DD wants a Princess party...any ideas?

[Hulababy]

I have booked a big hall, with seperate eating room for her party. We have enough time for about 2 hours of party (plus half hour either side for prep/tidying up).

She will be 4. She is obsessed with princesses and really wants a princess party.

There will be boys too though - so needs to be princess and prince, or may a royal party - so all princesses, princes, jesters, kights, etc can come

Have some ideas - want some music and flashing lights and balloons, thinking of a craft table for colouring related pictures and making crowns/tiaras, pass the parcel, pin the horn on the unicorn.

Was thinking of maybe getting an entertainer in for part of the time too...not sure what type though or what is even available near us (in Sheffield).

Anyone got any good ideas or suggestions?
(Other than run and don't do it!!!)

[Skribble]

What about a bouncy castle, keeps them amused for ages (check height of venue) or a court jester/ juggler to entertain.

[nutcracker]

Princess and Pirate party maybe if there are boys going.

[Somanykiddies]

Toyed with the idea of contacting local drama school/college to see if anyone would dress up as Cinderella/snow white etc and come to the party to deliver the birthday cake. Didn't do it though as dd went off princesses! Thought it would have been a bit different to have a 'real' princess at your party.

[Enid]

face painting

hair braiding

what about using a big armchair, covering it with pink material so it is a throne, then taking photos of kids sitting on it with their tiara on

sympathies. dd2 is obsessed with princesses too. Haven't the heart to tell her that I think the royal family are all nobs, and if she actually ever becomes a princess I will have to have her shot

[LIZS]

How about a story teller, magician or puppet show with a princess theme ?

[puddle]

I did a princess party at home last year for DD's third birthday.

We made princess hats - cones of coloured card with crepe paper streamers for them to stick on. They stuck sticker jewels on and decorated them with glitter glue and penes. This kept them entertained for over half an hour.

I also did a princess treasure hunt - bought two copies of a princess comic and found 2 identical pictures - stuck one on the parcel and gave the each child one - they had to hunt for the parcel that matched their picture.

We also did a big drawing of a castle and did 'pin the flag on the princess's castle' - they had to hit the flagpole on a turret!

With pass the parcel and musical bumps that wqas more or less it for two hours (including tea and some running around with balloons).

[Bozza]

Hula DS went to a pirates and fairies party last summer. There were some entertainers there from somewhere in the Lanes in Meadowhall. Not sure of the details. TBH DS was not too impressed but all the little girls (it was a 4yo party) loved it. Also DS scraped the skin off the top of his foot (there's still a mark) which didn't help from his pov. They did various make believe things.

[crunchie]

Well we had a 'Royal Banquet' at our last party.

The table had plain white table cloths (you can buy long paper rolls of white for about £3). All the plates were gold paper plates, we found cheap glittery plastic 'Champagne flutes', gold serviettes and gold and silver platters to serve food on. We also decorated teh table with gold and silver curling ribbons and confetti. It looked really pretty!! The food was normal party food, and I got a cake with them dressed up as princesses photoed on top. The kids still use the campagne flutes too!! But everything came from Woolies and the local party shop.

The games were normal party games, but teh table was the 'piece de resistance' all teh mums and kids thought it looked beautiful. It was long, we had over 30 kids.

[KBear]

Get them all to wear their princess dressing up dresses - we did that for DD's 5th birthday - out of 26 girls only one didn't have a dressing up dress (so we lent her one!).

[Skribble]

Not sure if they still have them but IKea had a range of royal looking fabrics and stuff in the kids deprtment, cheap enough to buy for decorating if you can use them in her room after.

[Skribble]

Not sure if they still have them but IKea had a range of royal looking fabrics and stuff in the kids deprtment, cheap enough to buy for decorating if you can use them in her room after.

[Hulababy]

Oh thanks for this. Had to go offline last night, so really pleased to see all the info now

[Hulababy]

I know someone mentioned princess and pirate to me before...didn't even know they went together!!! Not sure DD would deal with pirates TBH - not in her idea of a royal party. LOL

Crunchie - the table sounds fab; will definitely be pinching ideas

Pin the flag on the castle is good! DD likes that idea

So much to thing about...

[LIZS]

ds went 6 to a prince and princess party at that age - no issue. The boys can always be knights. How many are you having ?

[Hulababy]

Proobably similar to last year so around 15-20 I would think.

I figured that the Royal title would mean they'd be enough for boys - knight, prince, king, jester, etc. Probably more than for girls!

[Bozza]

.... apart from that almost all little girls have a princess dress of some description

When DS went to the pirates and fairies I had to borrow a Captain Hook from my friend's DS. Boys tend to be more into superhero type dressing up outfits.

[Hulababy]

Yeah - but for a prince then can just wear their smart clothes and have a cardboard sword and shield.

And fancy dress isn't compulsary - will make sure invites state that.

[Bozza]

Or they could just do the borrowing thing. Had a bit of trouble sponging my eyeliner off the frilly white shirt mind you. DH had drawn on a moustache and DS had managed to get it on the shirt but I daren't wash it because it was attached to the velvet cape.

Sounds good hula and it is your DD's party, afterall.

[Hulababy]

I'll be a wreck on the day! Why did I not just force her into soft play party instead. LOL!!!

[katzg]

want some extra hands to help?

i have the instructions for making a castle if you can face it

[Bozza]

You could put chocolate coins in the party bags.

[Gingerbear]

allkids might be useful for supplies?

[Gingerbear]

I can help out too.

[Hulababy]

You are a star Katz The castle sounds interesting! Got to be easy though!!! Reminds me we have a princess caraft book downstairs - DD got it for Christmas. Will hunt it out again. Make sure the date is in your diary - two princess invites will be heading your way

Thanks GB - will have a look!

[Hulababy]

Ah, GB - another star Hope you got my e-mail warning you of the date! I am going to suggest that chaperones can accompany their princes and princesses!

Got my mum, MIL and my sister coming over for defintite too.