No birthday cake allowed at party venue, how would you handle it?

[Familygal1]

I've booked a party for my almost 7yo for him
and 13 other chn. The venue does have party packages but, to keep costs low, we used their summer deal which made the 'party' half the cost. As a result though, we're not allowed the bring our own food inside the venue which rules out a birthday cake too.

I was planning to make a pull apart cake (cupcakes) so the venue wouldn't need to cut it and they could go straight into party bags to avoid being consumed on site, but it's still a no.

What would you do in this situation? Not sing happy birthday? Sing without a cake (somehow this feels odd)? Take the cake and sing outside of the venue - which is in a larger building so 'outside' is in an open space inside the main building but not the party venue?

In this case I’d just do a cake and singing at home. Just give the party bags out to end the party.

I'd have the cake in the party bags and just do singing and a few hip hip hoorays.
If they sell food just buy a brownie and whack a few candles on that.

Can you do singing happy birthday at the very beginning and then each child gives their presents to the birthday child?
Cupcakes go into the party bags.
added : you can also put a birthday badge on birthday child after signing.
And then they will go off.

Can you do cupcakes in the party bags to be consumed after the party and just sing happy birthday on the day? I don't like cake so have rarely had a full on affair with candles (even as a child) but I still get sung to every year! 🎂🎉🎁

How many pps can’t RTFT?! 😂
I’d cancel and book elsewhere, they’re being dicks. I’d also leave a review outlining what you have said here.

Cancel

Get some kind of 'Happy Birthday' table centrepiece and sing around that. What you need is a focal point - it doesn't have to be a cake.

Is there a park nearby where you could go afterwards for cake?

its not surprising that venues ban obvious party trappings outside of buying a party package. It is ultimately a business.

I'd cancel

If they allow outside food and cake when you are paying full price then that’s incredibly mean!

Personally I’d do it anyway. Forgiveness not permission and all that. Chances are the staff on the day will turn a blind eye or may not even be aware of the Ts&Cs.

If they ban outside food then presumably they supply food. Can't you pay them for a cake?

Can you ask to bring a cake to sing happy birthday on the condition it's not consumed on site? This was what we had to do at our last party

They only supply food for party bookings so
presu this is outsourced. The cake would need to be provided by the host in any case.

This is exactly what I did. It was a hard no.

For those saying cancel, it's too late to do this unfortunately.

I suppose we could sing at the beginning but it's more of a question as to where. The venue won't allow the cake on their premises so it's whether we do it just outside their building (but still inside the main building) or without a cake to avoid the issue altogether.

Well that's unreasonable. Maybe offer a token "corkage" fee for the extra clean up (even if nonexistent)?

I would just put cakes into party bags with a cone of sweets or something. You can sing with no cake. I can see why they are saying no as they are ultimately a business & that’s how they make money. Will you buy drinks & snacks for the kids at the venue?

Could you take them to McDonald after & do a cake there?

It does sound really mean not to allow cake ffs.
But I agree with previous posters have a single song at the start and put cupcakes in the party bags.
With a big FU to the venue.

X

Yes, I asked if I could use their dedicated 'party' area and pay extra to hire that. Again, it was a no! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Sometimes it's about allergen control. If you only allow food you supplied it means you can control the presence of eg nuts.

I wouldn’t do anything cakish or singing at the party and have a small cake and candles at home afterwards. So party bags would not have cake in.

Ehhhh... just take the cake.

Are they getting any food? Sing happy birthday at that point. Have cupcakes in the party bag.

Why are they 'being dicks'?
The op chose the cheaper offer to keep costs low. That means no food at all, including no cake. And she knew that when she booked.