Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Think I’ve made a mistake (DS party)

75 replies

Dobbythesock · 09/10/2022 17:29

I’ve organised a party for my son’s 4th birthday this coming weekend.
My problem is that I think I’ve invited too many children. I didn’t expect them all to accept, but they have! Only two people have cancelled.
So far there are 17 children going (18 including my son). They will all be there with adults/caregiver as they won’t be left due to their age.

The hall I’ve booked isn’t very big, I’ve hired a bouncy castle, which is going to take up most of the space. There will only be a small amount of room for tables and chairs and very little space for running around. I stupidly didn’t think this through at all. They’re all 3 and 4, so they’ll need lots of space to let off energy.
The party is 2 hours and I’m doing some food and the cake too of course, so that’ll take up 20-30 mins I guess.
I’m just really panicking about the space. The reason I booked this venue is because it was one of the cheaper options in the area, although in hindsight I should have gone for somewhere bigger.
I honestly didn’t expect all the parents to accept either 😭

OP posts:
NoDairyNoProblem · 09/10/2022 18:26

By my maths you have minimum 36 people coming - possibly 37 if you have a DH?

The hall will have maximum numbers for fire regulations - have you asked what that is?

Mummyoflittledragon · 09/10/2022 18:29

It isn’t ideal. Is the room even tall enough for the bouncy castle? Have you checked with the hire company? Do you have space to stack the tables to one side? If they don’t fold, you could end up needing to put them outside!

If all ok, I would put all the chairs around the edges of the hall and let the kids get on with it. I suggest you do food at the end on the floor and get some people to fold the castle in half so that the children don’t sit on it.

You can deflate to do party games if it gets too fractious. Musical bumps, musical statues and sleeping lions. Don’t do pass the parcel as suggested. All the kids expect to get a sweet and you can’t possibly ensure that happens with such a large group.

If all else fails, move the party to a different venue.

AloysiusBear · 09/10/2022 18:30

I wouldn't really describe a space that soze as a "hall"! Its not much bigger than a decent sized sifting room plus kitchen, is it a little scout hut or something?

Im sorry but you have far too many people.

AloysiusBear · 09/10/2022 18:31

Oh and you definitely can't have a bouncy castle with only 6 inches of clearance between it and the ceiling.

AloysiusBear · 09/10/2022 18:33

You can do pass the parcel but you need to split the kids into 3 groups with 6 children per group and 3 separate presents & 6 layers on each parcel.

Hugasauras · 09/10/2022 18:33

Do the bouncy castle people know the hall dimensions?

Original poster
Dobbythesock · 09/10/2022 18:33

It’s a bit late to move to a new venue unfortunately. I’ve already paid the balance , it’s not really an option.

We went to a party there before with the same size bouncy castle and it was fine, although a little cramped. There’s a reception area to set up tables for food etc so at least that’s one less thing to worry about. I think I will scrap having tables out and just leave that part with a few chairs then get the table out when it’s time for the food.

The bouncy castle has a height of 9.6ft and the hall is 10ft tall so it will fit height wise.

I’m just hoping there will be some drop outs on the day, as bad as it sounds!

The owner hasn’t given me a max number for people at the venue.

OP posts:
tickticksnooze · 09/10/2022 18:34

You're not the poster who was worrying a few weeks back that nobody would turn up, are you?

tickticksnooze · 09/10/2022 18:35

Just because I think this is a nice "problem" to have really!

Original poster
Dobbythesock · 09/10/2022 18:35

@Hugasauras yes, they’ve delivered a bouncy castle there before, more than once I believe. When I rang them they knew it and said it would fit. I have actually been to a party in that same hall with a bouncy castle and the same set up, which is what inspired me to book this one. Although in hindsight there were probably other places I could have chosen.
I guess because I’d seen it in action it seemed like a good idea.

OP posts:
tickticksnooze · 09/10/2022 18:36

We went to a party there before with the same size bouncy castle and it was fine, although a little cramped.

Why are you worrying yourself then?

Original poster
Dobbythesock · 09/10/2022 18:36

@tickticksnooze No, unfortunately not! I’m the other way 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Dobbythesock · 09/10/2022 18:37

@tickticksnooze
I feel like there may have been less kids / parents last time. Maybe not all came…this time seems most have accepted!

OP posts:
tickticksnooze · 09/10/2022 18:38

Honestly it sounds like it'll be fine and it's just your pre-party nerves latching on to things to worry about.

tickticksnooze · 09/10/2022 18:39

Some might be ill on the day or forget. I'm sure it'll be fine. Just noisy. 😁

Original poster
Dobbythesock · 09/10/2022 18:41

@AloysiusBear apparently you can, says this on their website dimensions for this castle:

Think I’ve made a mistake (DS party)
OP posts:
Beamur · 09/10/2022 18:41

Have food on blankets on the floor. Give the kids a plate and have a couple of trays of sandwiches/snacks. They won't eat much. Get a load of little boxed drinks.
Birthday cake goes in party bags to take home and signal that the party is over!

Original poster
Dobbythesock · 09/10/2022 18:42

Luckily there’s a separate area to put food out on a table and a few extra chairs.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dobbythesock · 09/10/2022 18:43

I’m conscious I need seats for the adults as there a couple of pregnant mums coming.

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 09/10/2022 18:48

If you put some seats and food and drinks for the adults in the reception area some will stay in there and go between the two rooms. Offer tea and coffee and just say hot drinks need to stay in that section.

I've found ordering a couple of XXL cheese and tomato pizzas to the venue from domino's to be a huge success for the parents whilst the children are doing the activity.

Original poster
Dobbythesock · 09/10/2022 18:51

Thanks for all your replies.
I’m just replicating what I saw at the previous party and the set up etc so I’m hoping that’s fine. Fingers crossed the owners say we can use the outside too. Although small, it’s something.

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 09/10/2022 18:51

Also, I found cutting up cake at a party really difficult, partly because I was trying to host too. In the end I started to buy the mini Colin the Caterpillar mini rolls for the party bags so they were all ready made up. That way the cake DD had spluttered all over blowing out the candles was eaten by family.

PinkPencilCase · 09/10/2022 18:52

Ok then it sounds like it could work if you've seen it set up before, I saw your measurements and thought 'eek!' before I read that.

Can you encourage a few parents to drop and run? At 4 some should be happy with that, although I appreciate not all. I think you need to aim to have as few parents and siblings as possible and all will be ok. Is there a pub or cafe nearby that you could suggest some of the adults wait at, explaining that you're a bit short on space? Even if some of them went for half an hour it would help.

Original poster
Dobbythesock · 09/10/2022 19:02

Its right in the centre of the town so lots of pubs and cafes nearby. I’m not sure how comfortable people will be leaving their children, but we’ll see.

I did mention no siblings previously, so hopefully that’ll be the case.

OP posts:
Bpdqueen · 09/10/2022 19:07

Do you need tables