Five-year-old Layla benefits from having a party planner for a mother, Charlotte Boscic, who excels at orchestrating memorable events.

Last July, Layla’s birthday party featured a dancefloor, various entertainers, a burger van, an ice-cream truck, a professional magician, a gigantic ball pit, a bouncy castle, and hosts dressed in vibrant costumes to welcome guests. The opulent celebration took place at a village hall in Bredhurst, Kent, and cost a total of £3,500, which included gifts for Layla.

“Layla has autism and verbal dyspraxia, making speech a challenge for her,” Boscic explained. “For her fifth birthday, I wanted to create a special day to celebrate her progress over the past year.”

“As someone who believes no child should be left out, I invited around 60 to 70 kids,” she added.

Boscic, 30, isn’t the only parent spending heavily on children’s birthday parties. Gone are the days of simple games and snacks; childhood celebrations have turned into substantial expenditures, with high expectations ongoing due to strong competition among parents.

According to a survey by the indoor play venue company Oxygen, the typical children’s birthday party costs around £524. Notably, 89 percent of parents surveyed reported feeling pressured to host an ideal celebration, with many preferring engaging activities rather than classic games.

This trend comes with a hefty price tag. In the U.S., celebrity parents like the Kardashians and singer Cardi B often spend lavish amounts on grand celebrations. Meanwhile, in the UK, socialite Tamara Ecclestone is reported to have spent £70,000 transforming her garden into a farm-themed spectacle for her daughter Sophia’s first birthday, complete with ponies and even zebras.

As even modest birthday parties can now cost parents hundreds, what strategies can help manage expenses?

Hosting at Home to Save Money – £150

Andy Coley, a leadership development trainer, has years of experience throwing and attending birthday parties for his three children: stepson Freddie, 15, and daughters Megan, 7, and Beatrice, 5.

“Children are frequently invited to organized events; a recent party at a climbing wall cost £28 per child,” Coley stated. However, he opted for a home celebration for Megan’s birthday last October to save on costs and accommodate more guests.

“We invited about a dozen kids and enlisted some adults to help. I purchased craft materials from Hobbycraft for activities, while Aldi provided food, including flatbreads for making pizzas and snacks. The cake from the supermarket was around £30. All in all, the cost was about £150,” Coley shared.

“In the past, we’ve utilized church halls, and last year, Beatrice managed to convince us to hire an entertainer for her birthday, costing around £150, which alleviated the need for us to entertain,” he continued.

“Hosting at home requires more effort and cleanup, but it’s not much different than managing a rainy day at home.”

The rising costs associated with children’s parties can be attributed to changing expectations.

“The changes in spending and expectations are notable. However, it’s not just about showing off. For a lot of parents, these celebrations serve to create lasting memories,” said Tiffany Norris, owner of the Mummy Concierge, which assists parents with planning.

“It also fosters family and friends’ connections in today’s busy world,” she added.

Boscic, of The Party Lab, caters to various budgets but advocates for investing in quality. “For instance, the balloons I use are premium quality, minimizing bursting or oxidation,” she stated. “I encourage clients to save £10 weekly in a jar for a notable budget on the big day each year.”

Utilizing a Tent and Shared Costs – £150

Hannah Love, who enjoys hosting extravagant parties for her children: Oliver, 16, Ella, 12, and Henry, 9, has managed to reduce expenses by utilizing their home and personal equipment for memorable events. “We have our own bell tent, which we originally purchased for festivals,” she said.

This past summer, the tent served as the centerpiece for Ella’s party, featuring a sleepover for eight of her friends. “I bought each child pajamas from Primark, along with homemade food. They received sleepover bags filled with goodies like eye masks and cosmetics. They enjoyed watching a movie in the tent with our projector and had access to the hot tub,” Love recounted.

She served burgers in takeaway boxes sourced from Amazon, costing £13 for a set of 30, with the entire evening’s expenses totaling just £150.

In previous years, Love, 46, has also combined celebrations by sharing the cost of events with her sister, Jess, for a joint celebration. “A few years back, we organized a visit from Farms2ewe, which brings small animals like rabbits and ponies for the children to interact with. That cost around £300, with each of us contributing £150,” she explained.

“I love creating meals, so in the past, I’ve prepared entire Thai dinners for parents when the children were younger,” she added. “I’ve learned to calculate what we can manage ourselves, from cooking to cake-making, to keep costs low.”

Bowling Parties for a Budget – £112

Former primary school teacher Jodie Lopez, experienced in managing excited youngsters, finds DIY parties quite challenging. “The effort to handle it all myself can surpass £100; I’d prefer hiring a professional,” she noted.

However, enjoyment doesn’t have to come with a high price tag. In recent years, Lopez has used party packages for her sons, Phoenix, 11, and Lorcan, 8, at the local bowling alley, Tenpin Nottingham. The rate is £13.99 per child, covering two hours of entertainment and food, totaling around £112 for her sons and six friends.

“Parents drop their kids off at 10 and pick them up at 12, and it’s all wrapped up,” Lopez, 46, who works as an education technology consultant, described.

Lopez acknowledged that this option might be costlier if her kids wanted to invite more friends. “If one wanted an entire class party, I’d find a way to make it work,” she said. “They now prefer to celebrate with a few close friends and their brother. Earlier, we felt pressured to include everyone, but that has decreased as they’ve matured.”

“They’ve attended wonderful parties before, and we always appreciate the invitations. At the same time, I’ve seen extravagant cakes that disappear after the candle-blowing, with no one getting a piece!”

A Party with More Adults than Kids – £400

When Larissa Hazell organized her son Lucas’s third birthday party, her goal was to create a gathering for family and friends. What initially started as a small plan evolved into a more extensive celebration.

“My mother and grandmother traveled from New Zealand, so I aimed to make it special,” said Hazell, the founder of The Childcare Navigator. “We soon realized we needed more space than our home could provide.”

Hazell, 33, found that the local village hall in Billericay was priced at only £12.50 per hour — significantly less than the £40 to £50 charged at other venues. “Securing a more affordable location allowed us to book three and a half hours,” she explained.

Feeding seven kids and 23 adults constituted the largest expenditure, totaling £250 at the supermarket, along with an additional £35 for her homemade cake.

Overall, the celebration cost £400, a figure Hazell regards as a one-time expense. “Had I known it would tally up to that much beforehand, I’d have been astonished. It’s incredible how quickly the costs can mount up. Next time, we might skip family gatherings and just go out with friends to the zoo.”