *that* expensive.
Yes, I throw normal parties and thank God that so far, I haven't been to any over the top themed parties yet!
And while you feel terrible- ask yourself, do you REALLY think your child will even remember these kinds of details? That's the thing about this - people go to all this effort, and sure, while it does look nice in the moment - down the road, people really aren't going to remember all these details, and I really doubt that children will even more so!
Post by Mrs.Syntax on Aug 14, 2012 14:32:56 GMT -5
I plan on throwing "kid" parties for DD when she's a little older and has friends (she had a 1st birthday party, but it was more of an adult thing.) I think it's pointless to put so much effort into being all perfectly themed. Kids don't give a shit, they just want to run around and play. Plus I don't feel like I have anything to prove to the other moms.
I know some people have a love for planning this stuff, and that's fine if its their creative outlet, but that's not "me."
I do the crazy outrageous theme parties very often and honestly I don't spend much on them and go pretty hardcore on decorating, balloons party bags etc. The food is alwasy the most expensive (well no the cakes are) but as for a decor you can pick a themed one and just get one or two items like if it were Dora you can get a Dora center piece one banner and a pinata then you play off the color that is in the "actual" theme paraphernalia and go from there with tons of pinks and yellows etc and you can jazz it up by doing the plates multicolored (yellow plate red plate orange plate etc.) If you do limited things that are the actual "theme-theme" and play off color wise then you can get everything at the dollar store!!! My son an 4 nieces have back to back birthdays plus my mom and my dad as well and I am the "unofficial planner" for all events I would be dead broke if I did it any other way.
DS's 1st birthday party was at our house. I got a few packs of streamers and swirly shiny decorations at Party City and a bunch of balloons at the grocery store that morning. We got food from Costco. DS had a really great time and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I probably spent $70 on decorations, plates, cups, plastic forks, etc., which I thought was kind of a lot but worth it. No etsy purchases at all!
I made a monkey cake for DS's first birthday. That was about it. Once he's old enough to care, I might put more effort in, but for his first birthday I threw a brunch for DH's extended family and that was enough work. I didn't need to color code the berries too.
I doubt I'll ever throw a Pinterest-worthy party. I think my kid will survive.
Post by liveintheville on Aug 14, 2012 14:52:21 GMT -5
I like fancy cakes and we try to match the party favor to the theme. Kid 2's first birthday had a Totoro cake and we gave out small stuffed Totoros and Pocky.
We've done kid capes and super hero rubber duckies. One year we gave out Viking helmets and stuffed dragons, he liked How to Train your Dragon.
But all parties are in our house and we buy a few balloons and make paper chains and call it good.
Post by spankswife on Aug 14, 2012 14:52:34 GMT -5
Most parties we have been to are not over the top. Many have a theme, but just the regular party supplies you get at Walmart (spider man plates/napkins etc), or whatever. I really enjoy party planning, so I do try to add a few special touches, but nothing out-of-this-world. I don't do water bottle labels, or food cards....
Post by kimibrighteyes on Aug 14, 2012 15:01:23 GMT -5
My kids always have a blast at their parties and we don't go all crazy. No theme. We always have cake, food, and a loot bag/favor. The themed parties look amazing, but I don't have time to do that and I honestly feel it is more for the adults than the kids.
DD's first birthday party was a half dozen family members and a friend made cupcakes. I had a sorta polka dot theme based on a shirt my mom bought her, but that's about as exciting as it got.
DD's second birthday party was a half dozen family members and an Elmo cake that a friend made. DH bought some Sesame Street decor at WalMart.
Post by luvmagoldn on Aug 14, 2012 15:04:59 GMT -5
We do themes in that the cake and decorations go together. But that's it.
I haven't had a party at our house yet because the thought of all those kids stresses me out. I much prefer having parties at bounce places, kid's gym's etc where there are people who keep the kids busy for me.
Yes, we have "normal" parties. I have a 2.5 year old and a 14 month old - so 3 parties so far. All 3 have been immediate family (grandparents, aunts/uncles which adds up to about 6 people, btw) and us. Food, cake, a couple balloons and a handful of gifts.
I admit I am simultaneously jealous and giving the side-eye to the extravegant parties.
We've had very loose themes. For DD's 2nd birthday, the theme was books and I had a friend who is a graphic designer make an invitation that looked like a book. And then I gave out books as favors. That was the extent of my creativity.
3rd birthday theme was "fiesta," which meant I could pretty much do whatever I wanted since it just means "party." The kids' activity was to paint maracas and I served a bunch of Cuban food, including pastries I flew up from my favorite bakery in Miami (I had a business trip there the day before DD's party).
We didn't have a big party this year because we just moved.
I don't craft and I'm not a designer. I just try to tie things together as best as I can.
The parties my kids have been to have not been over the top, although they generally always have a theme. Although there were a few paties hosted by 'princesses' which was kind of crazy but I guess the parents didn't want to do much work. I wouldn't say those were even over the top compared to the op though.
What i think is over the top are the loot bags the kids get now. They are insane!
Our parties have been very low key -- DH is against big blow-out parties for kids. He thinks they are ridiculous.
I went a little over the top for DS's 1st Birthday--but it was at our house. I did a jungle theme and the only reason I did a custom banner is because I found one for cheap. But I did have cup cake toppers that I ordered from etsy and a 1st birthday candy bar wrapper that was the "favor" I should also add that I never had anything special as a child for my birthday. Never had a party and sometimes there was no gift. My one brothers birthday is 2 days before mine, so I never even got a cake of my own because "we still had leftover cake." I think that probably has something to do with making DS's parties over the top.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Aug 14, 2012 15:35:50 GMT -5
Both my kids had big first birthday parties. DS's was at a restaurant, so I used a few decorations from the party supply store and ordered a cake/cupcakes to match the theme. But DD's was at our house, so I went a little more overboard. I ordered cupcakes and bought a banner and cupcakes from etsy to match the theme/colors; I'm not crafty, but like crafty things.
I haven't and won't do this every year, but once in a while, it's fun.
Post by definitelyO on Aug 14, 2012 15:50:55 GMT -5
My friend had a petting zoo including pony rides at her DS's 2nd birthday party!!!! no where to go from there.... our friends do a lot of theme parties - rainbow included with rainbow food and covered bottle waters and $100 cakes.
With DS's birthday in the winter we don't have it at the house so I don't go all out - but I would say that his are more theme than not. last year was Lego and I made lego invitations, lego cake and gave legos as favors. one year I made a superhero cake and made superhero capes for all the kids with their initial where the "S' would be on the superman logo. but it's not any more expensive than just buying regular party favors and I love making DS's cakes - so those while sometimes stressful are a out of love from me.
Post by karinothing on Aug 14, 2012 16:04:43 GMT -5
I have always done themes, even before I had kids. Heck, I am pretty sure my parties growing up involved themes too. Plus, what is the point of having food at a theme party if it doesn't match the theme? That is part of the fun!
No themes here other than birthday. I love the idea of a theme, but will most likely never take it farther than a fun cake and a few balloons and/or a banner. We just did a small family birthday party for DS when he turned two and it was fun. Only the grandparents and 1 aunt were able to come, so it was very easy to make a simple lunch. DS helped make his birthday brownies (he sprinkled the m&ms on top, that was the extent of our decorating) along with ice cream. He thought it was a super special day because he had 2 grandmas at his house at the same time.
We did a firefighter theme for his 3rd birthday. We met at a firestation and had a tour. It was awesome. I bought this set, and it made me look amazing, when really all I did was cut paper.
My husband and I don't do a lot of entertaining throughout the year, and sometimes her party is the one of the few times we see some of our friends, so spending the money (which really isn't too much) and time (which I like doing) is worth it.
We don't do themes. My son turned 1. We has 14 locals in our place. I got some balloons, I ordered food, everyone had a nice time. My uncle hosted a BBQ near my family. No balloons (though we had a nice cake) or anything fancy. I did order some toys for the BBQ.
My daughter will be 3, if she makes friends at preschool we'll do a gymboree party (which is $400 for the "class" + pizza and cake I think). Otherwise we'll just order pizza, lasagna and a cake and have the core family over.
Post by littlemermaid on Aug 14, 2012 17:04:35 GMT -5
My kids are 11 & 9 years old. They have always been able to pick a theme in which I buy paper plates, napkins and order a cake with said theme. That is the extent of it. Our parties are strictly immediate family. They have never had parties with classmates/friends, not that we can't afford them, just because we believe it's not a necessity. They are allowed to attend their friends parties though, which are usually at bowling alleys, bounce houses, laser tag, whirlyball establishments.
I was about to say that I went all out in dd's party, but compared to what you're describing, we didn't. Our big splurge was a photographer for $100. Totally worth it.