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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask how much you pay for your children's birthday parties.

83 replies

Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 08/02/2019 19:53

I am looking at organising a party for my ds.
I am flabbergasted at some of the quotes I have been getting.
How much have you paid for a 2 hour party with entertainment?

OP posts:
hidinginthenightgarden · 08/02/2019 19:54

I would expect an hours entertainment to cost around £80.

bridgetreilly · 08/02/2019 19:54

How old is ds and what sort of party are you looking at?

I'd do party games and food at home, tbh. Hardly costs anything.

NCjustforthisthread · 08/02/2019 19:56

Depends - if you have a venue, with entertainer, decorations, food for adults and kids, drinks, cake etc. We pay £500.

Bibijayne · 08/02/2019 19:57

Have booked a church hall for DS's first. All day £20. Working out entertainment now. Will bake cake myself :)

Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 08/02/2019 19:57

He will be 6. He has asked for an entertainer.

OP posts:
NCjustforthisthread · 08/02/2019 19:57

^we’re in London if that’s relevant. Oh and party bags.

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 08/02/2019 19:58

How many children, the whole class? At least 400, closer to £500 depending on catering and activity - then there are gift bags

FiveRedBricks · 08/02/2019 19:58

Church hall. Entertainer. Huge bouncy castle. Buffet cooked in the church kitchen or brought in. Sorted.

valentinoandme · 08/02/2019 20:00

For entertainment including a bouncy castle for 1.5hrs, for 35 children - £220.

Venue £40.

Food was £40 (sandwich platters and snacks from Morrison's Food to Order).

Cake £25

BakerBear · 08/02/2019 20:00

Around £400

Marchitectmummy · 08/02/2019 20:03

500-600 depending on whether we hired a hall and did it ourselves or went for a complete package. I found doing it all ourselves worked out much more expensive than say a gymnastics party or jumping or whatever.

PlaymobilPirate · 08/02/2019 20:05

We had DS' 7th last week. A football party

£50 room hire at sports centre
£90 for footy coaches - they brought a massive cake, a football for DS and prizes for penalty shoot outs
£20 for party bag stuff
£20 for hot dogs, pizza, nibbles and juice

thefirst48 · 08/02/2019 20:06

My son is 8 soon and wanted a laser tag party. For 12 including food and party bags it's costing me £180. Need to add the cost on for a cake and maybe some more bits for the party bags.

daisypond · 08/02/2019 20:08

£80 for the entertainer - magician. Party was held at home. I baked the cake, provided party tea, balloons and organised games, etc. (I'm in London).

FredFlinstoneMadeOfBones · 08/02/2019 20:09

I paid about £180 for an entertainer for a bunch of 5 year olds. It was about 1.5 hours I thinkI had to pay for food and the hall too (although the village hall is very cheap). He was great and kept them well entertained. I know someone who paid over £400 for a pair of entertainers (dressed as characters from frozen). They weren't great with the kids and the kids ran riot!

FredFlinstoneMadeOfBones · 08/02/2019 20:13

Don't waste money on flashy party bags - my DS's best friend party bags were a big hit and his mum was on a tight budget she went for a book people bundle of lego books, a little "lego man" (not real lego bought from a bundle off amazon), some haribo or something and some other lego tat. Cheap slap bracelets have also been a popular one.

Dreamingofkfc · 08/02/2019 20:13

Depends on numbers. I think everything added together for a class party was about £300. Having my other sons at soft play, it's pay per head so less people but similar price but better for me as I don't have to do anything!

noenergy · 08/02/2019 20:17

About £250 for 20 kids. £200 for the party and the £50 on cake and party bags.

I wouldn't pay more than £10 per child

PrincessScarlett · 08/02/2019 20:21

I'm in South East and paid £160 for 90 min entertainer. Hall hire is between £20-40 plus food and party bags. I make the cake myself. So probably about £250 all in.

FlagFish · 08/02/2019 20:23

I’d expect it to be around £200 in total (including venue hire etc). I usually try to find another child with a birthday around the same date and ask their parents if they want to have a joint party. That halves the cost!

CherryPavlova · 08/02/2019 20:24

When they were tiny, not very much. We did our own entertainment but had use of very good facilities - private softplay, swimming pool, adventure playground etc. The Hall was free too. I always did the food and made the cake. Friends and their aunt helped with supervision. I have really happy memories of children jumping on giant bubble wrap and playing sleeping lions. Swimming for four year olds wasn’t our best idea though. I didn’t do party bags. I think they are tacky.

It became increasingly expensive up to their 21sts which were expensive but the culmination of their childhood and something we were happy to do. I’d definitely recommend cheaper whilst they are young and saving for their 21st so it’s a genuinely memorable occasion- we’ve still one to go next summer.

Ninoo25 · 08/02/2019 20:25

When my kids were in infants £400-£500 for a whole class party in a hall with food, entertainment and party bags. Slightly cheaper at £350-£400 for a trampolining party for around £20 where venue did everything for me including invitations and party bags.

The cheapest I’ve done was about £200 for 8 kids (much older) and was a cinema/pizza smiggle party bags party.

TheHobbitMum · 08/02/2019 20:25

In my area I've often had to pay upto £200 just for the entertainment for 2hrs. They have been extremely good though.

Ninoo25 · 08/02/2019 20:25

Oops meant £200 for trampoline party

Moonflower12 · 08/02/2019 20:26

We pay £80 for the Disco man who is amazing. He brings all the prizes and does a mini magic show while the children are eating. He does a 2 hour slot (1/2 an hour is the food bit) and does themed discos if wanted. We hire a local hall for 15 per hour and do a homemade buffet.