Happy Friday: Frugal Princess Birthday Party
Sent from reader, Kelly:
I did an at-home party in my basement for my daughter’s fifth birthday. I used pink plastic tablecloths and ribbon from the dollar store to make adorable and fancy seat covers. I also bought tea cups and saucers from Goodwill, so that all of the princesses could drink from a real china cup! I had a friend dress up as a princess and serve the pink lemonade! I also had the girls all come dressed up in princess outfits and my father in law did a portrait session with each kid! We served finger sandwiches! So adorable! The whole party was under $60 for 15 kids!
HAPPY FRIDAY! 😀
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I’m 30 years old and want this as my party! Love the idea! It’s so precious and memorable! The china was an amazing idea!!!
Looks like a great party!!
Great idea! So thrifty yet so pretty.
How fun and adorable!!!
Omg sounds adorable! This would be a fun party for us big girls. I mean who doesn’t want to dress up like a princess 🙂 love this idea.
I love it! I’m always looking for ideas for my two girls, and this looks like a winner!
So cute!!! I think the parties you have at home are so much more memorable than the ones hosted at party centers. I bet the girls loved it!
I dont’ know…my kids like parties at other places more. There is just more for the kids to do at a jump place or a museum or a pool. My kids 100% have more fun–and are exhausted–after a party outside the home. Maybe more memorable for Mom at home (we can show off our party-planning skills!) but my active kids like active parties. Just my experience.
I think with a theme like this my kids would have fun, they had stuff to do. Home birthday parties where they just hang out though, not so much. We have a truck load of kids so we bought a jumper and we also have a few slip-n-slides and an inground trampoline, everyone goes home exhausted from our home birthday parties, haha.
Exactly Em. It’s like so many kids host the same type of party. This is creative so I think the girls will remember it because of it being one of a kind. I did say memorable-not more fun.
My most memorable parties revolved around activities, too- bowling, jewelry making at a bead shop, candy-making at a candy store, a Color-Me-Mine shop, skate rink! Home parties are nice but not for everyone.
I love creative ones too, and this is exactly like one I did for my own daughter a few years ago! I have a stack of mis-matched tea cups and plates for princess parties, and now a “tea party” that I’ll host for my daughter’s now 12-year-old friends this Spring 🙂 We will have crepes with different toppings! Cheap and easy and perfect for the warmer weather! And they still love to come “dressed up” so we’ll do a fairy/butterfly theme I think. Also, the parties “elsewhere” I’ve found work better for the boys, but the “home” parties I’ve done for both and seem to work better for the girls!
I lUv this! Very creative !!!
Great idea! Adorable!
Very cute! I love the idea of getting tea cups from the thrift store. I’ve got to remember this for my daughters!
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!!
I also did a tea party for my daughter’s 5th birthday. The girls really enjoyed it. I did not have a cake. Baked cupcakes and had each girl decorate her own cupcake for dessert. I did several small bowls of different colored frosting and assorted sprinkles. Another fun idea is to hide a small gift like hairbow etc under an upside down teacup on the saucer. The girls will then find the surprise when they turn the teacup right way up to drink their “tea”.
I hate going to parties that have finger foods and wedding that seve hot dogs! I wish people would let us know in the invitation what they will be serving so that I can go get something to eat before the party…… Js
Wow Sara that is the most selfish thing I’ve ever heard. Be so lucky you got an invite. Also not everyone can afford to feed 50 mouths, hence the finger food. You sound like in laws who come prepared with their own bowl for left overs. Geesh be real. ..
I would only add that I agree that not everyone can afford to feed 50 people…then maybe not invite that many? Or is the person inviting so many to get more gifts instead if being a good host? I only speak from my less than gracious relatives. I wonder if that is where Sara is coming from. The other reason she does not want to be hungry might be medical…I get a mean headache when I have not eaten. I only say this to not jump down all over her. I highly doubt it is the most selfish thing anyone has ever heard…or that person must have lived a sheltered and/or charmed life.
Thank you, you put it in better “nicer” words!!
This is a sweet little party for 15 five yr olds, not 50 XL adults…???
Love the tea cup idea! Just might steal that one in the future. Grumpy Sara’s comment cracked me up! 5 yr olds girls won’t starve with sandwiches & cake.
Look, I don’t know Sara but please don’t call her names. It is just mean. Isn’t she entitled to her opinion? You can share your opinion without name calling. It is supposed to be Happy Friday, after all.
Even a post about a birthday party for 5 year olds makes people be rude! It’s a party on a budget..a nice party at that!!!! If you are so afraid you won’t be able to feed your face with a whole lot of food then maybe ya just should stay home and feed your face!!!!!!! For petes sake…its a happy Friday post about giving a great party for a 5 year old. It might not be something you would do or your children wouldn’t have fun at but that is not the point of the post!
I was just wondering why Sara is not allowed to give her opinion but other people can call her grumpy and now rude? I don’t think that is in the spirit of Hip2Save. I don’t see anything she wrote that would illicit such responses from adults. My point is just to be nice. And, if you can’t be nice, maybe just be quiet?
Yes u are right. If you can’t be nice then maybe she should have been quiet. You have a wonderful wonderful evening. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Most of your comments are just as horrid as Sara’s comment. So why would any of you open your mouths? You didn’t fix what she said by calling her names you just made yourself look bad!! She actually never said anything about this party itself she was speaking more in the lines of when you go to a “big” party i.e. wedding. You’re expected to be there ALL day sometimes into the night and you only get a few apps to eat! I’ve been in that situation and it sucks! Birthday parties do not last very long and I don’t think it’s necessary to feed everyone at a little girls bday. Cake would have been just fine finger foods is even nicer! However at an all day even like a wedding and you are expected to be there then yes there should be food. I personally do not like the table clothes as chair covers. I think it looks a bit tacky. Maybe adding just a bow to the chairs would have looked better. IDK..not my party so really my opinion doesn’t matter. Tea cups and finger foods was really cute tho! I also love that streamer hanging that’s really adorable!
What in the world does this have to do with a adorable idea for a little girls birthday party?!?! Glad your having such an optimistic day!! 🙂
Agreed Tracy!!! It’s a post about a 5 year olds birthday party on a budget! And people are complaining about how much food will be there! My kids had more manners then that when they were toddlers!!
Little girls don’t really need to eat much more than finger sandwiches…we over feed our kids!
Especially at a birthday party. They’re too busy having fun to eat
I had a old punch bowl as I used the cups that came with that for ” teacups”
I had a old punch bowl as I used the cups that came with that for “teacups”
once. Worked well because I had a bunch of the little cups.
Wonderful idea!
This actually made me tear up a little. What a fantastic party! She is a very lucky little girl. I have all boys, but my parents did parties like this when I was little. You are creating fantastic memories!
Kelly,
This is amazing!!!! I have a daughter who will be 5 in August and I’m thinking about copying this. If you don’t mind id love some more Info from you on the things you did (I’m not crafty lol) like the little pink things on the table. I’m thinking about inviting all the girls in the family (even adults) and having them dress up. If your interested in chatting with me further respond to this by leaving a comment and then I will give you my ema. I would appreciate it. You are fantastic!!
I am the mom of the creative lady who put together this tea party. Kelly had crafts for the girls to make and the girls played pin the crown on the princess (after each girl decorated her crown). The teenage princess also read a story to the girls. The girls loved this party and my granddaughter was one happy little princess!
Must have been so wonderful to see your daughter’s talents and your granddaughter’s joy. She done good, and obviously, so did you. 🙂
Love it.
Kelly..you did a wonderful job and I’m sure your daughter and her friends had a wonderful time! Very creative and budget friendly. Just ignore all the rude comments.
I say WOW on having a basement room to have this in! Her own little venue! Looks great. I’m sure they had a nice time. There are places that will give tea parties but they charge an arm and a leg. I’m sure yours was just as special!
I love this, what a beautiful, memorable party! Thanks for sharing this Kelly!
Personally I’m not a fan of the plastic tablecloths being used on the chairs, and this is my reasoning why. Typically, these types of tablecloths can be snagged or ruined quite easily, and while they do seem as though they are an inexpensive choice, if you go online and purchase banquet chair covers from https://www.linentablecloth.com, they are actually a lot less expensive in the long run (many are only $2.09) and they are something that can be washed and re-used later on. Not to mention, they would look a lot better as well. Plus, by just switching out the color sashes, they can work for princess parties, tea parties, etc. And you can get use out of them for adult parties as well. Same goes for the tablecloth. Buy a basic white, or off-white, tablecloth or two and go to a craft store and look in the scrap bin (or shop a sale/use a coupon), and get the theme’s color in a fabric to use as a liner. Once again, just switch it out, and it’s something you can always reuse and wash if need be. Where as plastic, once it’s ruined, it’s done with, and frankly, money down the drain. Just a little party tip, as it has come in handy for me in planning parties for the past year or so.
Love this idea Victoria…there are lots of colors to choose from. Will definitely hang on to this website for future parties!
Agreed. That’s a lot of plastic waste. I thought they were garbage bags. Otherwise, super cute!
What a fab idea!!!!!! I’m sure the girls had the BEST time, well done
I had a Gingerbread Tea Party this past Christmas for my five year old DD and her friends. The girls came dressed in their fancy party dresses, brought their fav stuffed animal and they loooooved it. Gingerbread themed everything and I served sweet tea and star shaped finger sandwiches.
If it’s ok I just might steal this idea!!!! I combine my 2 daughters’ parties into one every year because they’re only a year apart and they share so many friends. I always ask every year if it’s ok (they started saying yes when they were 6 and 7…before that they wanted their own parties lol) and they know that I can do a little extra for one party versus having to pay for 2 parties! I like having their party somewhere outside the home because I hate to clean twice (once before and once after a party!) but this would be a perfect idea to do at our church if I rented the fellowship hall!! I could even get out the old projector and show Frozen on the big white wall! Thank you 🙂
Adorable Idea if I had girls! I have 2 boys a year apart. Ten years ago we hosted a birthday party that they still talk about today. They were 6&7 at the time, and into all things GI Joe – (by the way they are Army brats). The set up was a GI Joe theme party in a wooded area – the plan to play capture the flag. When the boys arrived they geared up with “old army” clothes, camo face paint and plastic guns that made laser/space sounds and headed out to play. When snack time came, they each received their own MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) – a lunch bag with kid friendly treats – fruit roll ups, breakfast bar, juice boxes, etc) They took their rations and headed back out to play some more. By now, the dads had arrived from work – already in camo. The dads unexpectedly added some face paint, and armed themselves with water guns, they ambushed the boys. The games continued for a couple of hours of dads and boys playing and laughing. BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY EVER! Cost very little – no set up and no clean up.
I have 3 brothers and they would have gone crazy for this when they were kids! Well done! 🙂
That looks adorable! Did the girls get to keep the tea cups?!
I looooove the dollar store! 🙂 and Pinterest lol!!
We just went to a similar party that was American girl themed. The mom asked for everyone to bring their dolls. She bought lots of AG crafts from Michaels. They watched Sage movie while making them. The best part for my daughter (not me)was a candy bar. Girls could pick from different candies and make their own goodie bags. She also cut out fruit and made them into arrangements, like an edible arrangement. The girls had so much fun and after all isn’t that what it’s all about 😍
Great idea for a birthday party! I did a similar princess themed party for my daughter to meet the girls in her kindergarten class. They all came dressed up as their favorite princess, and decorated mini pumpkins with glitter, sequins, or whatever we had. An easy and fun way to meet all the girls in the class. FYI, for my boys we did an paper airplane party, again to meet the boys in the class. Both easy and inexpensive!
Jeesh lately this site has been nothing but a whine fest. Colin wanted contributions for bday party ideas not bickering. Yes everyone is entitled to their own opinion, negative or not. That doesn’t mean we should give it. Try to remember what the blog is actually for.
On a brighter note we recently had a great bday party for my son with a fun glow in the dark theme. We bought glow in the dark balloons, bracelets, necklaces etc. The balloons were aliens that flashed so they loved that. I found almost all of the glow in the dark stuff at the dollar store so it was super cheap!
What a wonderful, creative idea! I don’t think the post was intended to elicit comments on how this creative Mom could have done it EVEN better…..yikes!
Actually if I were to post on a site that had over 100,000 viewers I would welcome any ideas for next year. I don’t think she would have shared this if she wasn’t expecting people to chime in on other good ideas. Isn’t that the point? Like the table clothes….they do not look very nice and it was a waste of money. The lady above gave a great idea AND she even provided a link to more eco-friendly and budget friendly chair covers. They can be reused!! So maybe the next person wanting to borrow ideas from the above could use that idea instead of the table clothes! Others mentioned letting the girls keep the cups as a keepsake also a GREAT IDEA! Next year if she goes to do something similar she can use some of these FANTASTIC ideas to make it an even bigger success! I don’t think you can post something like this on the internet without gaining ideas from others! It’s what is all about! I’m glad she shared this some of her ideas are fabulous. While others could use a little fixing! Love it!
omg that is soooo precious I have wanted to do a tea party for my daughter.