Compare kids' birthday parties today to the ones you had a child. Now, compare both to the extravagant spending on parties for the children of the uber-wealthy. Balloons for $5,000? That's just the beginning. Here, the recipe for the most lavish, most outrageous and most whimsical parties.
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The Invitations: $4000
Ellen Black of Lehr & Black, "invitationer" to the stars and Saudi royalty, designs invitations that will, as she said, "just blow you away and let out a scream." That's why clients such as Nicole Ritchie and Courtney Love, who want "invitations that no one's ever seen before" come to her. This 3-D "Small World" invitation recreated the Disney ride, complete with music and moving parts for $200 a pop.
productphotography.com.
The Flowers: $35,000
Daisies and roses? Come on! Parties for the young-and-rich go all the way. "We did a party for a socialite's one-year-old daughter and transformed her living room into Central Park," said Meredith Wega-Perez, owner of Belle Fleur. "And one very creative customer with twins so loved their dogs that we created life-sized ones out of flowers with rhinestone collars." Belle Fleur has done birthdays for Kate Winslet and Salma Hayek. "It's all about the detail."
Courtesy of Belle Fleur, NYC
The Cake: $1,000 and up
One new trend is to bake individual cakes for each guest -- in addition to the big cake! Los Angeles-based Sweet Lady Jane offers a eye- (and waist-) popping pink and blue castle cake with turrets and flags for just over $1,000. "But we've made even bigger," says master baker Jane Lockhart, including a butterfly masterpiece for Suri Cruise and the mini-cakes which reportedly added up to much, much more.
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The Theme: $5,000 - $20,000
The most popular are dinosaurs and princesses. Christina Aguilera and Nicole Richie threw a joint party for the first birthdays of Max and Harlow, with a Where the Wild Things Are theme, complete with costumed characters and elaborate decorations. Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale celebrated Kingston's second last May with a cowboy-themed bash with live ponies. Quite a bit more expensive than Pin the Tail on the Donkey, ponies generally rent for about $300 per hour each.
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The Gift: $200 and up
What are A-list tots getting as presents? "Custom engraved iPod Nanos, cashmere by baby cz, engraved silver from Tiffany & Co. and organic toys from Giggle, says Liz Seccuro, creative director of Dolce Parties in Greenwich, CT. "It's also common for hosts to request that a donation of books or cash be given to a charity in lieu of a gift."
The Outfit: $2,000 for mom; $300 for child
"Look-at-me, I'm casual" attire currently in vogue among A-list mamas includes a cashmere sweater ($700) and jeans ($200) plus pearls ($500) and flats ($600). Lilly Pulizer's bright floral-print dresses are little girl magnets, while boys look like little princes in Best & Co.'s pull-over sweaters.
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The Entertainment: $10,000 and up
If your kids insist on having DJ A.M. or Mark Ronson spin, be prepared to shell out $10,000 to $100,000. Hollywood's kiddie royalty (Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers and Hilary Duff) will charge far more just to make an appearance, said Arthur Backal, owner of State of the Art Productions, party planner and producer to the New York elite. Be prepared to pay additional "rider" fees for special foods, towels, scented candles, reading material, beverages, transportation, travel and hotel costs.
Jakubaszek, Getty Images
The Photographer: $7,500
When dad with the digi-cam just won't do, call in the pros. The best photographer will approach the party like Annie Leibovitz, scouting the location for the best shots beforehand. After the event, have your personal assistant go on Blurb to have photo-books created for all your friends and relatives (up to $80 each). If Annie isn't free, Robert Evans, notable for having shot the TomKat nupitals, is the obvious choice.
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The Venue: $25,000
If your backyard just won't do, renting space in an aquarium or museum is one popular option. Plus, it adds structure and built-in entertainment. These types of venues can cost $15,000 to $25,000 and up. Despite the obvious appeal of hosting a party at a kid-friendly venue, many A-listers (including Gwen and Gavin) still host parties at their beautiful homes.
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 5)
1-31-2009 @ 2:00PM
Annette Adler said...This is insane and even more so in this economy. What are we teaching kids these days? How does one continue to "top" the previous year's event? When does it stop? This is only creating a more entitled groups of kids that grow up and will always have their hands out to their parents and never learn the value of money or how to manage it. I can understand a party when they reach some milestone and might actually appreciate it, say like 16 years old. There is no reason for a friggen bd party every year. I simply think it is for parents to try to out due each other and show the others how successful and beautiful and popular we are..parents can be such idiots!!
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1-31-2009 @ 1:49PM
Serena said...Stupid rich people spoiling their kids rotten. What's the point of having a big $100k party, anyway?
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1-31-2009 @ 1:54PM
mg181818 said...It ain't about the kids.
It is Mz. Queen Bee trying to outdo all the other Queen Bees.
Thorsten Veblem wrote about 100 years back about the need for the wealthy to establish "pecking order" with ostentatious display.
Wealthy "mature" men need that young, sexy trophy wife.
Wealthy older women "Cougars" to you hip folks, have to grab the hunkiest guy they can and then be sure to take him out on the town after a wild day in the sack -- so he falls asleep in front of all her friends. "Poor boy, I guess I did wear him out."
The kids birthday extravaganza fits the same display mode.
Any kid under 10 years of age will only remember a birthday party, if there was a lot of fun playing with friends -- not Momma showing off for strangers.
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1-31-2009 @ 1:56PM
G said...umm..who gives five craps if these people spend 100k on their kids b-day.apparently they have the money and trust me they worked hard for it.don't be jealous or feel like you're a bad parent bcuz u cant give ur kids this kind of party. honestly it comes down to can u afford it or not.? and if u can why not?! but it is true that some parents show off through there kids parties...and the kids [sometimes] do grow up to be snobby. but thats there issue not yours.but my friend always had nice small parties at her house with a couple of her girlfriends and we had a blast! an no, there were no pony rides and she didn't live in a mansion.lol
and stop bullshitting with all this im not jealous its about the kids blah blah blah.
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1-31-2009 @ 1:58PM
helpfamilies said...WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY ........
THEY'VE NO RESPECT FOR MONEY .
THIS IS MY POINT , CELEBRITIES OR
RICH PEOPLE CAN HELP FAMILIES WHO'S
GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES WITH THERE
FINANCE .
CELEBRITIES , OR PEOPLE WHO'S RICH COULD
AFFORD TO PAY A FAMILIES MORTGAGES OFF
EASY.
SPEND $3 MILLION DOLLARS AND PAY OFF AS
MANY MORTGAGES AS POSSIBLE .....
GIVE BACK ....MORE LIKELY THE FAMILIES WHO'S
HAVING HARD TIMES NOW , BROUGHT PRODUCTS
OF CELEBRITIES , THAT'S HOW THE CELEBRITIES
BECAME RICH .
GIVE BACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If OPRAH , HAD ALL HER FRIENDS AND OTHERS
HELP TO PAY FAMILIES MORTGAGES IT WOULD
SUPRISE YOU ......1000'S WERE BE PAID OFF
FAST .....WHEN YOU'VE THAT MUCH CLOUT ,
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
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1-31-2009 @ 1:59PM
Judy said...You want your children to have the best of everything? Good...just give it to them when they are 30 years old. If they have it all they have no incentive to excel and make it on their own in this world. My Dad used to say "It's a tough world out there." And I smiled and wondered what was so tough? I found out.
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2-01-2009 @ 11:10PM
Susan Stark said...How interesting that my comment has not been posted...are words such as "obscene", "entitlement", censored out? Truth bites. Where's my comment?
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1-31-2009 @ 2:43PM
JILL ALLEN said...REAL STYLE AND CLASS IS UNDERSTATEMENT. A FEW OF YOUR CHILD'S FRIENDS. I NICE LITTLE PARTY APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN. WE IN AMERICA ARE BLOATED FOOLS. WE NEED TO TAKE A PAGE FROM THE EUROPEANS AND DEVELOP A LITTLE SUBTLETY. OUR CHILDREN IN THE LONG RUN WILL HAVE SOME CLASS.
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1-31-2009 @ 3:39PM
Neena said...Yeah its fine to give your child a nice party. But why go overboard? after rented ponies.. helicopter rides.. hydroplane gliding? jet skis's b4 they are in 2-3rd grades? Some of my nieces and nephews are way too spoiled.. we are talking manicures, pedicures on 8 year old girls.. Not to mention salon applied fake nails. Shessh.. when they get older whats left?
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1-31-2009 @ 6:11PM
Tessie said...My kids favorite partys were : scavanger hunts-pin the tail on the whatever-marco polo games in the pool etc. The only money spent was on tiny treats I baked in the cake and some balloons for decoration ! I had 6 kids-all a year apart -and they never expected or wanted anything else !! Material goods never brought happiness-a loving family did.
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1-31-2009 @ 7:34PM
Anna said...I'd like to know what the parents who spend thousands of dollars on a small child's birthday party buy when the kid graduates grammar school, high school or college. A million dollar house? How about a 747. It seems that this is a "can you top this" world. I feel sorry for the kids. How can they ever get to know the value of a dollar or appreciate the simple things in life? It's sad, I think.
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2-01-2009 @ 10:53PM
isisaquaria said...You asked---when my now 13yo graduated from kindergarten--I threw a graduation party raising money for the school--when she graduated from fifth grade-we threw a party to raise money for a local family who lost everything in a fire over Spring Break--when she graduates from middle school--a party to help raise money for a local church that had several things stolen----
These are her ideas, not mine. We throw parties at the end of every school yr at our cost to give the kids a day to celebrate the success of moving forward.
A credit card (with low limits) at 13yo, a car at 16yo in her name, all her college paid for by us--no loans needed to get a decent start in life--
SPOILED--all of four of my children are very much spoiled. But thus far, my 13yo and 6yo both ask that we help others more often at parties. They need nothing but easily realize how quickly it could be lost. As long as they keep volunteering at the hosp, helping the little leagues, giving of themselves the way we do to them--
I have no problem spoiling them--I can always make more money....I can't replace the lessons taught and the memories made
1-31-2009 @ 7:46PM
Anna said...What's going to happen to these spoiled brats when they go out into the real world? They either can't move out their parent's house or come running back because they can't support the style they were used to. Parents, you'll have them living off you forever. Serves you right.
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1-31-2009 @ 9:19PM
alyssa banko said...I just threw a party for my nine year twin boys that was probably the best one they've ever had. Why you ask? Because I asked them what they wanted to do with their friends and I that's exactly what I did. I threw a flag football birthday bash at the park, served hot dogs and cupcakes and insisted on no gifts but rather offered a donation box for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. My boys absolutely loved it, their guests loved it and so do the other parents. It wasn't expensive, it wasn't extravagant, it WAS fun and memorable for all who attended. You can read more about it on my blog www.mommywarriors.com.
Remember, it's all about the kids!
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2-04-2009 @ 12:08AM
Magic Johnson said...Throwing a nice birthday party for your own child is not frivolous if you can really afford however much is spent AND it has nothing to do with shallowness. A successful and wealthy person can still have morals and compassion. NOT ALL of the wealthy are snobs or ignorant. I understand some expenses may shock some people as maybe even the parent! but they do it because it is possible and want to show them the day of their birth was the most important day that has happened to them. I simply throw big birthday parties every year for my son because it's the only day he can get what he wants. Seriously. Appreciation of coming into my life, straight A's, and good citizenship if he wants that party! haha
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2-04-2009 @ 12:17AM
JENISIS said...Oh and MAN somebody throw this Anna leaving depressing comments a birthday party ...... please!
It's not "top this every year" it's "let's celebrate that again every year"
Sounds like she either needs to:
a. go have a baby
b. save some money
c. make some money
Good luck!
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4-30-2009 @ 2:59AM
Saundra said...No. Remember everything you do sends a message to your children. What is the message of a birthday party that lavish? It causes them to feel entitlement as if it were their due without having done much to deserve it but be your kids. They know most other kids don't get that kind of treatment so it tells them they are better than the rest and they don't have to do anything to get this. this has a tendency to grow into snobbishness and cause them to believe it will always come to them with little or no effort. Later you will wonder why they act as if they don't think they should have to do anything but have a good time. The results of this could be much worse than you think. It not only turns kids into slothful couch potatoes, but rebellious kids as well. And after years of this it becomes boring to them so they look for a higher high. Drugs? Depression? Felonious behavior? Suicide? Your job as a parent is to give your kids love, and a role model to look up to. It is also your job to give of yourself, not just your money, but your time in teaching them how to be sucessful adults. They need to learn to stand on their own two feet and face the world without you and your money one day, so the earlier you teach them the better off they will be. you need to teach them reason and logic and it is extremely time consuming if done properly. Here I cannot stress enough that all of this must be done without instilling fear of punishment in them. If you take your time with them very little punishment will be necessary and it must never be physical punishment. Remember like begets like. If you become violent with them they will become resentful, rebellious and violent in return. All of this may seem to be some idealistic lecture but I say it because it is not something money can buy. No, lavish birthday parties are ridiculous, sending an entirely erroneous message. Reward them for good behavior and for their creativity and imaginations. You will be well rewarded in return.
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