Suggestions for wording on a triple party invite.

[jme829]

Ok, I need some suggestions here.

DD 14 makes her Confirmation next Monday. DD8 makes her First Communion on May 6 and DS 5's bday is May 1.

Due to schedules and money, I decided it will be easier and cheaper to have one big party for all 3 following DD's FC.

I need some thoughts on
#1 what kind of "theme" for the invites (I'm want to send one invite listing all three occasions)

#2 Some people being invited to the FC/Confirmation celebration aren't normally people who are invited to the kids bday parties (usually bdays are immediate family, close friends) so should I do 2 separate invites one fo the religious celebration and one for DS bday?

I don't want people to feel obligated to buy bday gifts for my son when they normally wouldn't be invited to his bday party (if it wasn't for FC/Con, he would have his own party) but on the same token, if I don't mention we will be also doing his bday, I don't want people to embarrassed for not knowing and not bringing a gift for him (which I am totally not looking for !) .

I don't want people to feel obligated to bring any gifts at all, but its really touchy in ds's case since grandma, etc will already know its his bday and bring gifts anyways.

SO bring on the ideas. I have about a week to figure this out before I need to get the invites out.!

Thanks for any input.!

 

[PoohnPglet]

Are you making them yourself?

How about just saying something like-
On the front:
Boy! Do we have a lot to celebrate! Then list them all off - maybe inside balloon images or something?
Inside or back of invite:
Say something about sharing it...Come one - come all type thing.

That way every person knows what is being celebrated and can gift/not gift accordingly.

 

[KirstenB]

I think you're smart to consider separate invites for the birthday boy, and then the girls' religious celebrations. If I got a combined invitation, but wasn't of the same faith as you (ie, you'd be inviting my child to your son's birthday), it would be confusing. I'd be wondering if I needed to purchase 3 gifts, I wouldn't know what an appropriate religious gift might be, I'd be wondering if I were expected to stay at the party etc.

Is there any way you could celebrate your son's birthday on say a Saturday, then the girls' celebration on Sunday? Or vice versa? The more I think about this, the more mixed the guest list will be if you try to combine, IMHO.

 

[disykat]

Another thing to consider - do you have a "gift opening time" at your religious gatherings? In my case - I've never seen gifts opened publicly at a celebration of a religious occasion, they're usually opened later. However, that's a big part of a birthday party.

 

[ToriLammy]

I think you're smart to consider separate invites for the birthday boy, and then the girls' religious celebrations. If I got a combined invitation, but wasn't of the same faith as you (ie, you'd be inviting my child to your son's birthday), it would be confusing. I'd be wondering if I needed to purchase 3 gifts, I wouldn't know what an appropriate religious gift might be, I'd be wondering if I were expected to stay at the party etc.

Is there any way you could celebrate your son's birthday on say a Saturday, then the girls' celebration on Sunday? Or vice versa? The more I think about this, the more mixed the guest list will be if you try to combine, IMHO.

That would be my suggestion. Since you say birthdays are normally immediate family and close friends have a separate party for the birthday. Combine the religious events into another party.