Question about birthday parties...

I know I have broached this topic before but now it's getting down to the time to start planning.

DD is going to be 4 this summer. I keep going back and forth about having a party at home or out. Cost wise...not much difference in price when it comes down to it.

If I have it at home...It will be a pool party and probably some form of entertainment for the kids. I can invite everyone then...her classmates, family and friends. I put a ton of effort into the parties I have at home so it is a lot of work. Having it out would be much easier for me. The downside is I have to be more selective with the children invited.

As parents, do you enjoy parties at home or out? How about your children?

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I am a big fan of home parties and I think I have inadvertentetly made my DS one too (since every week he tells me what kind of party he wants this year )

Cost wise is always close to the same, but I like that the party doesn't seem "rushed" like they sometimes do when they are at a place...It really all depends on what kind of help you have I think..I also think if its a pool party, you could probably get away without entertainment ( maybe put a sprinkler out etc..) ...To make it even more stress free, maybe hire someone to be "life-guard" (if you have a large pool)
My only worry with home parties is always the weather factor, other than that I love them

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From one August 18th momma to another- I LOVE having DD's parties at my home- especially since our DD's birthdays are in the summer. Last summer, we had DD's party at my in-laws' house. They have a pool- and we had it catered. We were able to invite whoever we wanted- and it was totally casual- not rushed at all. We were able to talk, have fun with the kiddies, etc. It was so nice, and we plan on doing the same thing again this year!

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I would do the home party! It sounds awesome

We live in a small 2 bedroom so I wish I had this option for my kids:

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I don't mind attending either one.

I will say that we were invited to 2 pool parties last summer for 2 different kids in DS's class.
1.) was at a home and only me and 2 other mothers attended.
2.) was at a country club the family belonged too. It was joint party between the birthday boy and his older sister. I think the mom only invited us and 1 or 2 other families and we all attended.

The only issue I could see with having a pool party is that if the parent has more than one child who is younger how will they go in the pool and watch the other one at the same time. You can't always count on the DH being able to attend.
Instead of having a pool party in a big pool maybe do 1 or 2 kiddie pools and maybe some sort of toy springer that gets attached to the hose, maybe something like those huge flower balls and you don't know which way it goes. If this is the route you go I would put a little note on the invitation so that they know.

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I've done both! DS' first 2 parties were at home. We had it catered.
Then this year we had it out. I will say, it is a lot easier.
I can't choose one over the other though. LOL.

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I love home parties, but DH hates cleaning up, so we tend to have our parties out. Plus, we always have to "borrow" someone's house as we live in an apt.

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Well, I've only ever thrown 2 b-day parties for DD so far. Her first b-day we had at a place b/c it was on the bigger side and I couldn't possibly fit everyone in my house or yard.

Last year, we had a party at home (summer baby so it was outside). Had about 30 adults, maybe 8 kids (all close family members and close friends w/their kids). It was a lot of work (thankfully DH, MIL & my mom helped tremendously), but I loved it and so did DD. She doesn't go to school/daycare yet, so we don't have any "other" kids to invite yet.

Planning on doing her party at home again this year....same people invited, hopefully a few more. It will be exhausting once again (esp. b/c I'll have a newborn most likely), but I know I'll get lots of help. I am a NUT about planning her parties....I am all about a theme and I try to do even the smallest touches to fit the theme....which takes a ton of time but I just love it. I even like my food to fit the theme, etc. I said that in light of the fact that I'll have a newborn (or possibly still be pregnant depending on when the party is), I'm getting pizzas....MIL will make a ziti, we'll do a big salad, and probably chicken fingers/etc for the kids. That's it for food....and that's a big compromise for me b/c the food doesn't fit the theme But I just know that I will not have the time/energy at that point to go all out with the decor/details AND the food, and there are easier options with the food. However, I will be going all out on desserts fitting the theme

Again, we have great help to prep and help clean-up, so that makes a BIG difference. Though I do stress about the weather for weeks before the party, b/c I can't fit people inside my house if it rains.

ETA: Probably starting in the next year or 2 I'll have to consider having it at a "kids place", though I really prefer to throw the parties at the house.

Message edited 3/30/2010 11:54:58 AM.

Re: Question about birthday parties...

can you get one of those waitress/server/ set up/ people?

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In my experience the kids enjoy the home parties more but the host enjoys the party out more.

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Posted by JenBenMen

I would do the home party! It sounds awesome

We live in a small 2 bedroom so I wish I had this option for my kids:

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We have done 1 at home and 1 at a place. I love all the details you can add by doing it at home but I hated the fact that I was running around the day of instead of enjoying myself.

I think it comes down to you making a choice if you want to do all the work yourself.

It's really a tough call. I already booked DD's 3rd b-day party in October but I was really contemplating doing a party at home. Maybe for #4!