Birthday Party Theme FAQ’s
For what ages are your birthday parties most appropriate?
In general, our themed birthday party packages are designed for children age 4 through 12. However, some events can be slightly adjusted or redesigned for younger toddlers.
How far in advance should I book my theme birthday party?
If you have a specific date in mind, we recommend calling well in advance of your chosen date. We are often booked up for 8 to 12 weeks in advance. You can reserve the date with a deposit and then decide the details when you are ready.
What form of payment do you accept?
We accept personal checks, cash, and money orders. To reserve your party date, we require a non-refundable deposit of $125.00. We require a payment of 50% of the remaining balance of your party package once you have approved your invitation. Invitations will not be mailed until this deposit is received. If you chose to cancel for any reason, your deposit is non-refundable. The remaining balance is due 5 days prior to your event. We cannot accept payment on the day of the event and if the balance is not received by the party date we reserve the right to cancel your event.
Do you have a location?
We do not have a party location. We bring the party to you! Think of our role in your event as similar to that of a wedding planner. The wedding planner doesn't provide the venue, rather he or she coordinates the event at the venue you select. That is essentially how we provide our events. We coordinate the event at your chosen venue (your home, community clubhouse, country club, hotel, banquet hall, etc.).
What locations do you serve?
Giggledust Parties serves the Greater Philadelphia area including Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. We serve locations within 25 miles of the 19525 zip code for no charge. Locations that are over 25 miles from the 19525 will be assessed a travel fee. For locations 26-40 miles, a travel fee is determined by the round trip mileage from the 19525 zip code to the customer’s location. Mileage over 25 miles one-way/50 miles round trip will be assessed 75 cents per mile. For locations 41-60 miles, a $50 travel fee will be assessed in addition to the 75cents per mile charge. Mileage is determined by Mapquest. For example, a customer lives in the Kennett Square, PA zip code 19348. This is 44 miles one way from 19525. This customer would be charged a $78.50 travel fee. (44 miles – 25 miles = 19 miles one way; 38 X .75 = 28.50 round trip + $50 travel fee )
Do you provide 1st birthday parties?
We especially love milestone birthdays, and the first birthday is indeed very special. Because first birthdays typically include a wide age range of children, as well as many adults and family members, we have designed our Barnyard Bash with a one year old birthday in mind. It includes activities that children of all ages would enjoy. Additionally, we would be happy to custom-design your child’s first birthday celebration.
What is the minimum/maximum number of guests that I can invite?
Our party packages are designed for a minimum of 8 guests including the guest of honor. Each additional guest is $20 with the exception of our Bee Natural Spa Party. Most of our packages have a maximum of 12 guests including the guest of honor. We will do our best to accomodate larger parties. When the party guests exceed 12 children, there will be a need for a second hostess for a fee of $65. We do have several packages that work better for larger parties. Please contact us for details.
Will I be charged for children who RSVP but do not attend the party?
Parties that have less than eight children will be charged for the minimum of eight children. Some guests may not attend the party, even if they RSVP that they will attend. Please remember that we charge according to the final guest count that you provide, not the number of children that attend. Many of our items are personalized so it is important that your guest list is accurate. If you have children show up that are not on your final headcount, we will do our best to include them but cannot guarantee that they will receive cupcakes or favors.
How do you handle siblings?
Our party packages cover only the guest of honor and their guests. Please include any siblings in the final count if you would like for them to be included in the party activities. Please remember that our most of our party packages are designed for specific age groups and do not work as well with children outside of this age group.
What time should the birthday guests arrive?
We suggest that the guests arrive no more than 10 minutes prior to the party time listed on the invitation. We will have a themed “waiting” area for your guests to get acquainted with their surroundings and the party theme. We have found that the children need this time to avoid being distracted once the party is underway.
All activities are carefully planned out, and any child arriving late may join the activities at the point that they have progressed. This is necessary to ensure the least amount of disruption to the party, and your understanding is appreciated.
I would like Giggledust Parties to host my event, but do not see a theme that I like. Do you do any other themes?
We are always adding new themes and would love your input! Let us know what theme you would like and we will create it! In addition, our custom packages can be tailored to your needs.
What happens if I cancel the party?
In the event that you have to cancel your party, we will reschedule your event for another date. Please try to allow two weeks’ notice. Due to the nature of our business the deposit is NONREFUNDABLE.
What are the space requirements for your décor?
Giggledust Parties provides wonderfully themed props for each of our parties. For those events hosted in your home, we request a cleared out area. We need at least a 10’x12’ space to accommodate our table setting and an 8’x8’ space for dress-up and crafts. We do not move furniture and request that the area be cleared out prior to our arrival.
If the weather is nice, you may take the party outdoors to a clean, non-grassy, non-dirt area such as a patio or deck. We can provide a 10x10 canopy at an additional cost; otherwise we will need a shady or covered area to set up. We reserve the right to determine if the outdoor area is suitable for our equipment. The temperature must not exceed 80 degrees at the time of the event setup.
How long do your parties last?
Our Giggledust Party all-inclusive packages provide 1.5 hours of scheduled activities. The party time listed on the invitation will be two hours to accommodate time to open presents. We will arrive two hours before the scheduled party time to set up and will require up to 45 minutes breakdown time after the party. Your invitation will state a start and end time for our event. All Giggledust Events start and end on time- no exceptions. We cannot accommodate parties that last longer than 2 hours and we will not extend your event because of late arrivals. It is your responsibility to communicate the party timeline to your guests if you believe this will be an issue.
Breakdown of your event will begin at the end time stated on your invitation. If you wish to continue your event after our service is complete, we request that you move your guests to a separate area while we break down. As we often have several events booked in one day, there is no wiggle room with this policy. In the event that we are not able to break down your event on time, you will be charged an additional fee of $75.00 per hour.
Who will be hosting my child's party the day of the event?
All Giggledust Parties are hosted by the owner and professional party planner, Jamie Boudman. Other professional assistants may join her in hosting events that require more than one person (spa party, carnival, etc). Only in the event of illness or emergency, will another professional party hostess be substituted, ensuring that your event can take place as scheduled.
Does the party hostess come in costume?
Our party hostesses provide a high energy experience and come dressed in comfortable clothing that allows them to move freely and interact fully with the children. Our hostesses do not wear costumes, but appropriate attire.
How do you handle inclement weather or illness?
In the event of severe weather or unforeseen circumstances/illness, Giggledust Parties reserves the right to reschedule your party. If you choose to cancel the party due to severe weather or illness, please remember that your deposit is non-refundable. We will gladly work with you to reschedule your party for an alternate date. Please be advised, if new invitations, food or beverages are needed there will be an additional charge.
What do I need to do to prepare for my child’s event?
Please keep any pets clear from the party area.
Please allow ample space in driveway or in front of your home for us to park and unload. We will be carrying many heavy items.
Please provide a smoke-free environment.
Please be mindful that we need the entire 1.5-2 hours uninterrupted to set up for your event. We appreciate your redirecting all children and guests away from the set-up area.
Please notify Giggledust Parties in advance of any other vendor/s you may have hired to provide services before or after our scheduled event. Our parties are fully scheduled and we may need to adapt our program.
How do you handle disruptive children?
We strictly provide entertainment. We are not caretakers/babysitters. The party hostess is responsible for the flow of the party and the party activities. It is the client’s responsibility to monitor disruptive behavior and attend to any child who does not want to participate. This will help us to provide the best possible experience for you and your child.
How do you handle Allergies and Special Diets?
It is very important for you to inquire whether any of your guests have a food allergy. If a guest has food allergies, we recommend that you or the child’s parent provide an alternative treat for the child. Giggledust Parties is not responsible for allergic reactions or any other medical reaction stemming from the menu, wearing of costumes, or any activity taken place before, during or after the party. In the case of liability and/or financial remuneration due to the aforementioned, the responsibility lies strictly with the client.