https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:16:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party/page/2#post-2263987 Fri, 14 Aug 2015 20:10:22 +0000 Mae 2263987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure. Probably around $100 but I voted 100-500 because it was probably just over. It was at our house, I bought/made all the food (it was just a hot dog bar, fruit and veggies, and chips/dip) and the cupcakes/smash cake. But I had some alcohol there, plus maybe $30 in decor. So I'm assuming it was probably somewhere in the 100-150 range all said and done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party/page/2#post-2263961 Fri, 14 Aug 2015 19:26:58 +0000 sera_87 2263961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had grandparents over who paid for the pizza, I think we just had to buy extra eggs &amp; cocoa powder for the cake, and I blew up balloons to tie to each boys chair that we already owned. </p> <p>so I'm saying 10$, and if we had had to pay for the pizza it would have been 50$. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party/page/2#post-2263789 Fri, 14 Aug 2015 15:01:52 +0000 daniellemybelle 2263789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went a little crazy. I won't say how much we spent but it was a lot. We had about 50 people and we had BBQ catered and a professional photographer. I wanted to have a really special party with everyone that loves her and capture the memories. The year had been a roller coaster for us and our family and it was just a great day. No regrets!</p> <p>Funnily enough my MIL thought I didn't decorate enough and bought some extra things :silly: </p> <p>We will NOT be going all out for LO's 2nd birthday! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party/page/2#post-2262748 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 14:39:55 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2262748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe $150...BUT my best friend bought the cupcakes and my mom paid for about half the decor...otherwise it probably would have been closer to $250 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party/page/2#post-2262696 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 14:21:13 +0000 birdofafeather 2262696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We rented a room at the community center, did DIY decorations and favors and SIL did food for about 50 people with kids. I think it was about $400-500 but I didn't keep track since I don't know what SIL spent. We couldn't have alcohol there so that saved us a lot! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party/page/2#post-2262625 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 13:42:11 +0000 illumina 2262625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>£100 for ~20 people at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262624 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 13:41:40 +0000 Applesandbananas 2262624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had it at a kids' place. I think it was ~$200 for 10 kids and included admission and decorations, plus paper plates and forks for cake. </p> <p>We could buy pizzas for like $10 each, so we bought a few and brought some sodas and water, plus the cake. </p> <p>Maybe $300 total? It was kind of pricey but I wanted to do something LO would enjoy and I didn't have any desire to host at my house with an early spring baby! The weather is too unpredictable that time of year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262579 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 13:24:03 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2262579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Way too much for my DD1's first birthday, so I learned my lesson and knew how to cut corners when it came to budget for my DD2's first birthday. Both were equally nice, but I feel like I had a better idea of what I was doing the second time around, and what was really needed in terms of food and decor. I busted my ass and stressed myself out way too much for DD1's birthday (like putting fresh floral bouquet centerpieces on every single guest table), and I wasn't going to do that again! DD1's party cost was probably in the third category, and DD2's party cost was probably in the second category. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262559 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 13:07:22 +0000 BandDmommy 2262559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: We had 2 kegs at B's 1st birthday. We had the party at our house. I am not having the party at our house this year. I'm anti house parties because I don't like the mess. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262540 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 12:51:14 +0000 renee 2262540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is still about 5 months old, but I don't plan on having a huge party. It'll probably just be a small family gathering. I love baking, so I will always make my son's bday cakes, and my husband loves cooking so he'll probably make something. Once my LO is older we'll have bigger parties, since he'll have friends, but for now it'll be just a small family gathering. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262534 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 12:45:11 +0000 mauxie 2262534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was a lot... invites, food, cake/sweets, table setup/decor, favors, entertainment, photog, venue, etc.. but I'm Korean and the 1st birthday is akin to a quinceanera. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262507 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 12:20:05 +0000 sunny 2262507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think around $200-250 for 50 people? I don't remember exactly but we ordered large party trays from a Chinese restaurant which kept our lunch costs pretty low. I also picked up tons of snacks/appetizers from Costco. I didn't spend much on decorations and we didn't hire any entertainment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262494 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 12:01:19 +0000 runnerd 2262494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably less than $200, but 75% was food and cake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262492 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:58:40 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2262492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you count in the cost of invitations, I'd say about $200. We had it at our house with us picking up catering at Wegman's, so it wasn't outrageous. The food was the most expensive part, but it was worth it for me to not have to worry about cooking...especially since I had surgery earlier in the week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262489 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:52:21 +0000 Smurfette 2262489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had 40ish people. I made all the decorations, bought a cake for $25 from Costco, but I still probably spent $500-$600. It was a lot of food, all snack stuff for a 3pm party. But beer was the biggest expense. My family likes to eat and drink. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262488 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:51:20 +0000 autumnleaves 2262488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO's 1st birthday is coming up in a few weeks and since our families are unable to come and celebrate, we are keeping it simple and celebrating at a local donut shop - his first cake will be a donut. We've gotten him a few gifts but we're keeping the celebration simple. Our pediatrician actually told us not to throw a party and just go out to celebrate making it through the first year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262474 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:30:33 +0000 Anagram 2262474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe around $200-$300? We just had extended family and used the community room in my in-laws condo building. MIL and SIl made most of the food and we picked up some other foods from a local catering place. SIL made the cake. DH took photos, and I bought the decor at dollar stores and online. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262473 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:29:49 +0000 MOMTOLITTLEB 2262473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To be honest, I didn't set or stick to any kind of budget but it was a fairly simple party. We got most of the food from Wegmans so it was good and simple. We rented a space so that was an expense but a necessary one. We decorated but nothing crazy. We invited about 100 people so that was kind of crazy. I think 70 came. I just wanted to make sure everyone was well-fed and I think they were. His next party will be much smaller but I'll probably do something. His birthday is around Thanksgiving so we usually have family in town. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262450 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:14:54 +0000 BKCaribBaby 2262450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was just me, DH, my mother and her nanny in our apartment. My mother made a cake. We had a few balloons. Definitely less than $100. We had a bigger 2 birthday party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262448 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:13:06 +0000 HabesBabe 2262448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had it at our house with around 40 guests, but we had to rent a bunch of stuff (canopy, tables, chairs, bounce house) and we did a full meal for everyone. Plus cake (local grocery store), booze for the adults, pinata, invites/postage/thank you cards, etc. I think we were between $501-$600.</p> <p>For C, I hired a new photographer to take candids during the party so I wouldn't have to worry about it. My good friend took photos for H's party, so we spent that extra $50 on a face painter for an hour for the kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262443 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 11:10:20 +0000 futuremama 2262443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Try Costco for the cake. Their sheet cakes are delicious and so cheap. </p> <p>We spent about $350.<br /> Invites: $25<br /> Lunch: $150 (pizza and salad from a local place)<br /> Dessert: $75ish. cake pops, made a small cake, had some Buckeyes and other dips too<br /> Decorations, outfit, random crap that I didn't need: $100 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262430 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:52:12 +0000 looch 2262430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a party at home, about 30 people. My biggest expense was the cake, at $175. I think all in, we probably spent about $500. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262423 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:42:04 +0000 winniebee 2262423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm guessing around $600 but I didn't pay close attention. My guess is $150 on beverages (beer/wine/etc), $300 on food, $150 on party favors, decor, miscellaneous. My MIL and SIL always make a fancy cake (think Martha Stewart) or cupcakes. We have it at our house and there's usually around 30 ppl. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262412 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:24:20 +0000 catomd00 2262412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was $1000 just for food. She's a winter baby so we rented a private room in a moderately priced restaurant. This was for $25 people. It included an appetizer, main course and desert. I only did a smash cake for DD. I probably spent another $500 for decor, favors, invitations, her outfit, etc. I tried to use stuff I had at home where I could like frames and prints from her nursery that matched the theme.<br /> Sadly,it fell on the day we had our one and only storm so some people couldn't make it and I just worried about everyone else traveling to and from the rest of the time! It was still worth it though ! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262393 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:05:28 +0000 rattles 2262393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We spent $200 for 25 people. I ordered invites, and made the decorations, food and cake. That also includes activities and favors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262390 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 10:03:39 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2262390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Too much both times! We had about 50 people at each party and this is a rough breakdown of the costs. </p> <p>$ 90 - Bouncy house for the older kids (all day)<br /> $100 - Wine/Beer/other non-alcoholic beverages<br /> $100 - chili bar and other snacks that went with the theme $ 30 - cake/cupcakes<br /> $125 - decorations and other party supplies<br /> $ 50 - favors </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262384 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:57:32 +0000 avivoca 2262384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I'd say there were between 15 and 20 people. The food was sandwiches, hummus, cake, fruit salad, and chips. I bought lunch meat from the deli and plain bread (the kind I get is usually 2 for $4). The cake wasn't too expensive, maybe $40? We didn't do sodas. I always have tea on hand for iced tea (I buy the big box of Lipton), so a lot of stuff we already had and didn't buy specifically for the party. It was so cold and windy that day that we stayed inside. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262383 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:56:20 +0000 .twist. 2262383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>hmmm. Probably between $50 - $75. </p> <p>Cheap/DIY decorations, made the food/cake, used my own camera, dollar store party bags. It was a fantastic day!</p> <p>ETA: approx. 30 peeps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262380 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:54:11 +0000 Alivoo01 2262380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want to say around $500? His cake alone was already $100 something and we had over 100 people at the house! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/cost-of-1st-birthday-party#post-2262379 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:53:40 +0000 Mrs D 2262379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didnt keep close track but for 30ish guests I prob spend $250ish...with $75 being diy decor and the rest food and beverages. I made all the food myself. </p>