5th Birthday Party

I've found an AWESOME idea for DD1's 5th birthday party in October, we promised her a party this year with her kinder friends but we also have quite a few close friends family with younger kids that are a given to invite.

At the moment it's looking like 20 - 25 kids (including my own)

Now the idea I've come up with is not close to home, it's actually about 40min away - closer to SIL and DP's family and about an hour shorter drive for my family.
I have text a few local friends who have advised travelling wouldn't be an issue for them.

Now this party would be expensive - at the moment it's looking like $300 PLUS catering BUT that is unlimited guests.



I've looked at the local play centres and realised I would be up for $300+ for about 20 kids and then add in platters for the parents so cost is going to be fairly on par.
If we were to have the party at home DP over caters and we would be looking at over $300 AND we would have to clean before and after.

So i'm wondering if you had the chance to give your LO a birthday they wont forget and will likely talk about for the next 50yrs at a slightly higher cost would you do it....
how much HAVE you spent on a birthday party (play centre - amount of kids) - I want to see if i'm working my figures out right in comparison.

Once I have a few answers I will give a bit more away about the idea.

For me, I don't really put a price on it. So for example, if we wanted to take DD1 on Puffing Billy with x amount of kids, the cost would be the cost and so be it ITMS. I would expect it to be more expensive to do that than do a BBQ at home.

If it's within your means, who cares? If that's what you want to do, go for it. I guess my only thing would be will she remember it and at 5, she certainly will.

YES I would, and I have!

One year I approached a (fairly local) historical trust homestead and asked whether their education team would come in on a Saturday and run games/activities for a small group of kids. They did, and we basically had the run of the house, complete with and activity-based tour and "old fashioned" games (knucklebones, quoits, sack races, etc). They had a (v. expensive) cafe on site, but I sweet-talked the owner into doing a basic spread of mini-pizzas, patty cakes and drinks for a song. In the end it came out near $300 for 12 kids (most of that was paying the education team), but my DH was away o/seas and I was pg with bad SPD and it was the middle of winter, so it really was a fantastic innovative solution because I couldn't have put on a party. I'm not sure DD fully appreciates the uniqueness of the experience, but I'm sure she will one day!

Yes I would do it! We just had dd's 6th birthday with about 20 kids with a fairy. It was about $350 once we hired her and had the food but it was worth it, she had all her prep friends and loved it. Not something I will do every year but it was fantastic as I could relax for once while all the kids had a ball.

Ok... So we have the chance to book a room at windy hill for 2hrs and have skeeta (the bombers mascot) come for an hour & do party games with the kids... It's $300 plus catering so could cost is about $500 by the time we do kids & adults.

The girls & dp along with SIL & FIL all barrack for the bombers along with about 50% of the kids invited.... Worth it?????

Wow that's awesome it's something all the family would remember.

Worth it!! I'm spending around the same amount at home for a 3rd birthday... So that's not an outrageous amount to me.
We're not doing anything special, that just what all the food tends to cost - we're Greek, enough said! Lol

If it is within your means then absolutely worth it. I think your idea is fantastic. Do it. The memories of the day will be bigger and remembered, not how much you spent on it.

Yep- I would do it. We spent $500 on my son's 5th birthday party.

I think $300 for what you're getting is great and completely not over the top, especially compared to how much you pay elsewhere anyway. And a 40min drive isn't that big a deal.

ETA: Just saw your post that you said about $500. Clearly I think that's worth it and I especially think the money matters less when the enjoyment is for the benefit of more than the birthday child, you know?

Winter parties in Melbourne are problematic unless you have a giant house! Any paid entertainment tend to be around $250 so you are getting entertainment, venue and food. Sounds good to me.

How lovely you want to do an unforgettable birthday. I am sure whatever you do will be great - and I wish I had that sort of money to give Liebs a huge party.

Just a quick Q: as your DD is only turning 5, she may well forget something like this. How would you feel if in a few years' time she couldn't remember her awesome party? I know my mother is upset I don't recall all the big parties she did for me when I was younger (earliest birthday party I remember is my 11th).

Definitely worth it. She'll love it!

Go for it!!!! I spent more than that in DD1 3rd birthday an that was at home!

Just a quick Q: as your DD is only turning 5, she may well forget something like this. How would you feel if in a few years' time she couldn't remember her awesome party? I know my mother is upset I don't recall all the big parties she did for me when I was younger (earliest birthday party I remember is my 11th).

I don't think I would mind, I'm living for now and I guess it's something she is right into & we would have a million pictures.

Like her birth (which clearly she won't remember) I'm going to drum into her just all the wonderful things DP & I have done for her including birth on a bathroom floor hahahaha!

If it's not going to leave you in financial dramas, go for it! Honestly, it's something she'll enjoy, she'll remember it for the forseeable future, and (sadly) she is Bombers mad so it's kinda a win win thing!

You've been to DD's parties - we probably nudge the $300 mark just for home parties once we factor in food and drinks (and awwwwwwwwwwesome cake lol) -

the reality is that it's what YOU want to do for your DD - don't let ANYONE tell you that it's too much or too exxy or whatever else. if it's in your means, if it feels right, do it!

Will be working on DP tonight - I honestly think he would love it too and wont take too much convincing... spoke to a mum at kinder today and for a party at the local PC she paid $400 for 15 kids for 1.5hrs - I think paying maybe $500 for 25 kids and close to 20 adults is quite a good deal.

you're looking maybe $10 to $12 per person for an "experience" sorta party - that's really good value hun

Money come and goes but memories are cherished forever!

I remember my 5th bday and that was 30 yrs ago lol.

DD's bdays tend to be around $800 and thats also at home but includes food alcohol jumping castle and presents for all her friends coz i love to spoil the kiddies.

My dh always spews when i tell him approx costs but it all disappears when he sees how much dd is loving it