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01-05-2011, 07:39 AM
Interesting isn't it? Parents are now spending even more than they used to on Birthday Parties with themes. It's a sign of the times, and a reflection of our increasingly materialistic culture.
May 1, 2011
Bash the budget
Children's birthday parties are getting bigger and more lavishas parents splurge on elaborate theme parties
By Natasha Ann Zachariah
Birthday parties for children, which used to be just for close families and friends, are getting bigger, and more expensive too.
Parent-planned parties have made way for themed parties planned by professionals, which run into the thousands of dollars, compared to just a few hundred dollars before.
The Ministry of Party, an 11-year-old party planning company which specialises in children's birthday parties, has seen more Singaporeans willing to throw a party for their children, sparing no cost.
And they are not just the pampered offspring of the well-heeled. Owner Edwin Goh, 31, says that it is no longer a 'rich man's event'.
'When we first started out, we were doing parties in landed property homes and condos, but these days we get many requests from HDB homes as well. Parents will spend on their children, especially if the child wants it. '
His services such as balloon sculpting and face painting cost between $350 and $800 for one party which usually runs for two to three hours, depending on the number of activities.
His most extravagant party? A $15,000 affair held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, where his client, a mother of two, ordered expensive organic food for party guests.
While the majority of children's birthday parties may not be as indulgent, parents are still spending more than they previously did. LifeStyle reported in 2007 that the average party started at $300 for a birthday package, but now, parents can expect to spend upwards of $2,000 to throw a bash.
But for one parent, having the chance to celebrate her children's birthdays is worth the amount she has to pay. Mrs Celian Leong, 35, has yearly birthday parties for each of her three children - two sons aged eight and six, and a 21/2-year-old daughter - and does not mind spending at least $2,000 each birthday.
The gourmet consultant recently threw a party for her middle child, Ee-Jun, at a function room at Suntec City, for about 80 people.
She spent a month planning the gongfu-themed party for her Bruce Lee-loving son. She engaged Ministry of Party to provide a magician who also did balloon sculpting and played games with the 30 children. In total, she spent an estimated $2,500 to $3,000 for the party which was held last month.
'It is nice to have parties for them because they really do enjoy it, not us parents,' she says. 'It also shows how much we value our children and want to make it a memorable day for them.'
To add some pizzazz, she personalised 50 goody boxes filled with candies and toys, which were not available locally and which she sourced online. For previous parties, she had printed shirts, lunch boxes and customised caps with her son's face on them.
Mrs Leong, who says that her parties get bigger every year, says: 'I do get good feedback from the other parents that the party is well-planned and that their children have many things to take home. It makes me happy when everyone enjoys it.'
For herself, it is also a chance to network and socialise with other parents with whom she volunteers at her sons' schools.
'It's a chance to get to know them outside of the school context. It's also good that I know who my sons' friends' parents are. This is just like buying them dinner.'
Party planner Aaron Leong of Party Impact, says some parents do feel the pressure to put on a good party, sometimes even from their children.
The planner, who has been in the business for nine years, says: 'Nowadays, the children are very mature and they know what they want for their parties and they will ask for it, and parents will pay for it.'
Mother-of-two Samantha Tay recently wrote to The Straits Times lamenting her experience with lavish children's birthday parties, which she described as parents 'flaunting their wealth in a game of one- upmanship against neighbours and friends'.
When contacted, the 38-year-old education administrator says: 'Maybe it is a reflection of my insecurity on my part as a parent, but there is definitely pressure to put on something good.'
And looking good applies to every aspect of the party, right down to the cake. In the past, where store-bought 2-D cartoon character cakes from bakery chains that cost between $40 and $60 were the norm, nowadays parents are going for customised fondant cakes with unique designs from smaller bakeries.
Ms Foo Mei-Zee, owner of Let Them Eat Cake, who charges $250 for a two-tier fondant cake, says of parents today: 'They know exactly what they want, have done their research and want a perfect cake. They want quality and they don't mind paying for it because they want something beautiful and elegant.'
Housewife Christine Lee, 44, who recently threw her son a laser tag shootout party, paid $120 for a 3-D racing track cake, complete with cars.
She says: 'To have a normal cake is so common. It's something that happens once year, and you definitely want something nice, so why not?'
With business to cash in on, party planners are rolling out new concepts to rival what are already on offer so that parents get that desired one-of-a-kind party.
Party planner Nor Jannah, owner of The Little Ones, works with Ms Foo to create a dessert bar around themes like cupcake party or candy shoppe. She has even thrown a chocolate fondue party for kids. Her services start at $350.
One party she does has customised chocolate bars or mineral water bottles with the child's name on it, along with cupcakes, brownies and even intricately designed marshmallow pots. The total costs can go upwards of $1,000. Since she started in April last year, Ms Jannah has done about 10 such parties.
The price, she says, can be justified, given that cost is spread over a big guest list.
'To parents, they look at it overall,' she says. 'It's worth it because the price includes balloons, decorations and food and there are 30 to 40 kids. It's quite a small amount per guest.'
And guests lists, party planners say, can rival a small wedding - sometimes more than 100 people are invited. To up the ante, some parents even book function rooms in hotels to fit everyone in, just like a small wedding party.
The Royal Plaza on Scotts has seen a 20 per cent increase in demand for function rooms for children's parties compared to last year. Typically, they host between 6 to 12 birthday parties a year Its buffet lunch or high tea spread for birthday packages range from $50 to $55 a person.
Over at Marina Mandarin Singapore, it does about 10 to 15 children's parties a year where the guest list ranges from 50 to 100 people, with packages between $55 and $90 a head.
Lawyer Michelle Yong is not sold on the idea of a big bash, even for her daughter's first birthday - an occasion that is usually celebrated with much pomp and grandeur.
The 29-year-old decided to keep things 'small', to just 30 close friends and family at her house, and spent $300, mostly on desserts such as cupcakes and trifles.
'I wanted it to be cosy and intimate, nothing quite over the top. After all, she's too young to remember the details but I wanted a sense of the occasion. We'll just have the party immortalised in pictures.'
natashaz@sph.com.sg
May 1, 2011
Bash the budget
Children's birthday parties are getting bigger and more lavishas parents splurge on elaborate theme parties
By Natasha Ann Zachariah
Birthday parties for children, which used to be just for close families and friends, are getting bigger, and more expensive too.
Parent-planned parties have made way for themed parties planned by professionals, which run into the thousands of dollars, compared to just a few hundred dollars before.
The Ministry of Party, an 11-year-old party planning company which specialises in children's birthday parties, has seen more Singaporeans willing to throw a party for their children, sparing no cost.
And they are not just the pampered offspring of the well-heeled. Owner Edwin Goh, 31, says that it is no longer a 'rich man's event'.
'When we first started out, we were doing parties in landed property homes and condos, but these days we get many requests from HDB homes as well. Parents will spend on their children, especially if the child wants it. '
His services such as balloon sculpting and face painting cost between $350 and $800 for one party which usually runs for two to three hours, depending on the number of activities.
His most extravagant party? A $15,000 affair held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, where his client, a mother of two, ordered expensive organic food for party guests.
While the majority of children's birthday parties may not be as indulgent, parents are still spending more than they previously did. LifeStyle reported in 2007 that the average party started at $300 for a birthday package, but now, parents can expect to spend upwards of $2,000 to throw a bash.
But for one parent, having the chance to celebrate her children's birthdays is worth the amount she has to pay. Mrs Celian Leong, 35, has yearly birthday parties for each of her three children - two sons aged eight and six, and a 21/2-year-old daughter - and does not mind spending at least $2,000 each birthday.
The gourmet consultant recently threw a party for her middle child, Ee-Jun, at a function room at Suntec City, for about 80 people.
She spent a month planning the gongfu-themed party for her Bruce Lee-loving son. She engaged Ministry of Party to provide a magician who also did balloon sculpting and played games with the 30 children. In total, she spent an estimated $2,500 to $3,000 for the party which was held last month.
'It is nice to have parties for them because they really do enjoy it, not us parents,' she says. 'It also shows how much we value our children and want to make it a memorable day for them.'
To add some pizzazz, she personalised 50 goody boxes filled with candies and toys, which were not available locally and which she sourced online. For previous parties, she had printed shirts, lunch boxes and customised caps with her son's face on them.
Mrs Leong, who says that her parties get bigger every year, says: 'I do get good feedback from the other parents that the party is well-planned and that their children have many things to take home. It makes me happy when everyone enjoys it.'
For herself, it is also a chance to network and socialise with other parents with whom she volunteers at her sons' schools.
'It's a chance to get to know them outside of the school context. It's also good that I know who my sons' friends' parents are. This is just like buying them dinner.'
Party planner Aaron Leong of Party Impact, says some parents do feel the pressure to put on a good party, sometimes even from their children.
The planner, who has been in the business for nine years, says: 'Nowadays, the children are very mature and they know what they want for their parties and they will ask for it, and parents will pay for it.'
Mother-of-two Samantha Tay recently wrote to The Straits Times lamenting her experience with lavish children's birthday parties, which she described as parents 'flaunting their wealth in a game of one- upmanship against neighbours and friends'.
When contacted, the 38-year-old education administrator says: 'Maybe it is a reflection of my insecurity on my part as a parent, but there is definitely pressure to put on something good.'
And looking good applies to every aspect of the party, right down to the cake. In the past, where store-bought 2-D cartoon character cakes from bakery chains that cost between $40 and $60 were the norm, nowadays parents are going for customised fondant cakes with unique designs from smaller bakeries.
Ms Foo Mei-Zee, owner of Let Them Eat Cake, who charges $250 for a two-tier fondant cake, says of parents today: 'They know exactly what they want, have done their research and want a perfect cake. They want quality and they don't mind paying for it because they want something beautiful and elegant.'
Housewife Christine Lee, 44, who recently threw her son a laser tag shootout party, paid $120 for a 3-D racing track cake, complete with cars.
She says: 'To have a normal cake is so common. It's something that happens once year, and you definitely want something nice, so why not?'
With business to cash in on, party planners are rolling out new concepts to rival what are already on offer so that parents get that desired one-of-a-kind party.
Party planner Nor Jannah, owner of The Little Ones, works with Ms Foo to create a dessert bar around themes like cupcake party or candy shoppe. She has even thrown a chocolate fondue party for kids. Her services start at $350.
One party she does has customised chocolate bars or mineral water bottles with the child's name on it, along with cupcakes, brownies and even intricately designed marshmallow pots. The total costs can go upwards of $1,000. Since she started in April last year, Ms Jannah has done about 10 such parties.
The price, she says, can be justified, given that cost is spread over a big guest list.
'To parents, they look at it overall,' she says. 'It's worth it because the price includes balloons, decorations and food and there are 30 to 40 kids. It's quite a small amount per guest.'
And guests lists, party planners say, can rival a small wedding - sometimes more than 100 people are invited. To up the ante, some parents even book function rooms in hotels to fit everyone in, just like a small wedding party.
The Royal Plaza on Scotts has seen a 20 per cent increase in demand for function rooms for children's parties compared to last year. Typically, they host between 6 to 12 birthday parties a year Its buffet lunch or high tea spread for birthday packages range from $50 to $55 a person.
Over at Marina Mandarin Singapore, it does about 10 to 15 children's parties a year where the guest list ranges from 50 to 100 people, with packages between $55 and $90 a head.
Lawyer Michelle Yong is not sold on the idea of a big bash, even for her daughter's first birthday - an occasion that is usually celebrated with much pomp and grandeur.
The 29-year-old decided to keep things 'small', to just 30 close friends and family at her house, and spent $300, mostly on desserts such as cupcakes and trifles.
'I wanted it to be cosy and intimate, nothing quite over the top. After all, she's too young to remember the details but I wanted a sense of the occasion. We'll just have the party immortalised in pictures.'
natashaz@sph.com.sg
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