Pint-sized Parties Go Big Time

It’s not just cake and ice cream anymore

In recent years, children’s birthday parties have trended toward the big and elaborate, in contrast to the simplicity of yesteryear. Where there used to be store-bought banners and cakes, there’s now DIY-bunting and gourmet food. 

And many area families are no exception.

ALEX TAMADON, mother to Logan, who will be six this summer, has been planning big bashes for her son for half a decade.

The Wilmington family has created parties based on a wide variety of themes for the past five years. A farm-themed party was hosted for Logan’s third birthday, with horseback riding, a petting zoo, and even a pig pickin’. And for his fourth, they had a luau-themed party, with dancers, live music with drums, Hawaiian food, and cocktails for the parents.

In her case that means between six and nine months – the length of time many couples take to plan their wedding 

For some families, it’s no longer just pin the tail on the donkey with cake and ice cream for birthday celebrations.

The instantaneous sharing nature of Facebook means we’re often greeted with photos of parties and get-togethers in our news feeds. And Pinterest reigns supreme as the party planning inspiration hub, where you can find photos of over-the-top, intricate soirees for almost any occasion.

In addition to the elaborately executed themes, the Tamadons have tried to make their son’s birthday parties an event for the entire family of their guests to enjoy.

“We have heard parents complain a lot about having to take their children to birthday parties. We wanted to create an environment that parents would enjoy being a part of.”

These kinds of parties are JUDY MITCHELL’s specialty. Mitchell works at the Country Club of Landfall and is a Party Guru known to parents and children alike as “Miss Judy.” She has been with Landfall since 2006, and she sees thirty-five to forty bashes a year. She says she does not consider a party over-the-top strictly due to the dollar amount spent.

“I base it on how crazy the scene is,” Mitchell says. “The themed parties are the ones I consider most over-the-top. 

Mitchell goes to great lengths to bring the child’s theme of choice to life.

“Whatever’s out there, we make it ten times better,” she says. “And I do that by thinking outside of the box.”

She has proven herself in this respect many times over, especially with her attention to detail. For Minecraft parties, for example, she has converted an entire clubhouse to stone blocks, playing to the popular game’s theme of building.

“I’ve done a pink giraffe party, a June ladybug party with red, white, and black, and a spa party with a soothing aqua color scheme,” she says.

When asked what the most popular children’s party themes are, she says princess parties reign supreme.

Many local businesses are turned to when planning a big bash for area children. COASTAL BOUNCE, having come onto the scene in 2010, is one of those vendors.

Owner Brad Chambers says that while he only sees about one or two really huge kid bashes per year, he is still kept busy with parties almost every single Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

“Last year picked up a lot – business doubled last year from the year before,” says Chambers, who rents out inflatable bounce houses for parties.

Though Coastal Bounce is based in Hampstead, Chambers says most of its parties are in the Wilmington area, noting that the most extravagant ones he has seen are usually held at Landfall or in the Wrightsville Beach area.

Another party-planning favorite among parents is WISH, a Wilmington business specializing in coordinating chic, fun children’s birthday parties.

Jenny Ryder, Wish co-owner, says the business, which formed in 2010, started picking up in the past year.

Wish offers fun, extravagant themes, such as Fairy Chic, Glitzy Glam, Pretty Pretty Princess, Pamper Me Spa Party, Wonders Under the Sea, and Pirate P’argh’ty.

Some parents may be concerned when throwing elaborate parties for their children, fearing the extravagance may elicit sidelong glances and whispered remarks.

“No one has been negative about our parties,” Tamadon says. “I think that is due in part to the fact that we try to make them into benefits.”

For Logan’s birthday parties, the Tamadons have asked their guests to make a donation to specific charities, in lieu of a gift.

“Logan’s party last year was a Sea-prise party,” she says. “It was under-water themed … we held it a month early, so he had no idea and was so surprised.”

In keeping with the theme, the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center was the recipient of donation gifts that year. The Tamadons matched the party donations, and Logan presented the check to the center’s director.

“This last time, Logan really caught on to what it was all about,” Tamadon says. “He understood the benefit; he felt good about it.”