Planning any event can be a long and stressful process. When it’s your child’s Birthday, you don’t want to disappoint and your big wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a truly memorable experience that you want to look back on fondly for the rest of your life.
In order to give you some help, we decided to call up our friend Carla, who runs Party Auntie. Since 2017, Party Auntie has been the go-to organiser for events that involve children, from Birthday parties and general family events to wedding creches and christenings.
We really enjoy working with Party Auntie and with Carla’s decade of experience in the events industry, we consider her the best when it comes to children’s parties. She has seen it all and has a true passion for what she does.
Be sure to show Party Auntie some love by visiting her website!
First of all, a big thank you for providing us with your expertise on children’s parties. Can we start with a quick explanation of how you got started with Party Auntie: Where does your passion come from and why do you decide to do it?
“Party Auntie actually started as a blog when I was working abroad as an events coordinator. I had some time on my hands and I love the events industry, so it seemed like a good way to do some research and get creative.
I love it because I love seeing the finished result. Working on projects where you start with the initial plans, you start to build foundations and then on the day when it all comes together is quite an amazing feeling. It’s getting that initial reaction from the parents and their kids and seeing their faces light up when they walk in, seeing it all done and ready for them to enjoy.
I think the parents are relieved to not have to deal with all that work and stress themselves [laughs], so they can actually enjoy the time with their kids.”
What are the most common themes and requests your clients ask for with their party plans?
“Definitely unicorns [laughs]. Frozen is also very, very popular. For the boys, dinosaur themes have been a popular request.”
Do you have a signature mark that you put on your parties that makes them definitively a ‘Party Auntie’ party?
“You can definitely see an environmentally-friendly aesthetic throughout my events, so all the napkins will be cotton, the straws are usually made from metal and the cutlery is often wooden. It’s these sorts of things that people pick up on so they can tell it’s one of my events. And that’s something that means a lot to me.
Every party is different as the theme calls for a different style. So one week we might do a rustic Beatrix Potter party and the next could be a modern dinosaur party, but keeping that environmentally-friendly feel is important to me and sets me apart from other event planners.
I think it’s especially important that the children who are attending these parties sees these environmentally friendly things, like the wooden cutlery and metal straws as it shows them how they can help contribute to the wellbeing of our planet.”
Have you had any really crazy requests from a client before? I’m sure anybody reading this would love a good story!
“I’ve had a request once for a real unicorn. As you can imagine, that was a hard one, but I managed to find a local provider who brought along a teeny Shetland Pony with a unicorn. So it can be done and I was relieved to not disappoint that child!
Whatever your wish, it is my command.”
You’ve been hiring from Rent Event for about 2 years now. It’s going to be hard to answer this, as you’re being asked by us, but what was it that led you to hiring from us and why do you keep coming back?
“You’re really helpful, Jamie! Your catalogue is fantastic with a good range of products and I enjoy working with you.”
What would your advice be for those who are currently planning a birthday party for their little ones, especially during the Covid-19 lockdown?
“If you’re currently planning a party that falls within the next couple of months, you’re obviously limited. But you’ve got Zoom parties with classmates. We’re now offering the party box service, so that you can have a more intimate party at home for three or four. Just you, mum, dad, brother and sister.
The details are important, really focus on them and making it a wholesome experience for all the family. Sometimes it’s nicer to do things smaller and with more focus on details. Enjoy that and you can always postpone it for a summer party.”
Do you find the parents get bored at these parties at all?
“Parents don’t get bored at the parties! [laughs] They love it!
They get served tea, coffee, nibbles. They get to sit down and watch the children play, get involved in the games, get their photographs taken with their children, which I know the children also really appreciate, too.
They want to enjoy themselves just as much as the children do, so they don’t get bored. Our parties are always different, so they’re always getting something a bit different and a bit unusual. [laughs]”
You also offer creches for children attending wedding parties. Tell us a bit about that, what has the response been like from both the parents and children?
“I think the creches have had a fantastic response. It’s quite a unique service, not a lot of people in our area offer it.
I think, above all, when the parents realise that there’s something there for the kids it just highlights how the bride and groom have been really planning, thinking ahead and considering everyone who will be there on the big day.
So it’s nice to see that they have that option and it really allows the parents to relax and just enjoy the day knowing that we will keep the kids entertained and keep them happy, especially during the speeches and the parts the kids may find boring. Having us on hand is really beneficial and it’s been brilliant for us, too.”
It’s been amazing to get your insight into party planning for children’s events. Is there anything else you would like to add? How can people get in contact with you?
“We’ve talked about the birthdays and creches, but we also do all family events, be it a christening or holy communion. We can also do baby showers, so we’re not limited just by children’s events, we’re a family party planner.
If you want to get in contact, the best way is to just email me on hello@partyauntie.com and it will be myself dealing directly with your enquiry. Or you can even just email me if you want to ask a question or chat about a party you’re planning. I’m always more than happy to help!”