Cost of birthday party for 4 yr old - what is reasonable?

[Eowyn]

I'm really stuck with this. My dd is 4 on Easter weekend.
In the past we've just had a couple of girls round to play but now she's got a few more friends at pre-school & I'm not sure about just having something round the house, it isn't v big & she wants 3 boys, which might just mean they won't be sitting around playing nicely with dolls...

So...we've just been to a party in a soft play area which was nice but i don't particularly want to go to same place, also she got all clingy initially so maybe not ideal (tho dying to go back by end).
She loves bouncy castles so I've been investigating, best one at sports centre is £6 a head for min 8 but it's closed thru April, another is only open at the weekend. But found one which can do it in the week before, but they want £69 as it's for a min of 10. This seems like such a lot of money to me tho cost per head is ok, just we were only going to have 7 max so rest would be not such good friends, also I'm worried they'll all be away that week. But hard to ask everyone whilst standing outside pre-school as not everyone being asked.

Do you think I should just go for it, that it seems reasonable? 1 hr on bouncy castle then food.

sorry to go on & on but I'm worrying all the time about this..

tigermoth, some of the girls in DS2's class had a joint party this year in the church hall - I think there were 5 of them - the invitation said to bring one present, and they would have a lucky dip of them - seemed fair!

Lucky you couldn't make yours.

charlize, 11-1 with food from 12.30-1 sounds ideal for 4-yr-olds. They won't be tired and they will be hungry!

Must be lots of April 10th birthdays, my DS will be 3 that day - he had a joint party on Tues with 4 friends and loved it. It certainly spread the cost and effort involved - different mums were responsible for activities, food, party bags etc. Hadn't really thought about the present implications for guests before hand - in fact as it wasn't actually his birthday hadn't thought about presents at all and he got loads, I like the idea of a lucky dip for the future.

Thanks everyone, charlize you are brave! Unfortunately the children she's friendliest with had birthdays last year, she wasn't invited to anything but then again has only been going there 3 days since Jan & getting to know them better. I don't know anyone very well either, they all seem to know each other better & I'm rushing off to work on 2 of the days which means less socialising.

Think i will try to ask as many as i can if they can make it that week tomorrow, if they are vague i'll put it off. When I suggested that to dd she got a bit sad, but it won't make much difference in the long run. Feel like getting it over with now so I can stop thinking about it...

Well I think people woul dbe able to go, unless they are away, why would they forget a party if they have responded.

Just to give you an idea on what I am doing this w/e for my kids (5 today and 3 last week) We have hired the village hall £25, and are having about 25 kids. I have spent about £30 on decorations, special food boxes (they wanted boats) and balloons. £15 - £20 on party bags presents and sweets ! £26 on costumes for my 2 (well the host has to have the best mermaid costumes ) Also about £20 on food including icing for the cake!!

They went to apary last w/e which cost £120 for a DJ for 2 hrs - this was for a 5th b'day party and they also had the hall and food and party bags to pay for I thought that was a lot.

Well, just in case anyone is interested I will tell you about my rollercoaster day...
managed to ask most parents if they could make a party on 8th & they all said yes. So pleased, we went off to book it, only to be told they don't do bouncy castles or any parties mid-week, only weekends. Most apologetic but didn't help much.

I felt awful, dd was saying "It doesn't have to be a bouncy castle mummy" (had rather thought it did have to be) - anyway, we drove around & visited a couple of soft play areas & one had the day free so it is booked thank goodness.

Annoying thing is, apart from general incompetance of sports centre, as it had to be for min of 10 there I had asked 3 kids I wouldn't have ideally, so will end up paying loads anyway.
Anyway, no more worries, but thought I'd vent that here for my own sanity if nothing else.