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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not do party bags?

60 replies

curiousgeorgie · 18/05/2014 18:26

My DD2 is turning 1 next month and we've been planning a massive party for her. It's been a lot of planning and a lot of work. 60 - 70 people, marquee, face painter, magician, bouncy castle and I've put a lot of time and effort into the theme and decorations.

I'm thinking about party bags and all the children are different ages, it varies wildly between newborn and teenagers... So all the bags would have to be different. It feels like a total pain in the arse, wibu to just buy the beautiful carriage cake boxes I've seen Wink and not do bags?

OP posts:
BritInTDot · 18/05/2014 20:01

I don't do party bags, but I always have something to give away at the end. At one party for DD1 it was a photograph we took in a themed corner I had set up (Hawaiian themed), with a piece of cake and a balloon, at her most recent party (9th) it was T-shirts we'd made with guitar silhouettes spray bleached on (rock star theme) with VIP lanyards we also made, along with a cupcake. I love going to a big effort for a party, but I do think that for a first birthday that sounds like a lot! If you have gone to all that trouble I don't think it's much to at least give a balloon on a stick and a piece of cake to the younger ones.

Redtartanshoes · 18/05/2014 20:01

What about those cellophane bags with all the ingredients for cookies/hot chocolate or cupcakes?

Or a cellophane bag with sweets in and tied with ribbon?

The book people are good for box sets of books

Original poster
curiousgeorgie · 18/05/2014 20:03

I don't think I'm doing helium anyway, I've got bunting and about 100 Pom Pom flowers to string on fishing wire high across the garden, and I've made bead garlands to go from pole to pole in the marquee...

OP posts:
Bearbehind · 18/05/2014 20:06

Do you really want advice on party bags or is this just a stealth boast.......?

gamerchick · 18/05/2014 20:07

Not the helium thing again.. its not the same bloody helium.. its the waste product that goes into balloons.

Party bags are to signify the end of a kids party but the doesn't sound as if that's what you're doing.

Whitewhine · 18/05/2014 20:11

Sweetie cones - cellophane cones, tied with ribbon and filled with marshmallows, Haribo etc. buy the bags, ribbon from Ebay and pound shops for the sweets. I made 30 of them for £23 and they are suitable for all ages. Job done.

Whitewhine · 18/05/2014 20:12

X-post! Sorry

Original poster
curiousgeorgie · 18/05/2014 20:13

Sweetie cones is a good idea, thanks. I'll look on eBay now Smile

OP posts:
Stripyhoglets · 18/05/2014 20:14

Just do the cake and hand out a pack of sweets and a balloon to the kids at the end. As long as they go home clutching some thing they should be fine!

Original poster
curiousgeorgie · 18/05/2014 20:21

Gamer chick is that true??

I looked into helium but it was £85 to hire a cannister, compared to £55 for a party we had in October.

They told me it was because the cost of helium is rising as it runs out? Shock (And I believed them!)

OP posts:
manicinsomniac · 18/05/2014 20:30

curiousgerogie - well, if Helium is running out then it makes sense that the waste product is also running out, surely? And it explains the rise in price but doesn't mean you shouldn't use them if you want to/can afford to.

ziggiestardust · 18/05/2014 20:31

I think they're handy to signify the end of the party to shift people along in case you're providing too much of a lovely time Wink

For DS' Christening party, I did a helium balloon (I know, but I didn't know until I came on here) weighted down by a mini bucket of dolly mixture. Everyone oohed and ahhed over them and they probably cost about £15 for all of them, and there were a lot of kids there.

soverylucky · 18/05/2014 20:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

snakeandpygmy · 18/05/2014 20:48

I'm going to go against the general flow here. I never did party bags for my kids and never had any kids ask for them. They got cake and that was it. I always hated the general cheap tat that is given out in them, they didn't want or need it and it was always discarded after about two minutes if it ever even made it out of the bag.

AlpacaYourThings · 18/05/2014 20:49

Whitewhine's suggestion of sweetie cones is brilliant. Perfect for all ages.

Original poster
curiousgeorgie · 18/05/2014 20:56

I've been on amazon and ordered cellophane cones and ribbon... It's a great idea, I'm going to do it, thanks!

OP posts:
gamerchick · 18/05/2014 21:05

The helium used in balloons Is fit for use nowhere else. Least of all mri scanners.

Whitewhine · 18/05/2014 21:11

They went down a treat at DS party last week and I'm assured there was no waste!

candycoatedwaterdrops · 18/05/2014 21:19

Lots of detail on here that you managed to slip in. Wink IMO, you do need some kind of party bag if you're throwing such a fancy party. People will expect it.

Suttonmum1 · 18/05/2014 21:31

How about making tags saying something along the lines of 'Thanks for coming and thanks for all the lovely presents' and attach to the sweetie cones.

Bearbehind · 18/05/2014 21:41

How about making tags saying something along the lines of 'Thanks for coming and thanks for all the lovely presents' and attach to the sweetie cones.

Please say that was meant ironically Hmm

Thanks for coming- fine- but thanks for all the lovely presents- grabby and assumptive.

Chocolateisa7adayfood · 18/05/2014 22:24

The more lavish the party, the more people seem to expect party bags or a going home present. I think with a party on such a grand scale your guests shouldn't go home empty handed.

wobblyweebles · 18/05/2014 22:37

I never do party bags. It's never caused any kind of problem.

snakeandpygmy · 19/05/2014 10:00

I'm a bit confused gamerchick, surely helium is helium. It's an element. Do you mean it is mixed with other stuff? It's too difficult to extract? Or is it a different isotope? Can you provide some info please... genuinely interested.