Food alone is so expensive! I initially didn't even want a party, but since its my first 2 kids, kill 2 birds w one stone, I may not have any more kids, we decided to throw one... We decided to get fancy cake, photographer, hired a person to put everything together... Ugh! I'm reaching my budget fast!
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Our initial budget was $500. But the venue was $260 (our apartment is not an option) and photographer is $130 so that was already reaching it. So DH took a few extra tutoring jobs and we increased the budget to $700-$800. We're doing well. DIYing a lot and making all the food ourself!
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I feel ya! Food, cake, etc - it's all adding up so fast! At first I was aiming for $1000 or less, but I think it's quickly getting up to $1500 :T
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We spent $3000! We invited 70 adults and 30 kids and had it at a restaurant. We ended up getting almost that amount back in cash (we have generous relatives) so we ended up even at the end.
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We won't do a really big party for LO, but will do something for her 1st. Since it'll be right before Christmas a lot of people may already have plans. We have a clubhouse at our apartment building that we can use for free. We'll do most of the food ourselves, DIY some decorations, maybe do the cake ourselves, just keep it fairly simple. We'd just invite family and maybe a few close friends.
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Luckily our area is a lot cheaper than a big city. We will have to rent a hall, but we will use the legion my FIL is a member of. Food we will do ourselves and I'll go all out with a cute cake and fun decor. I'm guessing $400-500 when all said and done. No photographer for us, we have several relatives with nice cameras.
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No idea but I'm sure I will spend more than DH would like.. hahaha..
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@banana: you kept the money, like party reimbursement?
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No party here. I plan to go all out for his 5th because he will remember it and he will have friends by then (from daycare or whatever...)
But for his 1st: We will do a very nice dinner with family either at home or a fancy restaurant. We'll probably rent the back room of an chic Middle-eastern restaurant we like, and just have cake!
So...$25 a head...maybe $400? plus cake and a birthday outfit for LO, myself and DH. I'd say $700 which we will definitely make back because Arabs tend to give monetary gifts rather than actual gifts (especially grandparents!) -
Wow, I had no idea people would spend so much on a first birthday!! I mean, I guess if you make it a big event and all?
While I want to throw a nice party for my future LO's first birthday, I doubt we'll spend even close to a grand! I would make the cake myself and DIY most of it like I did for our wedding and we probably would only invite close friends and family.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Oh, I meant we received cash from our relatives in the form of a gift (as opposed to toys/clothes,etc). We threw a pretty traditional Korean 1st year birthday party and most relatives/friends tend to give cash gifts. Party reimbursement...hmmm.. not a bad idea! jk!
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I think i spent less than $50 total on DD's two 1st birthday parties.
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Probably a few hundred dollars. We don't plan to do anything fancy, but I'm sure food and cake and beverages will cost at least that much for our family and close friends.
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Just over 500. Most of it was food. I have a really big family so get togethers usually have lots of food to purchase. I made everything from scratch and naught a few decorations. We didn't have a photographer or anything just a big family BBQ
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We had a decent sized party which ended up costing us a couple hundred dollars. Most of the cost was food.
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I think we'll probably aim to spend less than $250 and I'm budgeting most of that for food. I will DIY invitations, decorations, and the cake. Neither me or my husband had big parties growing up so I'd rather not get LO into the habit of expecting something huge every year.
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A little over $100. I had brunch for 25 people and that's where all my money was, I made all the food but still had to buy ingredients. I DIYed pretty much everything else.
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I have no idea at this point!
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I can't imagine spending more than $500 on a bday party. Hubs and I are both summer babies so we are used to a casual BBQ/pool party. So now that we have a Nov baby we'll have to think of what we'll do for her party since outside won't be an option!
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We spent 1800ish
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It will certainly be less than $500. We're just having some close friend and family over, no meal (snacks/cake/punch). I've orderd a cute little cake for her and cupcakes for the guests and I'm tossing around hiring a photog but I'm not sure if I'll do that....
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We spent a little less than $1000... but first birthdays are a huge huge deal in Korean culture. Over half of that money went to the food and cake. We might've overdid it with the food though because we had leftovers that lasted us for days! The rest went to decorations and photography. We had about 60 guests and had the party at home so didn't pay a venue fee.
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DS's first birthday was super simple since we had just moved and didn't know many people. We only spent around $20 on his birthday not including presents.
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We spent about $350 for everything, and that's for 40 guests. I got most of the supplies at the dollar store, and I made the cake and cupcakes. We had the party at 2pm, so we didn't have to provide a whole lot to eat. We set up a fruit tray and a chili bar, and had hot dogs, fritos and all the fix'ins so everyone could make chili cheese dogs and frito pies if they wanted to.
Supplies/Decor: $150
Food/Candy Bar: $50
Beer/Wine: $50
Bouncy House Rental: $100 -
Ugh, I think my budget of 5k is too high now! But I have no real room to cut...
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Maybe 100 bucks max. We're not into big first birthdays. DD's third birthday this year will be much bigger, though, since she has specific requests.
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@tequiero21: 5k
tell us more details.
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I'm not sure yet. I plan on getting the decor at dollar tree and having friends over for snacks and maybe do a simple chicken taco bar! Our complex had a clubhouse we can use for free.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: lol. so far:
food: this is the main variable, depending on how many people come but looks like a lot of places range from $45-60 pp for LUNCH! what's up with that? so as of right now, food will probably be around $1,500 - $2,000
planner: $1,500. yeah i know. i'm just too busy to plan a party. so while i really didn't want to go this route, i did. it includes decorations, dduk (korean rice cakes), her planning, setup, etc.
cake & cupcakes: $400. i know, who the hell pays that much for a 2-tier cake and 6 cupcakes. but the girl is an artist and man, her cakes look good and taste good. plus the planner wants this to be the centerpiece for the main table.
photography: $700. i've seen her work, and she's fantastic. i hate spending money on professional pics, but i skimped out on my wedding and wasn't 100% happy with them. i didn't take any newborn pics or maternity pics, which i do sorta regret... i want some nice pics!
and i know there's tip and tax and what not... ugh. i'm just so busy taking care of twins myself. i wish i started earlier to plan on my own but i didn't get any sleep, no way could i plan a party.
i'm very jealous of everyone who planned it under $500.
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@banana: that's amazing about your relatives! Yay for your LO's college fund!
I have just started thinking about this... I can't believe how fast it all adds up! We will hopefully be able to DIY a lot and keep the budget around $500 -
@tequiero21: I don't know... I know you're overwhelmed, but I would tell your planner to find a cheaper baker. That sounds a little high...also, your planner is probably charging you more for all of that stuff and taking a cut. I work with wedding planners, and if they hire all your vendors, it's what they do. I'd maybe check on those prices...the food sounds about right for a high-end venue (like a Four Seasons Hotel, where I work) but even your photog sounds a little high. I know you want nice pictures and I know you don't have the time to shop around, but maybe ask around (Facebook blast maybe?) to see if anyone can recommend someone more reasonable.
Otherwise, just sit back and enjoy, because it sounds like it will be a fabulous party! -
Just had the party - final tally was $1800 for 80 guests. Totally went over my $1000 budget (food alone was a g!).
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We spent just under $400 for a party held at a Gymboree Play & Music for 17 kiddos and 38 adults. I caught an amazing sale at Michaels and DIY'd her birthday banner (Silhouette Cameo ftw!), party favor bags, cupcake banners, cupcakes (for guests) and DD's birthday cake. My brother helped me pick up food from a local take out that has great food.
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$1000 - just because we are hiring a photographer and she gave us a great discount rate for $500 because we've used her for several sessions.
I'm making all the food, holding it at MILs house, baking my own cake and doing most of decorations myself! That's why I've already started 2 months ahead of time. For about 30-35 adults
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1 st daughter- party with grandparents and homemade cake. Probably cost $20 for dinner and $10 for cake.
2nd daughter- $100 for lunch for 6 adults and 2 kids, $40 for cake and smash cake. Then second party, just a simple homemade cake (and a trip to Hawaii!)
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We had it at our house and did everything ourselves except the invitations and a photographer, so it was just under $400. I thought it was pretty reasonable.
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less than $500, we got more than that back in gift cards...not that it matters but it really helped.
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