Do people not reply to party invites these days??

Bumpmakesfour

Am I REALLY asking too much for people who you invite to a party to actually REPLY?Have things changed that much since I was younger that now people feel free to just show up(or not)as they see fit?

We've held a few bday parties now where my kids have literally invited the entire class and every time I've been chasing replies right up till the night before.I even sent reminder cards out for my DD2s in march to 12(!!) kids out of 30 invites and still 6 didn't reply!Then 5 of the cheeky so n so's actually turned up:mad:

We sent 27 out last week and so far 4 replies.Don't people get that sorting party bags/food/cakes etc out with no confirmed numbers is bloomin difficult?? Plus me being a total soft touch with kids..if I haven't heard I'll still do a bag so end up wasting money Hubby says if they don't reply then turn up then there'll be no party bag,no cupcake etc..but seriously how do you do that to a 6 year old just because their parents have no manners??:eek: What would others do?Over cater incase or stick to just doing those who replied?

I've sworn this'll be the last big party we do..cannot be bothered with the stress of chasing people!!Maybe I'm OCD or maybe I just have been brought up with manners but when my kids get invited somewhere I reply as soon as we can.Why oh why can't others do the same?:mad:

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

honestly . . . no they dont lol

I always do - we had DD's birthday over the weekend and out of that we had 2 kids (and 4 adults!) turn up without warning. 2 kids never bothered saying they wasnt coming. the rest did tell me (via text!)

Curlywurli

My dd had her first party this year for her fifth birthday. Not everybody replied. Some just didn't bother, one rudely shouted at my daughter that she didn't want to go, some who hadn't replied turned up, one who had said she was coming didn't because apparently they'd decided that they'd go to their caravan instead! I know who I won't be inviting next time.

Saturnalia

You're not alone, I think not replying is really rude, especially when you are asked on the invitation to RSVP! Hosts do need to know how many to expect, it doesn't take much intelligence to realise that surely? Not replying seems to be becoming more and more common and feels like just another example of entitlement syndrome we're seeing everywhere now. Afraid I don't know what we can do about the problem though.

Spendless

After my DD's disastrous 7th birthday when several didn't reply, some didn't turn up and others cancelled on the day when I was holding it at the most expensive play area in town who have you confirm figures and pay a week in advance of the date, I swore never again. Now I let my kids choose x amount of friends and we take them to somewhere from our house. That way I only pay entrance prices for how many have turned up. We have food (normally a kfc bucket) and a cake at home after the activity.

Bumpmakesfour

So not just us then..sooo rude!!!! We've booked a pretty expensive entertainer and a face painter(booked before I discovered MSE btw) and they want approx numbers.Party bags..I want to order stuff asap,am 6 months preg and desperately want to be organised but can't buy the stuff if you yon't know who's coming!
I actually got...PLEASE REPLY ON 01234 TO CONFIRM NUMBERS THANKYOU ...printed on the bloomin invitations.You know a gentle nudge!:p Maybe those without manners can't read either:rotfl:

Janepig

I do sometimes forget and leave it until the last minute, mainly because all the parties come at once (we're in party season at the moment, one today, one tomorrow, one on Friday, etc...) and I stick the invite on the fridge intending to reply but get waylaid. Having said that, I see most of the parents at the school and will tell them verbally. And I always remember eventually. What I've always found is that the ones that don't reply don't come. I can't recall people not replying and turning up anyway.

I do get a bit cross when siblings come along without asking though - not that I have a problem with that, I've taken both of mine to parties before now, but never without asking the host first, and always paying my way. I think that's really rude though, bringing another child without checking first.

Jx

patchwork_cat

I know people are very rude and believe me it has been the same for at least 15 years. The excuses are often didn't see the invite child didn't bring it home, didn't hand it over. I have had a couple where siblings have turned up without asking and I feel it is incredibly rude, but the parent is always oblivious.

Bumpmakesfour

patchwork_cat wrote: »

I know people are very rude and believe me it has been the same for at least 15 years. The excuses are often didn't see the invite child didn't bring it home, didn't hand it over.

That's why I sent the reminders.I physically STOOD at the reception class gates asking the teacher who was Emma,Jake etc mum/dad and HANDED them to the adult.Still 6 couldn't be bothered.:mad:

hot.chick

I agree it's rude - but I don't think a child shouldn't get a party bag or cake because their parent isn't organised????

I don't have kids so am in no place to comment I guess....

Bumpmakesfour

hot.chick wrote: »

I agree it's rude - but I don't think a child shouldn't get a party bag or cake because their parent isn't organised????

I don't have kids so am in no place to comment I guess....

I agree it's absolutely not the kids fault..but say 10 don't reply,do you then fill party bags just incase they do what others did last time and just show up?Or what if you DO do bags and they don't show up?
At about £2.50 a bag that's a possible £25 waste.. Arrghh my head hurts :rotfl: