Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 22:25     Subject: Home birthday party inspiration

How many people do you invite for your home parties? I prefer home parties too but we had about 17 girls over for my DD last party (turning 8) and they were so wild and crazy I swore I'd never do a home party again. It was like lord of the flies in our house - we barely survived that party.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 21:03     Subject: Home birthday party inspiration

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A three hour party is very long, OP. But if you must, do 5-8pm.


OP here- you think? I've always had it for 2 hours and the girls don't want to leave. The parents appreciated 3 hours too (it's a drop off party). I can do 2 hours for sure!


I don’t think it’s too long at 10. They are getting older 3-5 hours is great.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 13:40     Subject: Home birthday party inspiration

Anonymous wrote:A three hour party is very long, OP. But if you must, do 5-8pm.


No, at 10 a 3 hour party isn't very long. The kids will do whatever activities OP sets up for them for a little while, but the bulk of the party will be group hangout time that could probably go 5 or 6 hours if there was time for that. That's how girls are at these ages.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 12:57     Subject: Re:Home birthday party inspiration

Anonymous wrote:I would hire a glam team to come in and do nails/makeup.


+ 1
I did a glam makeover party for my 10 yr old many years ago. We made a "before" and "after" video too and the kids walked the "catwalk" also. Bought a bunch of hair accessories, did nails, and we made DIY lip gloss to take home. We set up stations, and welcomed the kids like they were going to a real spa. We had robes for the children (to wear over their clothes) and we gave them a 'welcome drink' of some sort of punch with fruits.

How many kids?
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 12:53     Subject: Home birthday party inspiration

Anonymous wrote:A three hour party is very long, OP. But if you must, do 5-8pm.


OP here- you think? I've always had it for 2 hours and the girls don't want to leave. The parents appreciated 3 hours too (it's a drop off party). I can do 2 hours for sure!
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 11:51     Subject: Home birthday party inspiration

A three hour party is very long, OP. But if you must, do 5-8pm.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 11:04     Subject: Re:Home birthday party inspiration

Anonymous wrote:I LOVE home parties.

I'd do 6-9, and I'd pick two of the things from your list. I'd probably pick glow and karaoke. Sounds like a blast.


I do too! I wish more people had them.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 10:50     Subject: Home birthday party inspiration

She's the perfect age for the glow party.

I'd also add that we did laser tag for my son's birthday, but his sister and her friends joined and they all had a blast.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 10:45     Subject: Home birthday party inspiration

Anonymous wrote:OP here- what do you think about time?

Is 6-9 too late on a Friday or Saturday? Everyone always has lunchtime parties, but I think a night party would feel more grown up and I'd serve dinner. Or 5-8pm?


10 is maybe on the slightly young side, but by 5th grade we started to see more evening parties. Sunday early evening is popular because it doesn't interfere with as many travel sports practices and games as other times of the week. Saturday night also.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 10:45     Subject: Home birthday party inspiration

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here- what do you think about time?

Is 6-9 too late on a Friday or Saturday? Everyone always has lunchtime parties, but I think a night party would feel more grown up and I'd serve dinner. Or 5-8pm?


I don’t think 9 is too late at all. I’d even be fine with 10.


Ask the families you are inviting. Some kids have sports, activities, church in the AM.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 10:42     Subject: Home birthday party inspiration

If they only go til 9 I’d skip the fog and foam machine and just do glow in the dark/blacklight. Too much work and not as much fun when it’s light out. Maybe save the foam party idea for a couple years from now when you can do a sleep over or sleep under. I’d do black light and hidden scavenger hunt. Maybe some black light responsive bracelet crafts, karaoke.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 10:37     Subject: Re:Home birthday party inspiration

I LOVE home parties.

I'd do 6-9, and I'd pick two of the things from your list. I'd probably pick glow and karaoke. Sounds like a blast.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 10:33     Subject: Home birthday party inspiration

Anonymous wrote:OP here- what do you think about time?

Is 6-9 too late on a Friday or Saturday? Everyone always has lunchtime parties, but I think a night party would feel more grown up and I'd serve dinner. Or 5-8pm?


I don’t think 9 is too late at all. I’d even be fine with 10.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 10:29     Subject: Home birthday party inspiration

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’d go with a disco dance & karaoke party. Black lights, foam machine, disco ball, glow sticks, karaoke. Instead of fairy hair you can do black light hairspray for about $10. Hang some black light posters and let them take one home. Maybe hand out black light flashlights and do a hidden scavenger hunt in the yard, let them take the flashlights home.

https://trippystore.com/collections/black-light-posters


OP here- all of that sounds awesome!

The only thing is that the foam machine is 100% an outdoor thing. It's basically water and bubbles. I'm okay making a mess everywhere, but can't flood my house. I wonder if a fog machine would be fun instead?


Fog is good but not indoors. I’d stick to black light theme inside. I’d go black light theme- maybe add some lava lamps- for indoors. You can have disco light and maybe some laser lights on standby or outside. It’s hard to mix black light with disco light/laser lights because they’re different lighting requirements but you could do one inside and one outside depending on the space. You could add foam outside with the disco/laser, it goes great together. Depends on how all out you want to go. I’d go chill vibes inside, dance vibes outside.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2025 10:24     Subject: Home birthday party inspiration

Something food related - baking, make your pizza, smores.
Water gun version of laser tag?