Party for 4 year old - budget and size

[AleenaM]

Need some suggestions on what options for a bday as I feel I'm over analysing.

Party for a 4year old who got invited to loads of nursery parties in the last year and loads of parties of my friends from when he was a baby. So I feel I have to reciprocate and invite all these people, and 4year old really wants a party too. Now weirdly the friends he actually likes/cares about aren't exactly the ones he was invited to their birthdays, so the number of children is maybe 20 to 30 all in all.

Bday is end of March but could hold it up to 2 weeks later so into mid April.

Partner insists that we try and get away with an outdoor party in the garden at home with bouncy castle, due to costs and as they prefer a longer more relaxed party where we can chat a little to the other parents. We have done this before for our other child but in mid September and have been lucky with the weather and been able to have a few adult friends too, but unsure about end of March/begging of April. If I have to fit 20-30 kids inside it won't end up well and all stories I heard included the kids raiding evert cupboard and jumping on all beds.

One option could be invite nursery friends in the AM, other friends in the PM? Or will we just be knackered!

The other option is village/church hall where the cost would be £150 to £200 just for hire & bouncy castle. This is before party food and party bags, although previously I managed to do ok with these on a good budget. Attended a bday for 4y this month and cost was about £500, are we unreasonable to think this is such an expensive habit to start creating with two children, that money could be used on a holiday for example, which we don't indulge in.

Is there anyway to have a hall bday with no bouncy castle/inflatable? I am saying this not due to cost only but some can be so noisy. But similarly I don't think kids would be entertained easily.

Another option would a local play centre where I can have exclusive use for about £200 with snacks, I bring a cake, but it's rather small and only for about 16kids 16 adults which means I'd have to choose carefully who to invite. As said above, we do like to socialize on these bdays with other parents and get to know them, so this option would be purely for little ones fun.

Any thoughts helpful, thanks!

Do you have any local companies that go to your house with their events?

Hm doubt it, never heard of this, do they set up indoor? What would they offer? I probably cannot accommodate 20-30 kids and parents inside though

If you have FB I would do a search for party planners, event planners ect. Where I live they have lots of companies that supply the entertainment at peoples homes /gardens ranging from sports day themes, magicians, inflatable fun day, superheros/princess theme activities ect.

To be honest though a bit of music and some activity corners along with pass the parcel ect would keep the children happy

I think you have to ask yourselves if you could comfortably host the party inside if the weather's bad. If the answer is no then a venue would be more sensible. Personally I would go with the play centre and look to cut down numbers and I know this is never easy..

Thank you all, I have booked a hall although it ended up being much sooner so now I feel a bit worried about the 2weeks notice. Booked a bouncy castle too, total cost so far for hall and castle is £145 so I am hoping not to touch anywhere near £500. If I invite 30children how many would I expect to turn up ? Could possible invite more and would want too but feel a bit worried about all of them together if all are able to attend.

I would suggest getting entertainers as they come with different activities that can engage the children over a bouncy castle where they can tend to get board and is costly. What area are you based in I used a really good one based in southeast London early this month ad they were very good
their website was www.delinaparties.com if you are interested i think