Do people not reply to party invites these days??

tiamai_d

We don't tend to get replies till the week of the party, most folk don't know what they will be doing before that.

I stick a mobile number on and most replies come that way, paper slips always seem to get lost in bags or eaten by the mysterious paper slip monster.

But apparently the way that we do it is very rude. We meaning the collective we who have our children at a certain school. Often we will simply reply with a 'we will try and make it, unsure of working hours'.

I usually make up far too many party bags anyway, and reuse leftovers next year. Don't see the problem tbh.

onlyroz

Playing devils advocate here: I hate phoning people, in particular people I don't really know - so I tend to reply to party invites by text (or email if given a choice). Also, party invites often get issued a LONG way before the event, and I don't like to have to think that far into the future so I'll often wait a bit before replying. I also don't like these "whole class" parties, because it seems to me that one of the main reasons for doing it is so that your little darling will get a huge stack of extra presents. These parties are also usually in the middle of a sat/sun afternoon, so attending one pretty much rights-off the whole day.

abbecer

I'm sometimes unable to reply to an invite immediately due to shifts (NHS worker) but I always inform them that I'm unsure what I'm working and will let them know as soon as I possibly can. If they need an answer there and then for booking something I will try to see if Grandparents can my sons in case I am working or I will politely decline saying I am unable to commit without knowing my rota. Usually people are fine with this and understand.

Bumpmakesfour

abbecer wrote: »

I've also had this happen in the past and agree it's bad manners and infuriating. Especially with Halloween parties when they don't reply then come trick or treating at the door and expect to be let in. Now I don't put all the food all once. I'll cook extra pizza as and when it's needed so if not needed they can stay in the freezer. I'll also keep packets of biscuits and crisps in reserve in case but that can be used after the event if not used. Instead of party bags I do bags of sweets in little fancy cellophane bags (off ebay) and fasten them with curling ribbon to make them look fancy or I buy punch balloons and fill them with rice. I just blow them up near the end when I know how many I need. You can buy them quite cheaply and if you don't use them your own kids will play with them later anyway or they will save for another party and sweets can always be eaten after too.

Some fab ideas there thankyou!Just found cellaphane bags with gold ties for 10p each so can grab 35 or so to cover extra siblings/unannounced famil etc..will stock up on sweets/lollies multipacks etc .There was a fab link put up on a christmas thread earlier with a great site that had punch balloons/animal rubbers/bracelet sets really cheap so will grab a load off there.Plus there were a mix of activity books with stickers at 30p a piece... dinos/fairies/aliens/princess etc..so even if I buy 30 of them and 10 don't show my kids'll use them.
Cool!! Feel much better now!Thankyou so much everyone!:T

gratefulforhelp_2

Approved foods have storybooks for 80p each.

Bumpmakesfour

tiamai_d wrote: »

We don't tend to get replies till the week of the party, most folk don't know what they will be doing before that.

I stick a mobile number on and most replies come that way, paper slips always seem to get lost in bags or eaten by the mysterious paper slip monster.

But apparently the way that we do it is very rude. We meaning the collective we who have our children at a certain school. Often we will simply reply with a 'we will try and make it, unsure of working hours'.

I usually make up far too many party bags anyway, and reuse leftovers next year. Don't see the problem tbh.

Main problem is entertainer needs number for various reasons..hence sending them out 3 weeks in advance,putting my landline and mobile on AND specifically asking for RSVPs on the invitation.
Also I'm usually far too generous in my bags..bought personalised bracelets one year with each childs name on(yes I KNOW!!) so then felt bad when the unannounced ones turned up and didn't get a bracelet Never did that again!

Bumpmakesfour

onlyroz wrote: »

Playing devils advocate here: I hate phoning people, in particular people I don't really know - so I tend to reply to party invites by text (or email if given a choice). Also, party invites often get issued a LONG way before the event, and I don't like to have to think that far into the future so I'll often wait a bit before replying. I also don't like these "whole class" parties, because it seems to me that one of the main reasons for doing it is so that your little darling will get a huge stack of extra presents. These parties are also usually in the middle of a sat/sun afternoon, so attending one pretty much rights-off the whole day.

Oh I'm sorry some people see it that way :(
Main reason we do invite the whole class is to not leave anyone out.I'd hate anyone to think it was for the presents!!Gosh how awful,I hope parents don't think that of us!
One of my kiddies missed a lot of school due to being in hospital loads and barely made any friends at first.She used to see the invitations going out and never got a single one her first year..was so awful to see her not understand wh.SO we don't exclude any kids.They're only little so haven't got particular friendship groups as such plus it costs a fortune for an entertainer so want him to earn his money

ETA.the first year we did DS a full class party half way through reception we invited everyone.We had at least three mums thank us for the invite saying it was the first part their kiddies had been invited to.Their little ones had no friends and like my DD has been left out of the billion other parties.It felt nice that just for one afternoon even they'd felt "included" xx

tiamai_d

http://www.hawkin.com/36841-PARTY_BAG_FILLERS_1/unusual-party/Party-bag-fillers-1-pound-and-under

Some stuff from Hawkins. Wilkinsons also sell party bag fillers. What you can also do it get a friend to fill the bags at the party and any left overs can be returned.

Personally a balloon, a couple of sweets, sparkly pencil, small notepad or book, bubbles and a lolly pop always seems to go down well. The plastic toys are fun but they end up in the bin after a few hours anyway.

Bumpmakesfour

Person_one wrote: »

You only sent them out last week? Did you put a date on that you wanted people to RSVP by?

yep only last week.Not just referring to this party but the experiences so far with the others we've done too.Thought that a lot of kids would only empty their school drawers on a friday then a lot of parents get round to checking school bags on a sunday night when getting reading books etc out so hopefully will have a few more replies soon x

Bumpmakesfour

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

Bump it sound like a fabby party. x

Thankyou hun x I really hope so.We've had parties for DS and DD2 each year but never managed to get one sorted for DD1 as she's usually ill or in hospital.So this is her first party and she is BEYOND excited! :j:j Maybe that's why I'm a little more antsy than usual with this party...just want to make it super special for her