A FEW HELPFUL THINGS
Everything you may be wondering.
From choosing an experience to preparing your home, here are the practical details that help everything feel simple from the very beginning.
Choosing an experience
01.
Finding the celebration that feels right for your child.
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Each Willow & Mae experience has its own mood, activities and recommended age range. Tell us a little about your child, what they enjoy and how they like to celebrate, and we’ll help you choose the experience that feels like the best fit.
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Enchanted Garden is created especially for younger children aged 5–7. Spa Retreat, Premiere Night and Creative Studio are designed for girls aged approximately 8–12. These ranges are a guide, and we’re always happy to discuss what will suit your child and her guests.
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Willow & Mae celebrations are deliberately intimate. Smaller groups give every child room to feel comfortable, included and part of the moment. We cater for up to 10 guests.
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The core styling and activities are carefully designed as a complete Willow & Mae experience rather than built from scratch for every booking. We still make the celebration feel special through thoughtful touches, custom digital invitations and a birthday gift chosen especially for the guest of honour.
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Absolutely. The recommended age range for each experience is a guide to the activities, styling and overall pace of the celebration. If siblings or friends fall slightly outside that range, let us know their ages when you enquire and we can help you decide whether the experience will work comfortably for everyone.
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Each Willow & Mae experience has been thoughtfully designed as a complete celebration, with activities and details that work beautifully together. Selected personal touches or add-ons may be available, but we generally recommend keeping the heart of one experience rather than combining two full themes. Tell us what your child loves and we can guide you through the possibilities.
02.
Your home & setup
What we need to transform your space beautifully.
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The space required depends on your chosen experience and guest numbers. A living room, dining room or suitable covered area is often all we need. During the enquiry process, we’ll ask for a few measurements and photographs so we can make sure the setup will fit comfortably.
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We’ll provide a simple checklist before the celebration. Usually, we ask that the agreed space is cleared, clean and ready for us to access, with nearby power available where required. We bring the styling, furnishings, equipment and experience details with us.
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Your setup and pack-down times will be confirmed as part of your booking. We arrive before the celebration, usually allowing around 90 minutes, to style and prepare the full experience. For standard celebrations, we then leave you to enjoy the party and return at the agreed finishing time to pack everything away. For hosted celebrations, your host stays throughout to lead the activities. Either way, you’re free to enjoy the celebration rather than manage the details.
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Weather permitted, our experiences can usually be set up in the outdoors. Because many of our furnishings and decorative pieces need protection, an indoor backup plan may be required. We’ll discuss this with you before booking.
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For standard celebrations, we take care of the complete setup before the celebration begins, then leave the experience for you to enjoy with your guests and return at the agreed time to pack everything away. If you choose a hosted celebration (available for Enchanted Garden, Spa Retreat and Creative Studio), a Willow & Mae host stays to lead the activities. Either way, a parent or responsible adult must remain present and supervise the children throughout.
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We ask that the agreed celebration area is cleared and ready for us before setup begins. During the planning process, we’ll discuss the space with you and explain what needs to be moved, so there are no surprises on the day.
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This depends on the experience and the space being used. We may require access to a standard power point, water or a nearby sink for particular activities and refreshments. We’ll confirm any requirements with you well before the celebration.
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In many cases, yes. We’ll need to understand the available space, parking, lift or stair access and any building restrictions before confirming the booking. Please share these details when you enquire so we can determine what will work safely and comfortably.
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Willow & Mae is based in Murrumbeena and creates at-home celebrations throughout Melbourne. Travel is included within 20 km of Murrumbeena, which covers suburbs such as Caulfield, Bentleigh, Brighton, Malvern, Malvern East, Glen Iris, Glen Waverley, Oakleigh and Sandringham. Beyond 20 km, a travel fee applies, and we’ll always discuss it with you before booking.
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Easy access is important because each experience includes furniture, styling pieces and activity supplies. Please let us know about stairs, restricted parking, loading zones or lengthy access routes when you enquire. Any parking costs, tolls or additional access requirements will be included in your quote where applicable.
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We recommend having a suitable indoor alternative available for any celebration planned outdoors. If the forecast is uncertain, we’ll work with you to confirm the safest setup location before the day. Celebrations cannot be installed outdoors in unsafe weather or where the equipment may be damaged.
03.
What’s included
The thoughtful details we bring and prepare.
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Every experience includes custom digital invitations, a private room reveal, carefully selected styling and furnishings, the materials and equipment needed for the planned activities, a Refresh & Treat Bar, all tableware and drinkware, a styled Memory Moment with photo backdrop and props, a birthday gift, a simple celebration guide, and complete setup and pack-down.
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A beautifully styled selection of drinks and sweet treats is prepared and provided as part of the Refresh & Treat Bar. Any cake or additional food need to be provided by the family.
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Our standard experiences are designed for you to host, with everything prepared and a gentle run sheet to guide the celebration, so you remain the hero of the day. If you’d love to sit back and enjoy it too, a hosted celebration is available for Enchanted Garden, Spa Retreat and Creative Studio for an additional $200. A Willow & Mae host stays to lead the activities while you relax with your guests. A parent or responsible adult still remains present and responsible for the children throughout.
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Each celebration includes a beautifully styled photo setting with a custom Willow & Mae backdrop and playful props. It gives the party guests a dedicated place to take photographs together and capture the moments they’ll want to remember.
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The main birthday cake is not included, giving you the freedom to choose something your child will love. Your Willow & Mae experience includes the refreshments and sweet treats listed on the relevant experience page, along with the serving pieces required for those inclusions.
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Please tell us about all allergies and dietary requirements when you enquire. We’ll discuss the available options with you and do our best to accommodate your guests at the Refresh & Treat bar, where reasonably possible. As products may be prepared or packaged in environments where allergens are present, we cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free experience.
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A parent or responsible adult must remain present and supervise the children throughout the celebration, including for hosted celebrations. Willow & Mae supplies the experience, styling, activity materials and a simple run sheet. Our hosts lead the activities but do not provide childcare.
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Take-home items vary between experiences and are listed on the relevant experience page. Styling pieces, furnishings, tableware, robes , fairy wings & crowns, and other hired items remain the property of Willow & Mae and are collected during pack-down.
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Yes. Your experience includes a personalised digital invitation designed to complement the celebration. We’ll prepare it with the birthday details you provide, ready for you to send to your guests.
04.
Booking & planning
From your first enquiry to the celebration day.
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We’ll review the details you’ve shared and reply personally within 1–2 business days. If your preferred date is available, we’ll guide you through the suitable experience options, answer your questions and explain the booking process clearly.
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We recommend enquiring as early as you can, particularly for weekends and popular celebration periods. Availability depends on your date, location and chosen experience, so your booking is only secured once the required booking steps have been completed.
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Once your booking details are confirmed, we’ll prepare your personalised digital invitation with the birthday girl’s name and celebration information. You’ll receive the finished file ready to share with guests.
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Yes. Optional add-ons include a hosted celebration ($200, available for Enchanted Garden, Spa Retreat and Creative Studio) and themed take-home party bags ($25 per guest). Further personal touches may be available depending on the experience, date and location, and we’ll share these with you during planning.
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A 25% deposit is required to secure your celebration date. This amount is applied to the total cost of your booking. Your date is not confirmed until the deposit has been received and your booking confirmation has been issued.
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The remaining balance is due seven days before the celebration. Bookings made within seven days of the celebration date must be paid in full at the time of confirmation.
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Please let us know about any changes as soon as possible. Guest numbers can generally be adjusted up seven days before the celebration, provided they remain within the maximum capacity of the selected experience. Additional charges may apply.
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We understand that children can become unwell unexpectedly. Contact us as soon as possible and we’ll talk you through the available options in line with our rescheduling and cancellation terms. Where possible, we’ll work with you to find a suitable alternative date.
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We understand that plans sometimes change. Deposits, cancellations and requests to reschedule are managed according to the notice provided and the preparation already completed for your celebration. Full details will be supplied before booking and are available in our Terms & Conditions.
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Normal wear from children enjoying the experience is expected. If an item is lost or damaged beyond reasonable use, a replacement or repair charge may apply. We’ll always discuss the circumstances with you before any charge is made.
STILL WONDERING ABOUT SOMETHING?
We’re here to make it feel simple.
Tell us a little about the celebration you’re imagining, and we’ll help you work through the details.
