A Not-So Subtle Post on Affording a Party Planner (or NOT)

Recently in an online party planner forum, a bunch of us were venting about how the average client can have NO idea how much work goes into a party. One woman said, "Someone should subtlety blog about this topic!" Ooooh, I love a good challenge! But let me tell you one thing: Kenna + subtle have never, like EVER, been used in the same sentence. Did I mention ever?

I am writing this post mainly to give some much-needed insight to potential clients who are dreaming of hiring a party planner; a little perspective on all of the work that would go in to making your party an "event to remember!" But, let's be honest... I'm also writing to vent. Miss Party Mom loves a good vent sesh.

First, I want to get some things out of the way. In my whopping one year of experience running Miss Party Mom Event Planning, I have made next to nothing financially. I mean, sure there's been a paycheck here and there, and thank goodness for that or I'd really feel like a loser, but what I'm saying is that if any normal person were to sit down and do the math on the hours I've put into an average client's party- they would come to this conclusion: what an idiot! 

One of the hardest things for me in this business is being a perfectionist who has party vision (which is a lot like tunnel vision) regardless of the money involved. I would rather dip into my own profit than skimp on a party detail. For the first year I said, "I want to be featured on all of the party blogs- so I will cut myself a lot of slack in the profit department!" I have no idea if this is a good idea, I am DEFINITELY not here to write about making smart business moves in this industry. All I know is that I caught the eye of the "big party blogs," got some exposure and made some fans. I am now entering my second year and I am REALLY going to try and make some money this year... a novel thought!

To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, here are some of the things I've done that have taken extra time and most would have charged more for. These are things that I didn't ever consider I'd be doing in my party planning career:

• Run to Walmart with 2 small kids at 8 p.m. the night before, to get hot glue sticks
• Been a counselor, calming and de-stressing parents pre-party, saying things like, "It's ok- deep breath, it's going to be fabulous!" 
• Stayed post-party to help clean the house 
• Been snapped at to do things like, "Cut the cake, please!?" 
• Worked until 4:30 a.m., only to wake at 6:30 a.m. to start loading up to leave for a party
• Scrubbed a client's kitchen floor down on my hands and knees because it was gross and my dessert table was going in it
• Bought a child's party outfit because the clients didn't have anything good planned

This is a just short list of a few of the things a client would potentially be doing in order to throw an amazing party: staying up late, entering into a serious monogamous relationship with the hot glue gun, burning at least one finger on that glue gun, making sure their child looks party-amazing, scrubbing their own floors, making late-night Walmart runs- and I don't know... taking a Paxil or 2...?

How much is this worth to you? Are these things you don't mind doing? How good are you at doing them? Do you own the tools to get them done? How good do you want your party to look? And what are you willing to do/pay to get that look? Put a price point on how much your sanity is worth to you and how much you want your 5-year-old to have that Fairy Party with those glitter wing party favors and hand made fairy wands. Now that you've put a price on it- let's dip a bit further into reality.

Obviously every planner is going to have different pricing, that's a given. Especially based on where you live. One thing I now know after a year is that I will not even consider a party for less than $550. So please stop calling about a $300 party, it's insulting. And NO, $550 does not include food, so please- stop asking that too.

If I agree to do a party at $550, it's going to be a dessert bar in one of the MPM party themes. If you are screaming, "$550?!" at the screen, then please leave the blog now. You can come back when I'm venting about the kids, a much more relatable subject. I pretty much hate this price point and unless the theme is going to rock my socks, I'm kind of already over it. Let me tell you- $550 to a party planner is like pennies. I can spend that so fast (and have many times!), that this amount tends to get me resenting the fact I even signed up. But what do you get? You'll end up with an amazing 6 foot fully stocked and decorated dessert bar, because I literally cannot stop myself from being a partyaholic- (a workaholic party planner). A plus for you for sure.

Let's dissect the $550 price point, since you're still screaming, "$550!?" but are somehow STILL reading my words... I'm kind of addictive aren't I? A fully stocked dessert bar at Miss Party Mom for 30 guests (or less! No discounts!) will include a Small Cake, Cupcakes, Cake Pops and Custom Sugar Cookies (bagged as favors). So let's see... we'll need all of the ingredients to make all 4 of those desserts (in bulk), dessert decor (sprinkles, etc), gel food coloring, cake pop sticks, paper straws, dessert baggies, parchment paper, cupcake papers, custom printables (cupcake picks, pennants, thank you tags), ribbon to string pennants, glitter spray, things like: rhinestones, ric rack and tiny bows, spray mount, hot glue, glue sticks, card stock, printer ink (a big one), dessert plates, napkins, silverware, ETC- not to mention the fact I usually bring an assistant with me for set up (ya, they cost money too!)... this all adds up to about $300 (or at least I keep telling myself that). I mean, addition is some pretty simple math, people!

Subtraction is pretty simple math too, and all that leaves me with a profit margin of $250. Think about how crazy it is that I'm even taking this party! Crazy like, she must think this is going to pay off in a big way someday crazy. A profit of $250 for a minimum of 40 hours pre-party: making things, shopping online & in store, working with a graphic designer for a minimum of 6 hours to get the printables designed... only to pack up the party, load it in to the MPM truck, drive to said party, set up the party, stay at the party, take down the party, and in the mean time let my house go to hello operator the entire week before the party, come home from the party, feel dead from the party, unload the party, reorganize all of the party stuff back in to the Party Cave, catch up on all of the leftover housework created from the working on the party... for $250?! I can work less and make better money waitressing... oh and if the party's on a weekend, I am missing out on my waitressing money! I must really love doing this!

I know some people in this industry are reading this and may scoff at that price. And good for you, seriously. For me, in the small town I live in, where a party planner for most people would be about as necessary as hiring a chauffeur to drive you to Target (not that this doesn't sound awe-some!)... $550 is a place to start. And you can't imagine how many people have literally hung up the phone at that quote. If you want a full blown party with games, handmade favor bags with favors to go in them (think: fairy wands), a photo booth, more decor and a drink bar (I'm talkin' lemonade, not martinis) you're looking at a minimum of $700 in a theme I already have... and you guessed it- still no food! Gasp!

So, if you're thinking about hiring a party planner- let me assure you of something... They will be working their tail off for you to have a great party (with little to no stress on your part). And to reiterate: the week before a party, it is guaranteed that a planner will be up crazy kinds of late, unless they have a daytime nanny or something- in that case I'd like to yell, "NO FAIR!" It is also a fact that we will be driving around so much, we'll suck down at least a tank of gas which I have not even included in the cost because I can't mentally even go there. We will go to Michael's, Joann's, Target, Hobby Lobby and the local party supply so many times they will all know and fear me, (I mean us?) Lastly- and I can't take all party planners down with this one- but for Miss Party Mom, the laundry and dishes will be piled high, the kids' hygiene will have slipped waaay below health code standards, and my own hygiene? Oh dear, let's not even go there. I will most likely lose 5 pounds, unless Hannah force feeds me like my mom's been trying convince her to.

After all this, the only thing we ask is that you have your house party-ready (as in sparkling clean),  a smile on your face as guests arrive and a plan for cleaning up the party mess so we can go reunite with those people who once called us mom and like, take a shower... or 2? Oh and a, "Thank you SO much- I know you must be exhausted!" and maybe a Facebook status along the lines of, "@MissPartyMom Rocks, find her at www.misspartymom.com!!" also wouldn't hurt. No, really.

In conclusion I want to leave you with this. If you want to hire a party planner, be prepared to spend some cash. Put the party into your budget and own the fact that parties are expensive. Party newsflash! Even a middle-of-the road party at Chuck E Cheese for 15 kids is about $400. Go to their website if you don't believe me. And beware of any "cheap" party planner... I'd be worried if I met one. Hiring a party planner is a luxury item and it's not for everyone. I'm not saying it's only for rich people, I'm saying that gathering friends and family to celebrate {in style} would have to rank pretty high on your priority list.

If you choose to forgo hiring a professional- I want you to do something. I want you to add up ALL of the expenses from your next self-planned party, seriously. It will be a good exercise to see if you may even benefit from hiring a planner next time around. And lastly, please do not call your local planner asking for a discount, especially if that local party planner is me. I am working at a discount, trust me!

If you are a party planner by trade and I have left something BIG out that party planners do (I don't have nearly as much experience as some of you) feel free to leave it in the comments section if you'd be so bold! I will even let you be anonymous if you'd like (wussy).

                                                                   xo Party or Die xo
                                                                             kenna

Update: A Part 2 post was written on this subject by my editor who writes from the client's perspective- another interesting take on all of the work party planning takes! See that post here.



We packed up the car for our first party ever by 8 a.m. and were at the house by 8:30 a.m. Party planners work LONG days with LOTS of sweat and heavy lifting involved. I'm surprised I'm not in body-builder shape by now.

Did I mention I dressed up? Add it to my list.

Almost all of my favors are custom made. I'm not ordering from Oriental Trading Company over here! A custom party takes time. And time is money.

 We pitched a flippin' tent at a party. I mean, who does that? As if I'm not busy enough with set up- I've now committed to putting up a TENT? Oh first year, you were a crazy one.

Our cookies do not just make themselves, Hannah @ Hannah's Cookies and Treats makes them. And no you can't just pick up camping themed: fish, sleeping bag, acorn and tree cookies at your local market.

 Sizing things properly like these labels (graphic by Dimple Prints) will make you wish you never even had this idea.

This was one of my smaller parties, and the set up STILL took a full day, from 9am-5pm, don't get me started on taking it all down and reorganizing it all... did I mention it started raining leaving a lot of my decor ruined? Ya. An expense.

I was obsessed with the idea of this sign (designed by joliodesign) being spray glittered... so much so that I made 4 trips to Joann's for spray glitter because it kept clogging. Take into account that once you've started glittering something- there's NO turning back. Do YOU want to go somewhere 4 times for spray glitter?

Custom decor like this Hello Kitty face really helps a party to stand out and break away from the "store bought look." The time commitment on something of this size to go over a dessert table: about 4-5 hours.

This isn't Target party aisle decor we're talking (not that I don't love a good Target party aisle). Do you want to hand roll yarn ice creams late into the night, or would you rather pay someone to do it?

For this party, another one of our firsts- we hand scooped ice cream for 30 kids and wore soda jerk hats to complete the look. All in a day's work at MPM!

Things like Tink's Pixie Dust are not made quickly or easily. There is a tooth pick on the bottom of Tink's foot to get her to stand in the glitter- are these things you really want to figure out trial and error wise OR leave up to a pro? (Graphic by World Wide Party by Elena)

Ask yourself, how much do you want those handmade fairy wands and custom made favor bags??!

Just remember: they only turn 4 ONCE... Why NOT have an AMAZING party?
Said like a true party planner.