For what ages are your birthday
parties most appropriate?
In general, our themed birthday
party packages are designed for children age 4 through 12. However, some events
can be slightly adjusted or redesigned for younger toddlers.
How far in advance should I book my
theme birthday party?
If you have a specific date in mind,
we recommend calling well in advance of your chosen date. Our dates fill up fast. We require a minimum of 4 weeks notice on existing themed parties. Custom parties require 8 weeks notice. Party dates under 4 weeks notice, may be accommodated and a rush fee will apply.
What form of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, and credit cards via
PayPal. To reserve your party date, we require a 50% non-refundable deposit. If
you chose to cancel for any reason, your deposit is non-refundable. A 15% gratuity is added to final invoice for each party. The
remaining balance is due 7 days prior to your event. We cannot accept payment
on the day of the event and if the balance is not received by the party date we
reserve the right to cancel your event.
Do you have a location?
We do not have a party location. We
bring the party to you! We coordinate the event at your chosen venue (your home,
community clubhouse, country club, hotel, banquet hall, etc.).
What locations do you serve?
Giggle Bean serves Chesapeake,
Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, and Newport News. We service events within 15 miles of 23321 at
no charge. Locations over 20 miles will
have a travel fee of $35 applied.
Do you provide 1st birthday parties?
We especially love milestone
birthdays, and the first birthday is indeed very special. Because first
birthdays typically include a wide age range of children, as well as many
adults and family members, we classify that with showers and other events. Please contact us for a quote.
What is the minimum/maximum number
of guests that I can invite?
Our party packages are designed for
a minimum of 8 guests including the guest of honor. Each additional guest is $20.
When the number of party guests exceed 10 children, there will be a need for a second
hostess for a fee of $75. The maximum number of guests for any party is 15.
Will I be charged for children who
RSVP but do not attend the party?
Parties that have less than eight
children will be charged for the minimum of eight children. Some guests may not
attend the party, even if they RSVP that they will attend. Please remember that
we charge according to the final guest count that you provide, not the number
of children that attend. Many of our items are personalized so it is important
that your guest list is accurate. If you have children show up that are not on
your final headcount, we will do our best to include them but cannot guarantee
that they will receive cupcakes or favors.
How do you handle siblings?
Our party packages cover only the
guest of honor and their guests. Please include any siblings in the final count
if you would like for them to be included in the party activities. Please
remember that our most of our party packages are designed for specific age
groups and do not work as well with children outside of this age group.
I would like Giggle Bean to host my
event, but do not see a theme that I like. Do you do any other themes?
We are always adding new themes and
would love your input! Let us know what theme you would like and we will create
it! In addition, our custom packages can be tailored to your needs.
What happens if I cancel the party?
In the event that you have to cancel
your party, we will reschedule your event for another date. Please try to allow
two weeks’ notice. Due to the nature of our business the deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE.
What are the space requirements for
your décor?
Giggle Bean provides wonderfully
themed props for each of our parties. For those events hosted in your home, we
request a cleared out area. We do not move
furniture and request that the area be cleared out prior to our arrival.
We bring many large and heavy items to create a magical event. The party package includes delivery, set-up and breakdown at street level. Basements and upper floor locations will incur an additional set-up fee. If the set-up of your party is in a space that will require additional time to set-up due to distance from available parking, staircases/basements, or any other unique configurations, you will be assessed an additional fee of $75 per hour for the additional time/labor requirement. This fee will be assessed during the pre-party consultation.
If
the weather is nice, you may take the party outdoors to a clean, non-grassy,
non-dirt area such as a patio or deck.
We will need a shady or covered area to set up. We reserve the right to
determine if the outdoor area is suitable for our equipment. The temperature
must not exceed 80 degrees at the time of the event setup.
How long do your parties last?
Our party themes provide 1.5 hours of scheduled activities. The party time listed on the invitation will be two hours to accommodate time to open presents and guest arrival/departure. However, there are instances when activities are complete before or after that time based on participation. We will arrive two hours before the scheduled party time to set up and will require up to 45 minutes breakdown time after the party. Your invitation will state a start and end time for our event. All Giggle Bean parties/events start and end on time- no exceptions. We cannot accommodate parties that last longer than 2 hours and we will not extend your event because of late arrivals. It is your responsibility to communicate the party timeline to your guests if you believe this will be an issue.
Breakdown of your event will begin at the end time stated on your invitation. If you wish to continue your event after our service is complete, we request that you move your guests to a separate area while we break down. As we often have several events booked in one day, there is no wiggle room with this policy. In the event that we are not able to break down your event on time, you will be charged an additional fee of $75.00 per hour.
Who will be hosting my child's party the day of the event?
All Giggle Bean parties/events are hosted by one of our professional hostesses. They each have years of experience in working with children and most are moms themselves!! Other professional assistants may join in hosting events that require more than one person (spa party, carnival, etc).
How do you handle inclement weather or illness?
In the event of severe weather or unforeseen circumstances/illness, Giggle Bean reserves the right to reschedule your party. If you choose to cancel the party due to severe weather or illness, please remember that your deposit is non-refundable. We will gladly work with you to reschedule your party for an alternate date. Please be advised, if new invitations, food or beverages are needed there will be an additional charge.
What do I need to do to prepare for my child’s event?
- Please keep any pets and children clear from the party area.
- Please allow ample space in driveway or in front of your home for us to park and unload. We will be carrying many heavy items.
- Please provide a smoke-free environment.
- Please be mindful that we need the entire 1.5-2 hours uninterrupted to set up for your event. We appreciate your redirecting all children and guests away from the set-up area.
How do you handle disruptive children?
We strictly provide entertainment. We are not caretakers/babysitters. The party hostess is responsible for the flow of the party and the party activities. It is the client’s responsibility to monitor disruptive behavior and attend to any child who does not want to participate. This will help us to provide the best possible experience for you and your child.
How do you handle Allergies and Special Diets?
It is very important for you to inquire whether any of your guests have a food allergy. If a guest has food allergies, we recommend that you or the child’s parent provide an alternative treat for the child. Giggle Bean is not responsible for allergic reactions or any other medical reaction stemming from the menu, wearing of costumes, or any activity taken place before, during or after the party. In the case of liability and/or financial remuneration due to the aforementioned, the responsibility lies strictly with the client.
