Has anyone noticed this about Childrens birthday parties?

[monroecontrols]

More and more people are going 'extra'

So many people who a few years back now do.

Examples are...

Balloon arches
Donut walls
Flower background drops for pictures
Cakes that are personalised and 2/3 tiers
Themed characters coming to the party
Everything co-ordinating and matching

I have noticed this
I blame Instagram and Pinterest

Just don’t do it !! Drop off and run is so much better for everyone involved!!

So a donut wall is essentially a cake stand for doughnuts. In this case it's a board with wooden hooks, you hang the individual doughnuts up. I'm still no clearer as to the point.

£10.00 a board from Argos is one of the top suggestions.

We were at a party today. It did have a theme - superhero. This meant that the invitation was superhero themed, the cake was superhero themed and so were the plates and napkins. They also handed out some superhero masks for the kids to wear. The birthday boy was clearly superhero mad and loved it, so I don’t see the harm in that.

I think child focussed themes are different to adult colour schemes focussed on Instagram (albeit I don’t see the harm in that if people want to)

Definitely not seen any balloon arches, flower walls or donut walls yet. Yes to themes, character visits though. Most cakes I've seen have been parent or friend/family made.
DS's 4th birthday is next month & it'll be bug themed & will be in a village hall, food & cakes by me, nature/bug activities run by a friend & a few classic party games. Would have done a bouncy castle but DS isn't keen.

We must move in different circles, OP, as I haven't seen any of this at any kids parties. And almost all parties have been drop off, with the option of parents staying if they want to. (Usually it's the parents who have to get public transport who stay.)

@monroecontrols we live in Portugal. Parties here are next level ridiculous. Last party we went to had, and I kid you not:

Four professional cakes
Two or three balloon arches
About, I don't know, 50 or so pop-its around
A sweet stand
An old fashioned popcorn machine
Snow cones
A girl there doing crazy hair
A balloon artist / clown
Some lady doing a treasure hunt and tug of war and shit
Fully catered
Open bar- with decent booze

The irony is, it was at a sort of hotel lounge place, and the kids spent most of the time in the pool and on the playground!

It honestly would have cost a fair bit more than our wedding. The kid was 7.

That said... a donut wall... is that like... a wall of donuts? Do you need to have a party to get one?

Yes. It’s any excuse to get a venue dressing company out.

I went OTT for my sons birthday this year - his party was cancelled two years running - this was his first party that had gone ahead! I was just so excited to finally do one. I don’t have an instagram account, but I did get a fancy cake. I definitely recognise I went overboard. Though tbh no balloon arches just decs from Amazon. Just spent more than I really should have on the cake especially.

The fuck is a doughnut wall?!

I think its any celebration not just kids parties. Easter, Halloween etc all have decorations and themed foods in the supermarket. You can buy garden decor for a summer party, props and signs etc.
I made a great cake for my son recently, it was 2 tier chocolate cake decorated in buttercream, either side had an ice cream cone attached filled with coloured buttercream, sprinkles all over, massive lollipops and a plastic windmill stuck on top. It was so easy to do and the look on his face was amazing! They all loved it.

I just googled them. HAVE WE LEARNT NOTHING FROM COVID?!

Who wants a bunch of germ exposed stale doughnuts hanging on the wall, ready to be fondled by the public. Fucking madness.

Pretty standard round here. Although by no means expected. The last few have had optional outfit prompts for the party theme but also "gifts are unnecessary, child's name just wants you to come and have fun".

Yes I’ve done this for my DDs birthdays. It’s only once a year and I love all the planning. I know it’s extra but not really bothered. Once she’s old enough she can help to choose everything herself and it might not all be matching anymore. She will be too old for this at some point so I’m making the most of it.

There was a thread like this a few weeks ago and I must say the bitterness is as strong on this one! God forbid anyone wants to through their child a fabulous party! Surely they’re just doing it for likes? perhaps they just enjoy a good soirée ?
honestly people do things differently, just because you don’t want to/ can’t
live and let live

Don’t get so excited, with your attitude I doubt the invites to anything resembling fun are coming thick and fast.

I have personalised cakes as we have a local cake maker who is amazing. I also have everything matching but that’s purely because I have ocd and it bothers me if it’s not.

Is it really better for your kid who’s the only one whose parent didn’t stay?

I think the balloon arches started to be more of a thing in lockdown when people couldn't have an actual party but wanted to make it special. The characters have been a thing for a while. If it's your thing then do it, not your thing then don't.

I love seeing hoe people do clever themed parties and make amazing cakes - I really love the homemade stuff. It doesn't have to be thought of as tacky, you're doing something nice for your children.

I think the only danger is keeping up with the Joneses turning into debt.

This totally!!!

The amount of overblown kids parties I've taken my girls too always have massive statement cakes then hand out a bloody cupcake!

Not here,SE.
In fact parents seem to be doing smaller parties but more meaningful.
DD has been to pottery, a sleepover, wilderness experience eg making dens and fires, a movie night, also a sleepover.
DD has her birthday next month and it's an escape room for 5.

Cakes are normal, party bags seem to have changed to books, colouring etc with normal slice of cake and a few sweets.
Party bags tend to be brown paper with drawings and/or stickers

There was a very superficial woman on our local group, asking if anyone knew where she could hire an all-white bouncy castle from.....🫤🤦🏼‍♀️😳

It's the size of the cakes that amaze me. They are enormous!