If you host a birthday party at your house, you have to clean. Before AND after the party! This is a HUGE deterrent for me, so I always try to have my kids’ parties at an alternate location. But how do you choose between all the places to have a birthday party? How do you know which will be the right one for you?
The price range and services at these birthday party places vary widely, and it can get confusing. Here’s what you need to consider.
Check out our review of birthday parties at Thundrdome Calgary.
Does the birthday party place reflect your child’s likes and dislikes?
With so many birthday party venues available, it makes sense to pick one that perfectly suits your child. If they love to cook? Consider a cooking party venue. If they are super active? Consider one of my Active Kids Birthday Party Ideas in Calgary. Is your child a budding Picasso? Throw them an art party!
Does the cost reflect the services offered at each of the birthday party places?
You may get sticker shock from the priciest parties, but they usually include everything: games, snacks, cake, loot bags, decorations, AND staff members to control everything for you. You spend more money on these parties, but you save yourself the time and stress of preparing everything. Less expensive parties save you money, but you end up doing more legwork beforehand. You also often end up spending additional money, just not at the venue itself. How much is your time worth to you? Do you have the time in your day to do the work? Will you end up spending that money anyway on things like loot bags?
What’s included in the birthday party package cost?
Every venue’s party package is a little different, so make sure you read the fine print to see what exactly is and is not included. Will food cost you extra? Does the venue provide decorations, or should you bring some?
Think about how many kids you’ll have at the party because this will affect the price. Most venues have a maximum number of guests, and you’ll get charged extra for any additional kids.
Some venues also offer special bonuses, like a t-shirt for the birthday child, or coupons for your next visit. If your party venue is a family favourite, these bonuses may save you money later on.
Do they staff your party?
Parties that include staff members are usually pricier. However, this is worthwhile if you can afford it. I’ve hosted parties where I end up running around entertaining all the guests instead of enjoying the festivities with the birthday child. If someone else is entertaining the kids and moving the party along, you can relax and take photos! It’s so helpful to have someone else watching the clock, serving the cake and making sure all the kids stay together.
What part of party planning do you hate?
What part of birthday party planning do you dread? If you hate making loot bags, make sure your venue provides them. Not a baker? Pick a place that offers cake as part of their party package. If you’re going to pay someone else to handle certain aspects of your child’s party, make sure they will take care of the parts you dislike!
Yes, you can always order a cake from a bakery or put together your own loot bags but if you HATE it, better to let your venue do it for you.
If you live in Calgary, you’ve got a great head-start on choosing a venue! I have a complete list of EVERY kids’ party venue in Calgary, right here!
If you decide you are going to host a party at home, after all, check out our Calgary Birthday Party Rentals & Parties that Come to You.
Moira Blythe says
I love planning parties for my children and all of my friends’ children! I love what you say here though about considering what you dread with party-planning in choosing a party venue, because even I have things that I dislike about the process! I usually get stuck doing all of the planning, so I’ll have to take a look to see what venues will help with that.