The oddest birthday party setup/situation that you have encountered

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just this morning saw an internet article about "crocodile pool parties" in Florida; as in real gators in the pool swimming with the kids!!! It's the new big thing there. They simply tape the crocs mouth shut and throw them in the backyard pool with all the guests. They quoted some parents who have hired this for their kid's b-days and they said they don't tell other guests about it beforehand "because they might not come". Wonder why?

Unbelievable

[Anonymous]

My brother rented ponies for my niece's 2nd birthday. With a carriage. Seriously? 2 year olds will not remember that ridiculousness.

[Anonymous]

I took my DD to to a classmate's 4th bday party a Chuck E. Cheese party where the host didnt want to share the tokens so no biggie. Just bought some for my kid. So the kids spent 2 hours playing at CEC. On the invite it said the cake was going to be at the little girl's house so we all went there thinking we'd watch little girl blow out her candles open gifts and get out of there. Nope, the host fired up the grill (only that took another hour) Still no food. Kids were outside playing in the sand (100+ degree day). After 2 hours me/DD called it a day and went home and got some lunch. No cake or food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just this morning saw an internet article about "crocodile pool parties" in Florida; as in real gators in the pool swimming with the kids!!! It's the new big thing there. They simply tape the crocs mouth shut and throw them in the backyard pool with all the guests. They quoted some parents who have hired this for their kid's b-days and they said they don't tell other guests about it beforehand "because they might not come". Wonder why?

Unbelievable

Man, not only is this ridiculous from the human point of view, I feel really sorry for the crocodiles!! This cannot be natural for them either and I imagine it causes them an inordinate amount of stress!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went to a one year old's party at an exclusive country club in Lima, Peru. A hundred guests at least, dressed to the nines, uniformed nannies chased children around while gorgeous adults partied. There were rented amusement park rides, popcorn, cotton candy, sno cone machines, bouncy house of course, and a professional photog to document it all. There was also a cake cutting moment just like a wedding. In fact, it was a lot like an expensive wedding.

Anyone else attended one of these? I was astonished, but had a great time.

My son shared one of these parties with our nephew. I had no idea what I was getting into. The entire family flew to Puerto Rico (MIL & SIL still live there) for Thanksgiving and both of our sons have birthdays that flank the holiday. She offered the idea of having a shared party that she would plan and then we'd split the cost. When she told me my half of the bill I was FLOORED. There were handmade, personalized ceramic party favors, a three tiered cake with two side cakes, a clown, puppet show, three or four machines, etc.

Our sons were 2 & 3! To to it off, her son hated the attention. He spent the afternoon either asleep or crying on his mom's leg. MIL felt bad that it was so over the top and I wasn't prepared, so she paid for a 1/3 of the bill. The gifts he received were also over the top. We left nearly everything at MIL's house for general grandkid use.

It was a waste of money and still makes my husband irritated. Not even six months later the same SIL was asking us for a loan to help pay some bills.

[Anonymous]

So far every kid's party I've attended has been fun. At one of my daughter's classmates parties, there were a ton of cousins, the birthday girl looked like a real princess (she had her hair done, elbow length gloves etc.) we were the only ones there from school. The dad and male relatives kept going down to the basement where I guess the beer was. But honestly it was a great party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Invited to newly-built house, still just dirt for the yard. We arrived early because they were borrowing our bounce-around, so we needed to set it up. Were informed no one would be allowed inside--party would take place on tiny, unshaded back porch when it was a sunny, 100+ degree lunchtime.

Refreshments were not-cold water bottles, 1 bag of chips with salsa, and plate of PB&J sandwiches, cut into triangles, for about 10 families. Cake too small for everyone to have a sliver.

Clown arrived, and refused to work outside--her makeup was melting. So hostess made eveyone take off shoes and stay right inside the door.

We left hungry, thirsty, hot, and exhausted.

Horrible!!!

[Anonymous]

I have been to three bday parties this summer with NOT ENOUGH FOOD! At one party, There was a bowl of chips at one for everyone (kids and adults) that was supposed to last until pizza. Pizza took forever to come and when it finally came, there was hardly any left. One just had a bowl of bananas and strawberries and a bowl of goldfish. I don't expect a five course meal but when you are at a party for three hours, I expect some snacks to tide us all over!

[Anonymous]

I still don't get the fancy sweet 16 parties that feel like a wedding with only a bride. My husband's niece had one that probably cost the same as the wedding we attended the week after. White dress, limo, a "court" (her best girlfriends dressed in matching formal dresses). I think if I had that, it would have killed some of the excitement I had for my wedding. And her mom has called us several times since then asking for loans to pay mortgage, car loan, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if this qualifies - not odd, just over-the-top. After school (on a weekday) birthday party for 6-yr-old girl. Very small house. 16 kids. Lots of family members plus the party company staff of at least 3 or 4. "Spa" themed party including little pink robes for all the girls; they lay down with cucumbers on their eyes; had their nails painted; full makeup put on; hair done, etc. They were suppoed to bring their princess dresses. Once they were all dolled/dressed up, Princess Belle arrived and everyone had photo ops with her. When the parents were arriving to pick up, closing in on 6:00pm, they were only just getting to the cake. The next week the mom sent everyone the 500+ photos that were taken by the party company to document every moment.

God, what a bitch you are PP. A mom tries to do something fun for her daughter and includes yours and you have to comment on the size of her house. My 6 year-old DD would have loved what you described AND it was a drop-off on a school night? What is your problem--they're 6! They don't have board meetings the next morning!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were invited to a party via evite and told something along the lines of "there are a limited number of spots, so not everyone invited will be able to attend." When we opened the evite, we already were too late, and our DC didn't make the cut.

That was pretty cruel...omg, they didn't think you would come...and or they are disorganized, clueless a**holes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to say elaborate birthday parties for a 1 year old with more than 10 people are always strike me as inconsiderate to the child and alll about the parents. Overwhelming, loud, sometimes the adults get too drunk. I went to one with a DJ and the kid was crying hysterically. It seems to make more sense to invest a ton of money and planning into a birthday party your child will actually remember!

Do you critics of the big 1 year b-day party ever consider that it is the parents who are craving some adult social interaction? Parenting toddlers can be very isolating...cut people a break; they want an excuse to throw a party-- sheesh!

[Anonymous]

God, what a bitch you are PP. A mom tries to do something fun for her daughter and includes yours and you have to comment on the size of her house. My 6 year-old DD would have loved what you described AND it was a drop-off on a school night? What is your problem--they're 6! They don't have board meetings the next morning

On the other hand I would not have been thrilled about what that party conveyed to 6 year old girls. Spa activities and makeup are not something I want to introduce to a child that young. If I knew ahead of time that was the theme of the party, I am not sure I would let my daughter go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if this qualifies - not odd, just over-the-top. After school (on a weekday) birthday party for 6-yr-old girl. Very small house. 16 kids. Lots of family members plus the party company staff of at least 3 or 4. "Spa" themed party including little pink robes for all the girls; they lay down with cucumbers on their eyes; had their nails painted; full makeup put on; hair done, etc. They were suppoed to bring their princess dresses. Once they were all dolled/dressed up, Princess Belle arrived and everyone had photo ops with her. When the parents were arriving to pick up, closing in on 6:00pm, they were only just getting to the cake. The next week the mom sent everyone the 500+ photos that were taken by the party company to document every moment.

God, what a bitch you are PP. A mom tries to do something fun for her daughter and includes yours and you have to comment on the size of her house. My 6 year-old DD would have loved what you described AND it was a drop-off on a school night? What is your problem--they're 6! They don't have board meetings the next morning!

I commented on the size of the house to convey how unbelievably crowded it was with 16 kids, multiple grownups and party company staff. I commented on the fact that it was a weekday afternoon because it was very hard to get my daughter to settle down and do her homework when I finally got her home. For the kind of party that it was - which was, yes, very fun for the girls - it would have been much better on a weekend when it wouldn't have been so rushed.

I don't have a "problem." I was merely commenting that the party was large, complicated, expensive, and over-the-top, IMO.

And I'm actually not a bitch. But thanks for reminding me why I generally don't post here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First grade classmate of my daughter's. The kid apparently liked helicopters, because the parents rented a real helicopter that flew in and gave the kids rides at the party. Everything else was over the top too, but I had rented a goat for my daughter's party a few months before and felt a little, um, amused by the whole helicopter thing. Kids thought it was cool. And the R/C helicopter gift bag thing was cool too.

Also, see news story about indulgent, smug, mummies and children killed in b-day party helicopter crash...I looove that you rented a goat!