We’ve been fortunate enough in the past to convince the kids to travel for birthdays instead of hosting a party. The reason is purely selfish on my part. The thought of planning, organizing, preparing, and running a birthday party with a lot of kids starts to stress me out before the process even begins.
Will everyone invited actually attend?
Will different friend groups get along or will I have to deal with someone else’s “drama”?
How am I going to get the house all tidied before everyone shows up?
Will I have enough food? Will they eat the food?
Can I keep everyone entertained?
Oh the list goes on. But my oldest insisted on having a party with her friends this year and it seemed silly to argue with her about my personal worries. The challenge of course was finding a party venue that made my not-so-little girl happy without causing me anxiety to put it together.
Enter the Pretty in Pink Spa in Oakville an all-natural spa and retail outlet that caters specifically to the pre-teen girl. Speaking with spa owner Sonia about my party planning concerns, she concurred with my fears. It seems Sonia, like many moms, has dealt with many of the same worries. Pretty in Pink Spa actually emerged as the result of having gone through this same party planning stress herself. I was intrigued with the concept behind Pretty in Pink, both the natural beauty products used as well as the stress-free nature of their parties so I booked a party and here’s how they did against my past party planning concerns:
Does the theme appeal to pre-teens?
I don’t think my daughter is alone when it comes to her joy for pampering. She loves the idea of going to the spa as long as it is not geared to the preschool set. The fact that my daughter and the girls she invited talked about and planned for the event every day until the party date confirmed that the Pretty in Pink Spa party was a good choice.
Who handles the invitations?
It’s a little thing but it’s one more element when planning the party, creating invitations. Pretty in Pink provided cute little invites that we could fill out and give to the girls attending. I believe their plan is to one day add an online invitation option but my daughter loved hand delivering her special announcement. The invites are so much nicer than those printable ones you find online, again adding to the sophistication of the party, which my daughter loved.
Do I have to handle the food?
Most off-site party packages include the standard option of pizza. Neither I nor my daughter are huge fans of pizza, bad pizza, so I was thrilled that the Pretty in Pink Spa party packages included not only unlimited pink lemonade (so much nicer than pop) but also a choice of fresh gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches or an assortment of tea sandwiches. Of course a grown-up spa party required tea sandwiches. They looked so lovely on the tray with fruit and the girls savoured them. The best part is that I didn’t have to do anything – no ordering through another company or transporting them to the party – the sandwiches were there and ready when it was time to eat.
Don’t forget the cake?
No party is complete without cake but at the Pretty in Pink Spa the girls are served delightfully delicious individual cupcakes. You could choose your flavour during the planning process. I like cupcakes because there’s no worry about cutting slices or someone getting a bigger or smaller slice but Pretty in Pink Spa can substitute with a cake if you prefer. Whether you go cake or cupcakes you don’t have to worry about ordering it, picking it up or even transporting it to the party because Pretty in Pink Spa has it all covered.
Will the girls be entertained?
We’ve done the off-site party idea but I always seemed to be involved in the party running elements. The host facility gives you use of their space and perhaps guidance for the activity but beyond that you were on your own. I didn’t feel that need to insert myself during my daughter’s Pretty in Pink Spa party. I think it helped that there were two ladies running the party. They made sure the girls’ drink glasses were always filled. They offered them pre-teen magazines to read as they waited their turn to get their nails done. They staggered party elements so everyone was doing something. They talked to them and played party games. I just sat back and watched my daughter and her friends soak-up every spa-loving moment.
How are allergies addressed?
Pretty in Pink Spa owner Sonia has personally dealt with the issues surrounding allergies and parties. Her philosophy is that no child should feel excluded or different from the other party guests. With that in mind, the Pretty in Pink Spa will work with you and your allergy needs when it comes to the food being offered. The fact that all the products used during a Pretty in Pink Spa party are all natural is also comforting. Although none of our guests had allergy issues, knowing that the spa could work with me was a huge stress off of my shoulders.
What about loot bags?
Oh the loot bag question. Do you? Don’t you? I struggle with this idea too. Attending and enjoying the party experience should be enough of a gift for the girls in my opinion but Pretty in Pink Spa does offer some added treats in their party packages. During the pink carpet walk spa staff will take a photo of each child that they can take home as a remembrance from their party. I thought this was a lovely treat. The party girls also gets a group shot which is a nice way to remember the fun the kids had together. Some party packages, like the Pretty In Pink package we booked, includes a spa craft. My daughter decided from the four different craft ideas to make a body scrub. The kids loved learning how easy it was to make their own scrub and at the end they each had a lovely container to take home.
If you’re looking for a more definitive loot bag to give the girls, Pretty in Pink Spa has a whole storefront of goodies that would work, from lip balm to bracelets. You can create your own or have the ladies at Pretty in Pink put one together for you.
Did I need a nap at the end of the party?
I know parties are supposed to be fun and a celebration for the kids but often or not as the host I find them stressful and exhausting. Although we couldn’t avoid a few attendee hiccups, the overall party process at Pretty in Pink Spa was pretty stress free, from the planning process to the actual party day. The ladies running the party were amazing, talking to my daughter and her friends about make-up and taking care of their skin. They were treated like the maturing girls they are and they seemed to relish in that role. Pretty in Pink Spa also offers a Photo Shoot DVD of the party for an extra fee but it is so worth it. Instead of running around snapping pictures of the moment I could actually be part of what was going on. It was a lovely way to celebrate my daughter’s birthday plus we now how a beautiful DVD of the event as a great keepsake.
So for someone who isn’t a fan of planning and running parties, Pretty in Pink Spa has won me over. But no matter how happy I am as the mom, having a party that delivers on my preteen’s dreams is the most important part. Checkout what our Junior Style Blogger had to say about her spa party experience at Pretty in Pink Spa.
Thanks to the folks at Pretty in Pink Spa for hosting our spa party and demonstrating that not all birthday parties have to be hard work.