NJ Birthday Party Services that Come to You! (In NYC, too!)

So you’ve gone the birthday party place route and been disappointed?  Ready to brave it out with an in-home party?  Having tried both methods many times, we know pros and cons exist for both, but let’s focus on the pros: you’re in control of every aspect; you’re not sharing space with a multitude of other parties; home parties feel more personal; costs tend to be lower–sound good so far? Then take a gander at our list of come-to-your home party services.  Covering everything from top-to-bottom handling of your event, to individual entertainers (clowns and beyond) who make house calls.  And don’t worry–that cupcake icing comes out of the carpet eventually!

 
NOTE: Many companies prefer to discuss your event prior to supplying a quote, as many factors are involved in the pricing. Also, most companies listed travel all through New Jersey as well as into New York City, although a small travel fee may be involved.

Full-Service Party Providers: 

If you’re seeking a company to handle everything from the initial theme to the invitations, the entertainment, the food, decorations, the goody bags and the clean up, look no further than Partydreamz  (Lafayette) Owned by two mothers who’ve attended more childrens’ parties than they care to admit, they’ve seen it all, and bring the best of it to your event.  Recent birthday party themes included space (complete with space suits for guests), princess (hand-stenciled mirrors in goody bags), and jungle (parrots and jungle vines covered the indoors).  Cost depends on amount of services provided, however word on the street is they’re incredibly reasonable. 973 903-2983

Another do-it-all service that offers an array of pre-set party packages as well as custom themes, Kids Party to Go even goes so far as to set your princess tea party with linen and fine china!  Their character princesses arrive as part of a full-on Princess party package, or visit your self-produced party solo if you simply desire a little extra “sparkle” for your event.  848-459-0550

Kids' Princess Parties (Monmouth County)
This company brings the full-package theme and entertainment offerings as well–princess parties, tea parties, knight parties, fairy parties, pirate parties, diva parties, dress-up parties, “Under-the-Sea Mermaid” parties, spa parties, and on, and on---but also offers theatrical photo props, (life-size cutouts) of a variety of hot children’s characters that really bring the theme to life! And with party packages starting at $160., the show DEFINITELY goes on! 732-792-3254

Tea Time and Tiaras (Maplewood)
If you’ve definitely decided on a girly-themed party, and you want someone to take over from there, Tea Time and Tiaras answers the call.  An event planning company specializing in elegant themed tea parties, this company takes care of everything from personalized invitations, table décor, hosting, set-up, and clean-up, to favors. You?  Sit back and sip your Earl Grey. Packages start at $425./10 guests.  973.289-4934
   

Party Entertainers:  
If you’ve got the theme, goody bags and food down, and just seek entertainment, we’ve got the goods, but first—a word to the wise—get a contract that lists every detail, speak to the entertainer personally, and check references.  A little up-front work saves a world of hassle later.

Travelin' Tumblers  (Hoboken, Warren)
Does your living room couch turn into a trampoline?  The stairs, a springboard?  The railing, a beam?  Bring on the travelin’ tumblers for your party. This company brings the equipment, instructors, insurance, moon-bounce houses (if desired) and excitement with them. Great for kids 1-to-7 years, they can accommodate up to 50 kids!  Incorporating parachutes, songs, obstacle courses, tumbling equipment, props they ensure everyone’s engaged, all of the time.  And imagine the wear-and-tear you save on the house! 732.302.5850

B. Happie Entertainment
Honestly? If you can conceive it, they can deliver it. Magicians, stilt-walkers, caricature artists, clowns, jugglers and more. Performers start at $180. and go up to much higher-priced, national award-winning professionals when only the best will do.  Be open about your child’s desires and your budget, and they’ll work with you to deliver a party-perfect performer. 888-867-4282

TWIST-N-SHOUT!! (Manalapan)
If it’s a dance party your birthday darling wants, look no further.  Specialists in this arena, Twist-n-Shout turns your event into a disco-happy dance zone.  Every package centers around a DJ and music, but there’s lots of room to maneuver when it comes to theme, songs, games, etc.  They’ll also handle face painting, tattoos, candy and prizes.  The largest packages include 3-4 hours of music, a full DJ system, face paint, games, candy and prizes and can also include a candy cart, lights and extra staff for crowd control!   732-761-9555

If puppets please your party star, Uncle John’s Puppets reigns supreme. Using up to 40 different recognizable TV and movie character muppet-style puppets, this company performs the show in a stand-up comedy format. The show begins with the birthday child performing easy, classic magic tricks with the performer, then the puppet show runs, followed by a dance party (utilizing a 3,000-song library–so yeah, you can do the electric slide!).  908-508-9292

Acting-A-Part (Sparta, Ridgewood)
So you have a little diva on your hands? Acting-a-part makes your child the star on their special day! For children 3-and-up, party leaders work with you and your little miss-or-mister thang to choose a theme, then involve all of the children with creating and performing a full-on show complete with costumes and music. In fact, they’ll even video the event professional movie-style and give each guest a copy of the show.  Everything’s flexible—meaning if 5 guests want to be Little Red Riding Hood and no one wants to be the wolf, they develop a new Little Red Riding Hood story line.  And everyone parties happily ever after.   Packages including pizza, cupcakes, performance and more start at $225. for up to ten guests, including the birthday child. 973-879-3651

Rizzo's Wildlife Discovery (Budd Lake)
If you’d rather the “wild” in your party derive from the entertainment than the guest, book this wildlife and animal presentation company—the kids’ll be enthralled! The hour show involves education, humor and handling (for the braver souls) of snakes, lizards, frogs, turtles, alligators, arachnids, insects, and mammals. $250./hour and up.  973-586-0444 or 201-230-2415.

Wings of Magic (Scotch Plains)
A one-man, one-stop shop that truly delivers, Mark Dolson utilizes his strong theatre and special effects background to bring your party to life.  Options include: magic shows, puppet-storytelling, clowns, balloon art, slime labs , sand art, dinosaur digs and more.  His Crocodile Dundee safari show stole the children’s hearts at a recent party, and since he doubles as a personal trainer, the adults of the female persuasion remained affixed, too!  908-803-5179

Tommy Knucklehead
Although another one-man shop, offers up an amazing array of entertainment, and receives rave reviews. Magic, balloons, comedy, dress up–he plays to everyone in the audience (yes, we mean even the adults’ll love him), but sends some extra shine the way of your little star 973 459 8409
                           
Great Scott, It's Magic!
Scott Drucker’s appeared on every top night-time talk show out there–if he can’t keep your crowd entertained, you’re in trouble!  His 45-minute show caters to kids ages 3-to-15 and features live animals (Thurston, the macaw, nearly steals the show) and loads of audience participation. The comedy and magic keep the kids rolling, and the subtle innuendos get the adults into the action, too! 973-857-4004

Marco the Magician (Randolph)
Another highly-recommended magician, Marco, runs the gamut from strolling through your event performing smaller, one-off tricks, to performing a full-on high-end magic show sure to amaze your full audience.  973-989-0255

Party Photographers:
Of course, after spending all this time and effort on the best birthday party ever, the piece that often goes missing remains one of the most important: the pictures.  Every parent thinks they’ll be able to grab the camera and capture the most amazing moments of that special day, but between running interference on the food, the entertainment and the guests–the moments slip past.  That’s why we strongly recommend hiring someone to do the job for you.

A husband and wife team created Memories of Me, Too (Sparta) specifically to address this situation, and provides wonderful, low-cost photography of your event, as well as an online gallery guests may peruse for images they’d like to order and frame. 973-219-0982.

If you’re seeking something extra special, opt for Bruce Lemler Photography. Photographer and former top model Bruce Lemler, (whose clientele includes Brett Favre, 50 cent and Shaq) spends 90 minutes at your event, capturing those perfect moments in your child’s experience that speak to the spirit of your special little someone, and creates a pictorial “documentary” set of images, a group of individually-framed images chronicling the day’s event as a family life story. 917-499-8291.

Budget Tip:  Consider calling your local babysitter, or use a childcare service   and for approximately $10./hr/person you’ll have a team of gophers to take over everything from wrangling kids for the pinata-smashing to simple face-painting, party cake-distribution and goody bag giving-out. They seem like small tasks now, but on the big day, every bit of delegation counts!

Party Planning Tips:
1. Make nice with the neighbors—if your event’s going to be a big one, it’s a good idea to warn the neighborhood since parking and noise become much better tolerated when not a surprise.
2.  Put those goody bags somewhere near enough that you can grab them, but far from the kids’ grasp.  Ending the day with dozens of left-over goody bags may lead to depression.
3.  Consider a small “smash cake” for your child, and cupcakes for the remaining guests.  Distrubution goes much smoother than when twenty little hands are reaching for the one piece of cake with the most frosting.
4.  If you’re lucky enough to possess a pool, contact your local public pool to inquire about hiring lifeguards.  Typically $15./hr, these safety-measures offer priceless reassurance against terrible mishaps. Also, stock up on floaties, sunblock and towels.  You’ll need them.
5.  If holding an outdoor party, include rain dates (or a “rain or shine” statement) on the invite, to avoid a barrage of morning-of calls when it’s cloudy.
6. RELAX and enjoy. It is, in the end, a children’s party!  The more fun you have, the more they will, too.