Need invitation wording ideas.....

[ge0rgette2]

Okay..

My Daughter is turning 7 and wants to have her birthday party in a movie theater. I'm all for it - but normally parents, mostly the Mom's, stick around during parties. I can have between 15-20 children for set price then 21-30 for another price...

I don't mind the parents staying if they desire, but feel that I shouldn't have to invite them as well and pay for them too! (It's different when you are at a ceramic place or something and you are offered a slice of pizza).

In this case, I'm paying for the child AND the parent to see the movie.

I was going to write on the invite that it's drop off only - but some might not go for that at this age.

The movie theatre is offering me discounted tickets for parents that would like to stay.

Anyone have any wording suggestions as to not offend the parents?

Thanks!!
Georgette

I'm so stumped on this! I have a few ideas.

 

[scrapquitler]

Please come to Madison's birthday party
"Alice in Wonderland"
at the XYZ Movie theater
Show starts at 12:15 Please arrive at 11:45, pizza to follow in the party room

Thanks to the Generosity of XYZ Movie theater, parents may purchase discounted tickets for just $5.00 each.

 

[cabanafrau]

What if you just stated the normal invitation pertaining to the kids, then at the bottom include something like:

The theater has extended a special ticket price for parents who would like to stay for the fun or just don't feel their kid is ready to fly this mission solo yet. Let me know & I can arrange for a discounted ticket for you.

 

[ge0rgette2]

Great ideas!! Phew, thanks!!!

It's actually a very early movie on a Sunday morning - so I was providing breakfast instead of pizza for lunch. Bagels, donuts, mini donuts, cupcakes, etc... including coffee for the parents. The breakfast thing is before the movie.

The theater manager said party first, then movie.

I purchased regular invitations that my daughter liked and was just going to add something on it to let them know in advance that they'll have to pay if they stayed. I didn't want them to feel they needed to, or assume that they were invited as well.

I was thinking something like - drop off party, discounted movie tickets available for parents that would like to stay or parents welcome to stay after breakfast.

But I love your ideas!!! it's very helpful -- so thanks!

 

[golfgal]

Are you in an area that is mostly Jewish? If not, you may want to consider that a lot of people will be at church Sunday morning and won't be able to go to the party and since we all know how well RSVP's go, you may end up paying for a lot of empty seats.

 

[ge0rgette2]

Nope... not in a jewish area, nor are the students all jewish.

If I received an invite for a Sunday morning, I'd go to Saturday afternoon mass. But that's just me. Especially if the invite was rec'd 3 weeks prior to the event.

 

[golfgal]

Nope... not in a jewish area, nor are the students all jewish.

If I received an invite for a Sunday morning, I'd go to Saturday afternoon mass. But that's just me. Especially if the invite was rec'd 3 weeks prior to the event.

As long as that is an option--we don't have Sunday afternoon Mass here.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We did a movie theater party for my DD9 last summer. The invites were strictly for the kids on my dime, but parents were totally welcome to stay and buy their own ticket. Of course they did not have to if they did not wish to.

It worked out great. Our movie theater is attached to a Ben and Jerry's, so the party is a combo ice cream/movie party that is doen field trip style (and they should include ear plugs for the parents for the "party" part--OMG!)

I handed out the invites personally and verbally gave the parents the scoop. I also didn't have a firm movie time, so had to include info to RSVP to get time details as the party is set to movie schedule that isn't released until the Wednesday before.


I tell you what--I had no RSVP issues as a result.

 

[C.Ann]

Please come to Madison's birthday party
"Alice in Wonderland"
at the XYZ Movie theater
Show starts at 12:15 Please arrive at 11:45, pizza to follow in the party room

Thanks to the Generosity of XYZ Movie theater, parents may purchase discounted tickets for just $5.00 each.

Something along the lines of this..

No way in heck I would try to manage 15-20 children in a movie theater by myself!!!

Hope your DD has a great time!

 

[ge0rgette2]

As long as that is an option--we don't have Sunday afternoon Mass here.

Yes, we have Saturday services at 5pm. I would personally go to that one if I knew my daughter had been invited to a friends party. But like I said, that's me!

 

[ge0rgette2]

Something along the lines of this..

No way in heck I would try to manage 15-20 children in a movie theater by myself!!!

Hope your DD has a great time!

Hehehe, believe me I'm not doing it alone, lol.

My husband and my son, being 18, plus a few friends of the family are going. It's just the classmates parents I'm concerned about. Handling 15-20 will be okay - i'm sure many parents will stay especially at a $7.00 discounted movie ticket.

I love the icecream/movie idea - but only day I could get was that Sunday morning showing... so breakfast it has to be!

I was told 10:15 movie time, give or take 10 or 15 min. So I'm putting 10am on my invitations.

I would hate that the parents think i'm stingy, thats why i'm trying to warn them ahead of time about the cost if they stay.

I'm sure I'm making this more than it should be. Just don't want any hard feelings or talk about, 'how dare she expect us to pay', type stuff.

 

[C.Ann]

Hehehe, believe me I'm not doing it alone, lol.

My husband and my son, being 18, plus a few friends of the family are going. It's just the classmates parents I'm concerned about. Handling 15-20 will be okay - i'm sure many parents will stay especially at a $7.00 discounted movie ticket.

I love the icecream/movie idea - but only day I could get was that Sunday morning showing... so breakfast it has to be!

I was told 10:15 movie time, give or take 10 or 15 min. So I'm putting 10am on my invitations.

I would hate that the parents think i'm stingy, thats why i'm trying to warn them ahead of time about the cost if they stay.

I'm sure I'm making this more than it should be. Just don't want any hard feelings or talk about, 'how dare she expect us to pay', type stuff.

Phew! Glad you're going to have some help..

Sounds like everything will work out just fine..

 

[nmmom95]

I think mentioning the discount tickets is fine. At 7, I would not be entirely sure about a drop-off, so I would be relieved that there is an option. I would not expect the parents giving the party to pay for me if I chose to stay. It would really depend on how well I know the parents.

 

[dawn1620]

What scrapquilter posted was really good, it's to the point and gets the message across that I don't think would offend anyone...I would just change it to say "parents may purchase additional tickets for themselves and siblings" and "pizza for the kids to follow in the party room".

As a mother of an 8 year old I would never expect to be fed or entertained at one of the birthday parties DD was invited to..but I have seen parents mosey on up to the table like they were at a buffet or something. Only if the parents offered - then I might take a slice of cake or something if there is enough. But I usually would just sit out in the car (great time to have a couple hours peace to read a book) or run errands if DD goes to a party...I always ask if it's ok if they are dropped off and always leave my cell number with the parent.

And I can't tell you how many times I have thrown a birthday party for DD and when I've only paid for 10-15, I end up having 20 kids because the parents bring the younger siblings. When you are paying by the head the cost adds up quickly...and when you only have so much food, goodie bags, ect to go around it really puts a kink in things.

 

[ge0rgette2]

What scrapquilter posted was really good, it's to the point and gets the message across that I don't think would offend anyone...I would just change it to say "parents may purchase additional tickets for themselves and siblings" and "pizza for the kids to follow in the party room".

As a mother of an 8 year old I would never expect to be fed or entertained at one of the birthday parties DD was invited to..but I have seen parents mosey on up to the table like they were at a buffet or something. Only if the parents offered - then I might take a slice of cake or something if there is enough. But I usually would just sit out in the car (great time to have a couple hours peace to read a book) or run errands if DD goes to a party...I always ask if it's ok if they are dropped off and always leave my cell number with the parent.

And I can't tell you how many times I have thrown a birthday party for DD and when I've only paid for 10-15, I end up having 20 kids because the parents bring the younger siblings. When you are paying by the head the cost adds up quickly...and when you only have so much food, goodie bags, ect to go around it really puts a kink in things.

I totally agree.. I, too, either drop off or stick around in the back of the room - i don't expect to get fed, but have been offered left over pizza and/or cake while there - along with other parents.

This is my dilemma, paying for 15 kids is fine, but some do expect to bring siblings to the party. My daughters class has 15, plus 15 parents is 30. If i'm paying for 15-20 kids that's just fine - 5 left over, but to pay for 30 outright is unfair to me.

I know of several mom's that bring along their other children to parties, without mentioning it to the host/hostess of the party - that to me is wrong.

I love the ideas i've been given ... i dont want to offend anyone. Also don't want them to think i'm a cheapy.
Problem is no pizza is being served after the movie - it's breakfast before hand. I'll re-word the ideas.

 

[wdwfan16]

Please come to Madison's birthday party
"Alice in Wonderland"
at the XYZ Movie theater
Show starts at 12:15 Please arrive at 11:45, pizza to follow in the party room

Thanks to the Generosity of XYZ Movie theater, parents may purchase discounted tickets for just $5.00 each.

I would go with this wording. If only a few parents stayed I would pay for them too as they will be helping me. It all 20 kids had 2 parents stay I would let them pay.

If I was the parent of one of the kids I would definitely stay and pay the $5. I would take any other younger siblings and DH if the siblings were of age.

What about the pizza after? What do the parents and siblings do then?


I think I would ask for the parents to RSVP for themselve too. Say the theater wants a count.

 

[MarinaD]

So I decided that I'll pay for 1 child and 1 adult, although if the parents are schleping from a distance, I'll have no choice but to pay for the additional parent.

I am doing Toy Story 3 - (9:30a - 12:30p) -- Movie starts @ 10a... so having breakfast - cereal, minibagels, oj and milk. then its movie time which inlcudes popcorn & drink for each child/parent, then 40 or so minutes for cupcakes/cake and drinks... and GET OUT!!! LOL!

What movie are you taking the kids too?? Would love to hear your ideas!

 

[wdwfan16]

So I decided that I'll pay for 1 child and 1 adult, although if the parents are schleping from a distance, I'll have no choice but to pay for the additional parent.

I am doing Toy Story 3 - (9:30a - 12:30p) -- Movie starts @ 10a... so having breakfast - cereal, minibagels, oj and milk. then its movie time which inlcudes popcorn & drink for each child/parent, then 40 or so minutes for cupcakes/cake and drinks... and GET OUT!!! LOL!

What movie are you taking the kids too?? Would love to hear your ideas!

I like your idea. I may use that one in the future.

 

[ge0rgette2]

I would go with this wording. If only a few parents stayed I would pay for them too as they will be helping me. It all 20 kids had 2 parents stay I would let them pay.

If I was the parent of one of the kids I would definitely stay and pay the $5. I would take any other younger siblings and DH if the siblings were of age.

What about the pizza after? What do the parents and siblings do then?


I think I would ask for the parents to RSVP for themselve too. Say the theater wants a count.

The above quote was just a sample from another poster.

I am having breakfast before the movie - time is 10am - movie around 1030 or so.

I agree with allowing a few adults to stay and i'd pay for them - especially if it's included in the allotment I'm allowed. I'm allowed 15-20 for a price and then 21-30. If it falls in the 20 category, no issues, but if i had 22, i shouldnt have to buy the next package to get the 2 adults in to see the movie.

My issue isn't pizza after - it's breakfast before, which they are welcomed to stay for - i'll purchase extra bagels and coffee for the adults.. It's the movie's I have a problem with.

 

[Dancemom03]

So I decided that I'll pay for 1 child and 1 adult, although if the parents are schleping from a distance, I'll have no choice but to pay for the additional parent.

I am doing Toy Story 3 - (9:30a - 12:30p) -- Movie starts @ 10a... so having breakfast - cereal, minibagels, oj and milk. then its movie time which inlcudes popcorn & drink for each child/parent, then 40 or so minutes for cupcakes/cake and drinks... and GET OUT!!! LOL!

I wish I'd thought of that when DD9 was younger. It sounds like such a good idea!

On a Sunday morning though we'd have real issues with a movie before noon b/c even if the family isn't catholic or attends a Saturday service, there's still sunday school and all our local churches seem to hold it on Sunday morning whatever their denomination. We live in a small town and most of the kids do sunday school somewhere. I'd almost be willing to bet that we couldn't round up even five of DD9's friends for that time slot during the school year.