Birthday Party Invite--Wrong Time on Purpose

[ctinct]

Well, this is a new one for me. My daughter brought her son to a birthday party that was held at a laser tag place for one of his classmates. The invitation said 12:30, so she , unsurprisingly, got him there for 12:30. There were a few other parents and children there, too, but the birthday girl and her family were not there yet. My daughter inquired at the front desk and was told that the party was not scheduled until 1:00. Okay, no big deal, just a small mis-communication, right? Wrong. When the birthday girl arrived, someone mentioned that there had been a mix up with the times. The mom said, "Oh, no. No mistake. The party starts at 1:00, but I wrote 12:30 on all the invitations because I didn't want anyone to be late." Wow. Just wow.

 

[Rora]

Wow.. that was real considerate of the mother. I don't understand this type of stuff. Ugh.

 

[SydSim]

You know, I'm not mad at her (although she should have been there as well). I was told to do this at one of the party places. It worked - we didn't have any late guests showing up 15-20 minutes into the party.

When the party involves an activity that starts at a particular time (like laser tag), it makes it difficult to begin if half the guests are there. Other parties have scheduled times after them, so things have to keep moving.

Family is the worst at getting to parties on time.

 

[laurie31]

This is a toughie. Late arrivals are a big deal, especially in a location like that, but getting everyone to show up half an hour early is also kind of uncool. Maybe having something fun to do for those who managed to show up "on time" at 12:30 would have been good?

ETA - maybe when people RSVP'd she could have said that the activities would begin at 1:00 sharp, so arriving a few minutes early would be a good idea. But not 30 minutes early.

 

[pixiewings71]

Well, my BFF put 5:15 on her wedding invites so they can be sure to start at 5:30. I've been known to put a start time 15 min. early, but not 30, that's a little much...

 

[Sleepingbooty]

Pretty rude. I could see maybe 15 minutes early, but 30? And, if she were going to ask everyone else to be there at a specific time - the birthday girl and parents should have been there BEFORE that, to welcome each guest as they arrived. I think that's the worst part - not asking them to come early, but not coming early themselves.

 

[MoonFaerie]

IMO, it's only rude because the mom throwing the party wasn't also there 30 mins early. Otherwise I see no problem listing an earlier time to make sure everyone's there on time.

 

[MaumeeMom]

Pretty rude. I could see maybe 15 minutes early, but 30? And, if she were going to ask everyone else to be there at a specific time - the birthday girl and parents should have been there BEFORE that, to welcome each guest as they arrived. I think that's the worst part - not asking them to come early, but not coming early themselves.

I think that is the part that would have upset me too - the party hosts not being there at the invitation time. Yikes!

 

[mamacatnv]

I thought the Mom was pretty smart until she arrived late herself and then fessed up.
I would have been there at 12:20 and would never have said a word to the parents.

 

[Serena]

Pretty rude.

Why couldn't she have the start time at 12:30, been there when she invited the guests instead of leaving them there twiddling their thumbs wondering what was going on. And started activities at 1:00?

It was one thing to ask people to come early and not bother to tell them, but not to be there herself? That was not cool.

 

[Sparx]

an ex friend (for good reason) of mine once had a birthday dinner at a local restaurant. she said to be there at 5. i was there at 4.45pm, and she didn't show up till 5:45. yes, birthday girl was 45 minutes late and then got attitude with someone who got tired of waiting and left. some people just live in their own world, and time doesn't matter.

 

[Jennasis]

Not rude at all. (I LOVE being the voice of dissent!!!).

When I have kiddos throw horseback riding parties at my farm, it infuriates me when the party-goers show up for a 1pm party at 1:05...why? There is quite a bit of prep getting the horses ready for all the kids and I need to know how many there are. Even when mom has a "final count" somebody always doesn't show or brings a sibling along who wants to ride too. I tell the parents when they schedule the party, if the party (riding) starts at 1pm, then get everyone here at 12:30 to be fitted for helmets and so I know how many horses to get ready.

At a laser tag place there IS actually some prep work that needs to be done...fitting with the vest/helmet/gun etc.

 

[RunningGirl]

Not rude at all. (I LOVE being the voice of dissent!!!).

When I have kiddos throw horseback riding parties at my farm, it infuriates me when the party-goers show up for a 1pm party at 1:05...why? There is quite a bit of prep getting the horses ready for all the kids and I need to know how many there are. Even when mom has a "final count" somebody always doesn't show or brings a sibling along who wants to ride too. I tell the parents when they schedule the party, if the party (riding) starts at 1pm, then get everyone here at 12:30 to be fitted for helmets and so I know how many horses to get ready.

At a laser tag place there IS actually some prep work that needs to be done...fitting with the vest/helmet/gun etc.

Stating an earlier start time wasn't the rude part. Not being there at that time was.

 

[Jennasis]

Stating an earlier start time wasn't the rude part. Not being there at that time was.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...that wasn't what I got from the op. Sounded like she was cheezed about the time change, not the lack of b-day kid punctuality.

In this case at a party at my place, I already know the b-day kid is coming (and which of my pretty pretty ponies he/she has chosen to ride) and have their horse already waiting. It's the other party goers I need to account for. So them not being there at 12:30 wouldn't faze me at all. YMMV of course.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I think that would be the last party with that Mom I would go to . Sorry but that is rude. Being the Mom of 2 grown children I can tell you that I have had many a birthday party . I have had them at places like that I always put on there if there was saomthing startign at a certain time .
" Bowling will start at 1:00pm please be there before to get your shoes"

 

[C.Ann]

IMO, it's only rude because the mom throwing the party wasn't also there 30 mins early. Otherwise I see no problem listing an earlier time to make sure everyone's there on time.

I agree.. With a scheduled activity like that, you can't include late comers.. However, the mom and birthday child should definitely have been there at 12:30 themselves to greet the guests..

More and more I have noticed that people/parents are not considerate about arriving at their destinations "on time" - or never leave the house early enough to take into consideration that there might be heavy traffic, weather problems, an accident, etc., that would cause them to be late..

If the mother and birthday child had been there on time to greet the guests, I would have thought her idea was brilliant!

I've had to do this kind of thing myself to certain people for various reasons because they seem to think they can show up "wherever" "whenever" they want..

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think that is the part that would have upset me too - the party hosts not being there at the invitation time. Yikes!

Ditto.

Good idea, however stupid to be late.

 

[Stacerita]

It would have been nice if the hostess was there before the guests arrived. Or should have stated be there early because party will start promptly at 1pm and late arrivers can't join in. She was just rude to show up late.

 

[pigletgirl]

I have done that, based on the sole purpose that I have friends who are always 30+min late. When you have dinner reservations (like I had at the time) it had to be done.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Devil's advocate... while it seems rude for the birthday celebrant/family to arrive at the actual party time instead of the time they put on the invitation - had they been there at or before 12:30, a few/some/many/most parents and guests would then be upset that the party wasn't starting at the time on the invitation.