pricey party

The premiere of 'Outrageous Kid Parties' on TLC on Monday centered around the planning of Gracie's 6th birthday. The "fairytale fantasy"-themed party was complete with a pumpkin-drawn carriage, a castle, and all her princess guests. Gracie was expecting between 150 and 200 guests (I'm pretty sure that at the tender age of 6 I didn't even know that many people) and the budget was originally set at around $15,000. However, in this case budgets are made to be broken.



Gracie's mother, Nicole, has two other teenage children, yet she admits that this is her first time throwing such an extravagent party. Gracie was considered to be a "special gift" when Nicole became unexpectedly pregnant at the age of 40, therefore she feels that she deserves the party. Although reluctant, Nicole gets her other children involved, by incorporating her daughter's cheer squad into the party and even having them create a personalized cheer for Gracie, while she gets bribes her son and a group of his friends to dress up in medieval clothing and hand out the party invitations to the guests. Nicole also keeps her husband in the dark when it comes to the ever-increasing budget, by having invoices of only half the cost sent to him while the remaining invoices are sent to her.

During the show there were some upsets and minor glitches like when Gracie didn't want to get dressed for her own party after all of that time and money were put into it. Overall, the party turned out to be a success and a dream come true for Gracie's mom Gracie, who shortly after the party was over was saying, "I want to have another party. I miss it!" The final price tag for the party: $32,304.28.

I understand the thought process that 'you're only a kid once' but I still feel this party was way over the top. Spoiling kids like this sets their expectations so high, at such a young age, that they then fail to find enjoyment in the little things in life. I hate to say it but I think the party was more for the mom than it was for Gracie. Nicole felt justified in spending as much money as she her husband did, because she said that Gracie would "remember this party for the rest of her life" but at the end of the show Gracie was already looking forward 365 days to next year's party.