Party Planning
Isabelle Daza Breaks Down Costs of Son’s Dino-Themed Party
Want to make your kids’ party extra fun? See how Belle did it.
Published on Jul 21, 2025
Isabelle Daza recently gave her followers an honest look at how much it really costs to throw a children’s birthday party these days. The actress, entrepreneur, and mom of three shared an Instagram Reel breaking down all the expenses for her son Valentin’s fourth birthday celebration. It was their first time hosting a party for him in the Philippines.
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“This is why children’s birthday parties cost so much,” Belle said at the start of her Reel. “I wanted to throw a budget-friendly birthday party for my kids but ended up going over budget. So today I’m going to show you exactly what each item costs.”
Also read: To Moms Struggling with Postpartum Weight, Isabelle Daza Gets You
How Pricey Is a Kid’s Party Today?
Valentin, Isabelle and Adrien’s second-born, requested for a dinosaur-themed party. Isabelle shared all the details, from styling down to food, for her second son’s celebration.
Coffee Cart
“First, we have the coffee cart,” she said, panning to footage of a sleek cart brewing fresh cups. “This I found just online. Basically, this guy was setting up his own business, and I thought, why not? Let’s support local.”
She explained that the coffee cart charges around P18,000 for 50 to 100 cups, with guests able to choose from six items on the menu.
Ice Cream Cart
“Next up, we have the ice cream cart,” Isabelle continued. She shared that the cart is owned by her friend, who created a more affordable line for clients on a budget.
“What I love about this brand is that she did a takedown line of her more high-end one for people who don’t want to spend too much,” Isabelle said. “She serves sorbetes and her flavors are amazing. We chose strawberry, gatas—which is milk—and ube because that’s my favorite.”
Isabelle added that it comes in a super cute cart and guests can choose their own toppings. The ice cream cart cost her P7,500.
Birthday Cake
When it comes to cakes, Isabelle said she only goes to one place: Cupcake Lab. “The reason why I go there is because their artistry and the actual taste of the cake is very good,” she said.
According to Isabelle, Valentin had clear instructions for his cake. “My son’s instructions were that he wanted it to be Jurassic, and he wanted there to be a car because he still loves cars and dinosaurs.”
Cupcake Lab created a two-tier cake with a customized Kinder Bueno flavor, priced at P18,500. However, Isabelle clarified that it was gifted to her since she’s good friends with the owner.
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Instagram/ @cocoonstudioph.
Tables and Chairs
“So, if you’re gonna have a birthday party, of course you need round tables and chairs, right?” she said. “Most of the time, the venue doesn’t provide them.”
She ordered five round tables and 50 chairs for the adults, plus kids’ tables and around 30 stylish kids’ chairs, for a total of P66,400.
Play Area, Inflatables
For a kid-safe play area, Isabelle rented a mini soft gym from Ada’s Wonderland.
“This is good for children aged maybe one to around five or six years old,” she said. “Ada’s mini play gym is more for the younger kids who want to be doing things with the toys.” The mini play gym costs P30,000.
Isabelle also shared her love for having inflatables at parties. “For the inflatables, I always go with Inflatables PH, and she always has the newest, coolest inflatable,” she explained. “I personally believe that hiring an inflatable, even just for a playdate, is worth it.”
She rented a smaller one for P3,500.
Photography
“And, of course, at any party, you don’t want to be busy taking photos on your phone,” she said. “You want to be fully present.”
Isabelle hired Cocoon Studio for photography. “For Cocoon, there are different types of packages. If you feel like you don’t want to spend too much, I would say choose the package that is shorter amount of time.”
She paid P47,000 for a four-hour package with unlimited shots and same-day edited photos.
Instagram/ @cocoonstudioph
Entertainment
“My son requested to do a kind of, like, magic show because he loves attending parties where there’s entertainment for kids,” Isabelle said. “And we chose Ivan [for] the puppet show.”
She explained that although it’s not technically a magic show, it keeps the kids entertained in a silly yet educational way, complete with a full production setup. The dinosaur puppet show cost P25,000.
“You can also add on if you want a magician, if you want a face painter, then it goes up,” she added.
Styling
“Next up, you need somebody to style your birthday party,” she said, showing clips. “So today we got Party Magic, and they created this wonderful backdrop for people to take photos in and also for you guys to take selfies at.” Full event styling by Party Magic cost her P180,000.
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Instagram/ @sunnysiderentalsph
Isabelle ended her cost breakdown with an honest reflection.
“This is why children’s birthday parties cost so much, because you get one thing, and then you’re like, yeah, maybe I should get the face painter, maybe I should get this. And then in the end, you have this huge bill,” she said.
In her case, the total reached over P233,900, and excluding event styling.
To manage costs, Isabelle worked with Paby’s Creative Events, led by Jana Pablo, to stay as close to her budget as possible. She also emphasized the importance of hiring professionals to take the stress out of planning.
“You tell her, ‘This is my budget, I don’t want to go over this budget. Find me somewhere that is reasonable but also still kind of fun.’ Times are hard now. You don’t want to be splurging on one birthday. At the same time, you also want to make the moment special.”
Throwing a Dinosaur-Themed Birthday Party? All You Need to Know
From decor, food, to activities, we’ve rounded up everything you need for a RAWR-some party!
READ HEREWhy Isabelle Went All Out for Valentin’s 4th Birthday
Valentin’s fourth birthday party was extra special because the family lives in Hong Kong, and this was his first birthday celebration in the country.
“I wanted to stay on a budget, but this is also Valentin’s first-ever birthday party. He’s turning four, and he’s never experienced having a party here in the Philippines,” Isabelle shared.
Despite the costs, she said, “Overall, I love throwing birthday parties and hosting it because I think it’s a gathering of your closest friends, your family, and you celebrate a loved one. But I understand, like, it is so expensive to have to throw that every single year. I guess I just choose when we’re gonna make it a little bit more bongga.”
As Isabelle said, you don’t have to go all out every year. In Filipino culture, birthdays are often celebrated in a special way on the first, third, and seventh years. The first birthday is usually more for the parents and family. By the third birthday, children start to show their own personalities and can request specific themes. This one is really for them. The seventh birthday is often the most significant, as it’s typically celebrated with both school friends and family.
Click here for fun ideas to celebrate your child’s first birthday.
Hanna is a News Desk Writer at Smart Parenting, covering parenting, health, culture, and more. Off the clock, she’s likely people-watching at a café or park, matcha latte in hand.
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