I must be completely out of touch, childs birthday party invite...

[LovesTimone]

I just received an invite to my friends Grandchild's birthday party. She is turning 3, in January.

It was cute but formal, including a rsvp card, and separate card of where the child is registered for gifts, with a note at the bottom, to please adhere to items registered for only... I checked out the register's and the least expensive gift is around 50.00 dollars.

When I was talking to my friend she was telling me.( this was before I got the invite) That there will be a couple of those blow up, jumping house's, slides, pony rides and some kind of portable petting zoo, also other activities to keep the kids entertained.. But also an open bar and adult area with grown up food...

Is this the "new" kids birthday party?

I just don't know what to think... Thoughts

 

[Alesia]

There is no way I would go to that party. That is ridiculous.

 

[NJlauren]

Ummm no not normal, at least not in my group of friends.....the entertainment and drinks aren't to bad, we had drinks and food for adults at my daughters party and we have been to a few parties with bouncy houses. I have also heard of people having Animals.

However the rest of it seems ridiculous, a registry??? An RSVP card?? Wonder what this child's wedding will be like!

 

[havaneselover]

How tacky. Not normal in my social circle.

 

[kool_kat]

I've also heard of doing bounce houses / animals but it's usually one or the other...not a mass party. I'm with others - the part that gets me is the registry and strict instructions to adhere to the list. To me, that is so entitled. When did we get to a society that a gift is no longer a nice gesture but a demand from the recipient? I must say that I would probably not attend due to that alone. The entitlement just kills me, as well as the fact that these parents are oblivious to how horrible it is.

 

[dashofsunshine]

Well I don't have kids yet, but...I truly hope that isn't the norm now, because good Lord. That's insane. Who can afford that every year? For a 3 year old I would think maybe hire a princess to come, have some cake and play some music for them to dance around, play some games? Goodie bags with cheap Lisa frank stuff in it, lol. And what is all this registry crap for a 3 year olds birthday party? You used to just buy a neat toy from Toys R Us. My mom used to let us pick out the toy to give to our friend for their birthday

Do slightly older kids (like elementary age) still do skating rink parties? Lol. Those were the best.

 

[jrmasm]

I just received an invite to my friends Grandchild's birthday party. She is turning 3, in January.

It was cute but formal, including a rsvp card, and separate card of where the child is registered for gifts, with a note at the bottom, to please adhere to items registered for only... I checked out the register's and the least expensive gift is around 50.00 dollars.

When I was talking to my friend she was telling me.( this was before I got the invite) That there will be a couple of those blow up, jumping house's, slides, pony rides and some kind of portable petting zoo, also other activities to keep the kids entertained.. But also an open bar and adult area with grown up food...

Is this the "new" kids birthday party?

I just don't know what to think... Thoughts

Rude, rude, rude.

 

[havaneselover]

Well I don't have kids yet, but...I truly hope that isn't the norm now, because good Lord. That's insane. Who can afford that every year? For a 3 year old I would think maybe hire a princess to come, have some cake and play some music for them to dance around, play some games? Goodie bags with cheap Lisa frank stuff in it, lol. And what is all this registry crap for a 3 year olds birthday party? You used to just buy a neat toy from Toys R Us. My mom used to let us pick out the toy to give to our friend for their birthday

Do slightly older kids (like elementary age) still do skating rink parties? Lol. Those were the best.

Yes, skating rink, bowling alley, painting pottery, bounce places are very popular for elementary school parties.

 

[piccolopat]

I think it is unusual for the reasons that others' stated but also because I would never expect to be invited to the birthday party for the grandchild of a friend. Those parties should be for the family and for friends of the child or parents. I also find it incredibly rude that they insist only gifts from the registry be brought and the high minimum of those selections. It sounds more like a money/gift grab rather than a celebration. If you go, bring what you want and don't feel bad about it. Personally, I would decline.

 

[nugov2]

I've been to some over the top birthday parties, but the rsvp card, registry and stick to the list only is ridiculous. If you have the money and want to throw an over the top party, great...just don't put ridiculous gift requirements on people.

 

[msmama]

I live in a fairly hoity-toity area and NO, that's NOT normal!

The bounce houses/petting zoo and food for adults can be (especially when it's a kind of mixed friends and family bday party and used as an excuse for a big get together) but I've only ever gotten hand written invitations (maybe printed out at home) and if anyone gave me a bday registry, no way would I be going to that party!!!

 

[Gigi22]

I live in a fairly hoity-toity area and NO, that's NOT normal!

The bounce houses/petting zoo and food for adults can be (especially when it's a kind of mixed friends and family bday party and used as an excuse for a big get together) but I've only ever gotten hand written invitations (maybe printed out at home) and if anyone gave me a bday registry, no way would I be going to that party!!!

All I can think is that the OP's friend is channeling some of the characters from Modern Family.

 

[ajwolfe]

Definitely not the norm in our area - at least the RSVP and registry. We've done bounce houses, etc for parties and we usually have drinks for the adults but the way you describe it makes it sound like they are trying to mimic what they've seen done in tv shows or by stars. Not cool and I wouldn't be attending.

 

[Cadiewampus]

Only thing I thought was "that poor child" when she gets nothing from the list I am sure she put together

 

[BigAlsGal]

Nope. Wouldn't go.

 

[powellrj]

It's things like this that make me glad my kids are grown!

 

[KristinU]

What the whaaa??? Not normal in my social circles, that's for sure.

 

[DreamIsaWish]

I wouldn't attend a wedding that made such a demand, let alone a birthday party for a 3-year-old I don't really know. Besides, some of the presents 3-year-olds love most tend to be really cheap, like books and puzzles and preschool board games.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Can I ask what kind of $50+ items the family registered this child for? I just can't imagine.

 

[wilkeliza]

I guess since I live in NYC and have been to some pretty swanky kids parties I am use to it. We never did get any that said do not deviate from the registry but we have gotten registries for kids. At first I was aghast because I did not grow up in this type of world but my fiance informed me that when kids already have everything they want the registry makes it easier for the party goers. I actually appreciated not hearing oh sorry he already has this after the first one or two birthday parties for my fiance's nieces and nephews that I bought for.

Now some of them have these lavish birthdays and others do not. The rest of the family thinks the one who throws the 2 year old these crazy big parties is setting herself up for disaster when she gets older. The rest of them just have a small party at home but do indeed send RSVP cards so they can make sure there is enough food.