Best party option?

[Mummyof287]

DD has missed having a party for 2 years due to covid (her birthday is end of March) so really want to do her a good one this year when she turns 5, especially as she has started school now and is at a perfect age for it.

I'm a big fan of organising celebrations and put alot of effort into doing her 1st and 2nd parties.But it was ALOT of work, and I did feel like I was rushing round sorting everything out so didn't really get to enjoy it properly with DD or talk to anyone for long.Also I now have a 12wk old to look after so have to bear that in mind.

I like the idea of paying for a party somewhere like a soft play or play town in that they do all the food, tidying up etc, but also a part of me finds it all abit 'run of the mill' more like a normal day out or playdate rather than a party, and (unless it's exclusive hire) quite impersonal.Also the 'pay per child' policy would likely make it pretty expensive, as we would want to invite at least 15 children.

I guess I just have such fond memories of having or attending more traditional parties as a child with party games, an entertainer, party food, disco etc, and want to recreate that for DD, although obviously as she is getting older her own preferences do have to be considered too now! She keeps changing her mind about what she might like but think she would be happy with anything really as long as she gets a party of some sort.

Our house is too small to host a party in (especially as it won't be good enough weather to use garden much) and she has had to spend her past 2 years of birthdays at home under lockdowns anyway,so wouldn't want it there even if we could!

Any good ideas how I could still do a more traditional 'Village hall' party but reduce the amount of work, and ideally the expense too?! Or am I being un-realistic and should just pay for somewhere, take a cake and get over my reservations/ personal ideals?!

Thanks

I think if you want to do games, bouncy castle and food (always the time consuming bit) you are either going to have to put the time in or pay for someone else to spend their time doing it.

I would say either do an at home party with 6 children or do a whole class party.

We’ve always done soft play parties and they’ve been lovely. With the exclusive hire it does feel more special.

But if you don’t want to do that, a village hall with an entertainer, maybe a bouncy castle if there’s room and some party food is lovely too. We went to one like this at the weekend, they had a lady doing party games and dancing and the birthday girl’s family all helped out with the buffet. You can get it catered but again that raises the cost and probably ends up being the same as the playgym option.

The play centre near me does loads of party packages. So one is where they get play time plus a traditional half hour of party games or half hour of disco. Or they have character meets so my dd had a princess party with Elsa and Anna- they played games, danced, photos with the characters. Plus party food, cake and soft play. Zero organising from me and stress free. Was a bit pricy though. Think it was £12.99 pp minimum 10 kids. But I doubt you'd get a church hall, food, bouncy castle and entertainer for much less.

I think if you have the right entertainer, they will take care of the whole party, then just buy in the food - either a load of happy meals pizzas or platters from supermarkets. Or pre make lunch boxes for each child?