Ladies please help me decide - location for 2nd birthday party

skibunny59 · February 2014

DD is turning 2 next month. I can't decide between having her party at home or rent a room in a nearby church. Last year we had her party at home and it was a little chaotic. We had almost 40 adults (close friends and family) and 8 kids/babies in our house. My family is big and loud so it was overwhelming. This year we are expecting a smaller crowd 20 adults (give or take a few) and 5 kids/babies. The rental fee for the space is $175. Part of me wants to have it at home and save the money but the other part of me feels if we have it at a place:

1. I don't have to rearrange the furniture in my house and set out tables/chairs to accommodate everyone.

2. When the party is over it's over. I won't have people hanging around my house and overstaying their welcome.

3. The church is literally 3 minutes from my house so it's easy enough to bring our own food and decorations and stuff.

What do you think? It's funny because last year I kept saying we weren't going to do a party this year and here I am doing a party.

plus12012 · February 2014

I'm not going to have a party for her 2nd B-Day. DH and I will take her to the zoo and have a cake and present for her and I will send treats to her DC the day after and they will sing to her and have her special snack. I am sure that will be enough for her. Just that little snack at DC and a song just for her will seem like a big time deal to her.

fanofanne · February 2014

numbers 1 and 2 are enough reasons for me to have party at the church. i HATE cleaning up after a large gathering...mainly b/c i'm a clean freak/germaphobe so it would take me forever. i'd say go with the church...especially if it's not that far out of the way. we are doing our party in a community room at a local library and i'm looking forward to making decorations!!

meglette417 · February 2014

I personally think saving the money is worth it, he won't remember anyway. If you are worried about people staying put a start and end time on the invitation. Just spend some of the money buying paper products so you don't have to clean or do dishes as much.

ashiscute · February 2014

I wouldn't pay that for a rental space. Honestly, I don't feel like having a party is that big of a deal though so I'd rather keep the money. We just had DD's 3rd birthday here with about 20 adults and 8 children. We used all paper products and everyone brought a dish. The cleanup was pretty minimal.

skibunny59 · February 2014

ClaryPax said:

If you have the money do it, since it sounds like you are leaning in that direction. It sounds like you should have done the larger party there last year, and the smaller one at home. Bust still 20 people is a lot. I think for DD's 1 year old party (it was smaller than DS's) we had mostly family and it was 12 and it seemed like a lot of people. The time I had the 25-30 people party it was in our backyard.

I really wish that DD's birthday was at a different time of year so that we could have it outside. Our backyard is huge. It's still too cold in March to have it outside.

SportyChic24 · February 2014

I would just have it at home and save the money. Wait to rent or go somewhere when your LO is older and you invite classmates and such.

smileybabyboy · February 2014

SportyChic24 said:

I would just have it at home and save the money. Wait to rent or go somewhere when your LO is older and you invite classmates and such.

This is what I'm thinking. Then when they are 3 or 4 you can have it at a fun play place and LO will enjoy it more.

Beth.1212 · February 2014

Would I spend $175 for a hall rental for my LO's 2nd bday? Given my budgetary constraints and the difference it would make for me (for me, it would not be much easier, if at all), nope, I wouldn't.

It sounds like you really want to do the hall, though. If you can easily afford it, go for it. Only you know whether your bank account can take a $175 hit for the sake of convenience.