Butterfly Extravaganza

Suri Cruise’s extravagant butterfly-themed second birthday party was held at a Mediterranean Villa in the Hollywood Hills, according to media reports. While her parents spared no expense for the event, it was also said to be a somewhat low-keyed occasion.

The $100,000 price tag was rumored to include $17,000 on fresh flowers, $45,000 on catering, and $5,000 on a four-tier cake and 24 cupcakes. The rest of the budget may have gone for entertainment, decorations and goodie bags for guests.

Other Options Worth Noting

• In some cities, you can host your party at a museum for about $1,500. Call your favorite museum to find out what they offer.
• A birthday character brunch at the Four Seasons hotel runs about $4,000. Ask at your nearest location for more details.
• Madison Square Garden in New York City rents space for events starting at under $10,000.
• One bakery that specializes in unique delicacies even makes a Candyland cake that sells for $6,000 and is sure to be the hit of any event. Ask a local bakery to do something similar to compliment the theme of your event.

Some Protest

While some parents who can afford it are happy to go all out for their children, other parents fear that splurging like this on a party is setting the wrong example for kids. To help counter some of the competition that exists in today’s culture when it comes to hosting birthday events, some parents in Minnesota recently started a national group called "Birthdays Without Pressure" that encourages parents not to feel pressured to go overboard on their child’s events and not to feel guilty about it.