I’m all about the Pinterest pretty parties. So much so that the for the past two years, I’ve tried to pull them off. First was the Charlotte’s Web first birthday party, then there was the chic Frozen-inspired second birthday party. Both parties were hosted in our home, and both stressed me out just a bit. This year, I wanted to change things up. Three-year-olds are more in tune with what’s going on, and it’s a ton of fun. That being said, I knew that Charlotte would have some input on her party, and I’m glad I let her take the reigns. When I asked her what kind of birthday party she wanted, she told me, “A princess party!” Disney princesses? Easy peasy. I also knew that I wanted to tone it down a bit this year, and let it be all about her. (Because do babies and toddlers really care about place cards?) Here are my tips for hosting a simple, easy, and fun birthday party.
1) HOST IT SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN YOUR HOME.
This was crucial for me this year. Once the kids start getting bigger, they need more space to play. Our home can’t fit a ton of children comfortably, so we decided to host it at a trampoline park here in Houston. We absolutely loved Sky High Sports!
Sky High Sports Houston was super spacious, had tons of trampolines and activities, and was awesome when it came to each party detail.
With the party package we went with, we had two hours of jump time for the kids, two pieces of pizza for each kiddo, a complimentary pair of grip socks for each jumper, a reserved party table the entire time, unlimited bottles of waters for our jumpers, all paper products & utensils (I used theirs as extras, because I did bring my own), party bags for the kids with goodies provided from the facility (I added in some bubbles), and our own party host to help with setup and the running of events. And Charlotte got a pass to go back another time. Seriously, it was birthday heaven.
I think my favorite part of hosting at Sky High Sports was having someone help with setup and making sure we had everything we needed. If you are in the Houston area, you should definitely consider hosting here for your child’s next birthday. I can’t say enough about them. Sky High Sports is actually in seven states, so they just may be in your neighborhood. We loved having our party here.
2) DON’T STRESS ABOUT THE CAKE & DECOR.
Since this party wasn’t at my house, the only thing I really worried about was how many tablecloths I needed. I stuck to the traditional princess decorations that are sold at grocery stores and the like, and I didn’t think much about it. I also ordered a cake from our local grocery store’s bakery, HEB, and it was delicious. We had originally planned on ordering from a baker, but that plan fell through. On the day of the party, we also picked up some flowers and balloons and called it good for decorations. Simple really is the best. Because you know who loved it? My very own little princess.
3) HAVE YOUR INVITATIONS MADE FOR YOU.
I could have used the invitations that Sky High offered, but I went ahead and had them made for me again this year. For the past three years, I’ve used House of Emery Design. She has always gone above and beyond what I ask of her, and I love each invitation design she’s done for Charlotte’s parties. Definitely check her out for your next stationery need.
4) ACCEPT HELP WHEN HELP IS OFFERED.
I have a very precious family, and they always ask how they can help. I am so thankful for the extra hands because parties tend to give me anxiety. They ask if they can bring extra food, and I always say yes. (I will say that Sky High charges a fee to bring outside food other than the pizza they offer, but it is well worth it.)
I loved having my family offering their help in making sure the party was a success, and I also loved having the party host we did at Sky High Sports. Help is always appreciated!
5) WORRY ABOUT ONE THING: YOUR CHILD & GUESTS HAVING FUN.
Charlotte and her little friends (not pictured for privacy ;)) had a blast! My family sure did, too. I think all too often, we (I mean mothers) get caught up in making birthday parties the biggest and best we can. But the main thing is that our little birthday girl or boy makes memories and has fun. Because that’s what it’s all about after all. The handmade decorations are cute, and the cut out fruit is great, and the extravagant party favors are above and beyond spectacular, but don’t feel like you have to do that each and every year. You do the best you can, and I promise you, as long as your kid has fun, that is the best indicator of a successful party. Take it from me, Charlotte was one sweaty mess after jumping and eating all of that green icing from her HEB cake and she is still talking about her birthday party. It really was the best party she’s had because she had a blast. And those are my best tips for hosting a simple, easy, and fun birthday party.
Thank you so much to Sky High Sports for making this the best party, House of Emery for the beautiful invitations, and all of our wonderful friends and family who drove near and far to celebrate Charlotte’s special day.
What are your tips for keeping it simple when it comes to birthday parties? Or do you like going out? I think I like this simple trend. ;)
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Best tips!!! With Lily’s 4th birthday just around the corner, I’ve realized we will need to invite actual friends this year & don’t really have the space to accommodate comfortably so I’ve been looking into off venue locations too. Do you have any other local spaces that we should check out besides Sky High?
Thank you, Amanda! Yes, we have a lot of people we invite, so having it elsewhere definitely helped. I forgot to mention the best part: NO CLEAN UP. That in itself makes it all worth it. I think there are a few places in Katy that have fun places. I’ve heard of Giggles and Fun, and there is one off the Beltway called Monkey Bizness. All great places, just different options. One of my friends recently hosted her little boy’s party at a bowling alley in Katy, too. Oh, and we’re going to a painting party in The Woodlands called Fancy Nancy. So many options! :)
So fun! I totally agree with having the party somewhere other than home…but my youngest LOVES having her party at home. Thankfully she’s a keep it simple kind of girl and only usually chooses 4-5 friends.
Yes! The day we only invite 4-5 friends is the day pigs will fly for me. Lol. But maybe when she’s older that’s all she’ll want. Here’s hoping. Have a great weekend, Shelly!
very sweet! looks like it was a lot of fun :)
Thanks, Alysa! We all had a blast. :) Have a great weekend!
G still wears those socks lol – it was fun! I’ve already been told his next party will be there!
Lol. I just washed ours. We’ll have to go back for a playdate and let them go crazy. And at least you know what to expect now from this place. It was so worth it!
Just worry about having fun! Love it. We went super simple for Aria’s 3rd too, but she also doesn’t have a lot of kid buddies. Simple was so much better though. Love your tips!
Hi, came across your blog, when I was searching for reviews of Sky High Sports. I was planning my daughters 2nd birthday party. Do you think a 2 year old would have fun at sky high? Is it worth it? Also came across reviews of how much smaller the place is. Just wanted to hear from you based on your experience there.
Priya