Kids party themes: The Princess and the Frog

For my own fourth birthday party it’s probable that we had jam sandwiches, a few bowls of crisps, a somewhat sunken in the middle birthday cake made (with love) by my mother and musical bumps.

The children absolutely loved it and when our own life-sized Princess Tiana walked into the room in her ex-wedding dress come froggy-styled ball gown she was almost rugby tackled to the ground by a stampede of three and four year-olds.

These days much more thought goes in to children’s parties. I run the Styling Academy and specialise in running courses and workshops designed to help you make the best of yourself and boost your confidence. We also organise children’s parties and believe me, these are parties with a difference.

We host many in five star hotels and they often include children’s entertainers, bouncy castles, nails bars, Hannah Montana look-alikes and which ever Princess is new on the block.

Big parties are big and the competition is fierce. We recently organised a party for a footballer whose three year-old daughter was mad on Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog – the latest craze for girls it seems.

Problem was we didn’t have a costume and none were available to buy so what should have been my day off actually involved racing around charity shops breathlessly asking a shocked volunteer if they had any wedding dresses as I needed one for two days time (I didn’t have time to explain that I wasn’t actually getting married). Thankfully people do actually donate their wedding dresses and by the fourth shop I’d hit the jackpot.

Next was converting it. I sat up until midnight sewing green chiffon on an ex wedding dress, making a tiara, oh and of course dyeing the gloves to match. Was it worth it? It sure was and while some people may think this is excessive I think why not? The children absolutely loved it and when our own life-sized Princess Tiana walked into the room in her ex-wedding dress come froggy-styled ball gown she was almost rugby tackled to the ground by a stampede of three and four year-olds. It really made the day and parents we’re delighted. Let’s face it, happy kids = happy mum and dad.

It didn’t just stop at the Princess appearance either. We themed the whole room (thankfully we were able to buy most things) from frog confetti to table centre pieces, chair covers and balloons and our trusted and talented cupcake baker created some fabulous froggy-themed cupcakes. There wasn’t a saggy cake in sight (sorry mum). The birthday girls’ mummy even bought in a huge Princess Tiana shaped cake.

As for the dress - it’s now got a whole new career working as a Princess and The Frog costume. I’m now waiting for the call for Toy Story 3 – anyone got an old cowboy hat?

Kelly Doran runs Big Fish Productions and The Styling Academy and specialises in organising children’s parties.
www.funkyfish-pr.com
heystylingacademy

Next time: make up, nails, photo shoots and catwalking. Yes, it’s the supermodel theme that’s taking over the world...