I need birthday party advice please?

Michelle - posted on 01/27/2013

Thank you everyone for your helpful posts! Hope was not lost at all. I just had two fathers call me to confirm, so our guest list just went up to 7 (including his brother and cousin). They were so busy with our comunity center's Winter Carnival this week, they lost track of time. They are both chairs on the board. Now maybe those other 4 kids will RSVP!

Liz - posted on 01/27/2013

I recently threw a party for my daughter, who was turning three and for whom it was her first major party. I invited 17 kids (two neighboring families and all of her daycare class). 10 sets of parents never replied to the invitation, despite the fact that RSVP was clearly written along side my telephone number and email.

It was really annoying as I had to cater for all the kids who didn't reply in case they were going to show up anyway. They didn't, which I suppose is something. Luckily 7 kids were enough for my daughter to feel like she had a good party. She is young enough not to notice or be perturbed about the ones who didn't reply or show (and I didn't make it a big issue in front of her).

I just don't understand how hard it is to pick up the phone (assuming you don't have access to email, but I think all the other kids' families did have access) to say whether little Johnny will or will not be going to a birthday party! I gave them a full month of notice because the party was soon after New Year, so it wasn't that!

Rebekah - posted on 01/26/2013

I just had a birthday party today for my son (Ethan too!)...first one inviting friends from class! I was surprised too...out of 13 children invited, I hadn't heard a peep from 3. I waited 2 days beyond the RSVP date (because I know I've missed them occasionally myself), and then I sent a friendly email asking if we'd be seeing their child at the party. I got an immediate apologetic response from one the same day, another response from someone else 2 days later, and the last one hemmed and hawed since she was having a hard time working out a way for her sons to attend, and didn't let me know for sure until THIS MORNING that they weren't coming.

So follow up, be friendly about it, and just plan to have a great time with those that come. Smaller is sometimes better...if you have too many, it can get loud and your son wouldn't get to play with everyone anyway. Having fun is not dependent on how many are there.

And our family doesn't care about the Super Bowl either. :) Have fun!!

Jodi - posted on 01/26/2013

I would send out a little reminder to the ones who haven't responded. And yes, catch up with some of the parents at school. There is still time :)

Jodi - posted on 01/26/2013

Oh, sorry, I missed that!!

Michelle - posted on 01/26/2013

Thanks you S. J and Jodi. The RSVP date was today (as I said in my other post, this was my first planned friends birthday, normally with our small family get togethers, we call the person and say "___'s bday on this date at this time" and they say yes or no, maybe i set the RSVP date to soon?). So I know I still have a few more hours to go. And my son is very impatient, he was already upset because his best friend can't come. Also this was one of the cases where you hear about kids leaving other kids out. He originally wanted to invite all the boys but two, those two boys plus one more are the only ones that we know are coming for sure. When I asked him why he didnt want to invite those two boys he said "Because they don't play with me at school", I understand that, BUT that wasnt about to happen. That's why he asked me this morning if he could invite the girls in his class, but after talking with my SO we had to say no. We have 6 kids coming for sure, including my son his brother and cousin. If the other 6 kids that havents rsvpd yet do rsvp, i wouldnt be able to afford another 8 kids, we only budgeted for 15 kids. The golf center we are going to is pretty cheap ($10 per kid) but I can't afford to spend over $200 on his bday. Especially since we have his family coming over for dinner on the friday and a party for a family member on the saturday.

But yes Jodi, you are right, all hope is not lost. I still have another week. And I will be seeing a few of the parents that drop of their kids at school, so I can ask them when I see them. I was thinking about sending out reminder cards. But one like i said i didnt want to be a bug and two, my son has to Ethan's in his class. My SO took the RSVP of a no over the phone but didnt get which Ethan it was, and his mother had a different last name as him.

Jodi - posted on 01/26/2013

Michelle, when was your RSVP date? It is over a week until the party, maybe a lot of people still haven't made up their minds yet. In the past, my experience has been that many people don't RSVP until the very last minute (the date put for the RSVP), and even accidentally the day after. Usually an RSVP is only a few days before the party, so maybe all hope is not yet lost.

Jodi - posted on 01/26/2013

***MOD WARNING***

Cindy, your responses are not helpful, and are borderline in violating community guidelines. In this instance, I have not deleted the post because then none of the other posts would have made any sense, but I would ask that you refrain from rude responses in the future. Thank you

Jodi
WtCoM Mod

S. - posted on 01/26/2013

Please Michelle don't be put of this site because of some people's views, it's a good site yes you will get a clash of opinions but stick with it for a bit at least.
Also I think you read mine wrong, no way do I think you should change your child's party (coming from someone who hasn't a clue what Super Bowl Sunday is) but if it was the football World Cup final and I'd told my child she could have a party on that day that's what she'd get.
My daughters party was last Sunday and we've been to many on a Sunday.

Michelle - posted on 01/26/2013

Cindy, the reason it was scheduled on a Sunday is because that is the only day of the week we are free. My son has also been invited to 5 parties since the beginning of the school year which have also ALL been on Sundays. Another reason that we couldnt do it on the saturday is because it is my SOs niece's birthday that day. I'm am new to this forum, but Cindy, with your response, I have a feeling I'm not going to be staying here very long, your response just seems rude.

So Saturday is out of the question, and the weekend following they are completely booked up for the party room. And unfortunately, are vehicle is already full, both my SO and I are going, I have my son, his brother and his cousin in our truck.

Thanks for the imput everyone.

Joyce - posted on 01/26/2013

How much was the deposit? Ask if the deposit can be used during the next year for another
party? He will be having a party next year. Book another party room for Sat. CALL the parents, make a correction invitation, advise the teacher, OR offer to pick up and return the
boys who have not yet responded. Make a permission slip for each parent to sign that their
child has permission to ride in your car from home to party to home for the hours needed.
Provide your phone numbers,copies of auto registration, car insurance your driver's license
showing photograph. Joyce joyceadriane3@yahoo.com

Michelle - posted on 01/26/2013

Joyce and S.J, unfortunately I can't change the date because we're having the party at a local mini golf center, and I've made a deposit on the party room. It's my own fault about the Super Bowl part, I always forget about it, we aren't really followers of it. After talking with my SO, we told my son that there isn't enough to invite anyone else to the party. I think I'm more concerned about no one showing up, this is his first party with friends, the past 5 years has always been just family. I was thinking of printing up some reminder cards, but I don't want to be a bug. Oh well, I guess we'll see what happens.

S. - posted on 01/26/2013

Dose it matter what day it's on ppl are rude not sending RSVP either way, I mean yes you always expect to have to chase the odd mum down but not loads, if you invite the girls you have to be prepared for the boys that haven't RSVP'd to turn up so can you afford to cover all those extra heads? If not you have to chase the parents for there RSVP's. good luck and I hope he has a good party.

Joyce - posted on 01/26/2013

Oh My Goodness, Super Bowl Sunday, no,no,no. Can you change the party to Saturday?