Vent/question about birthday party RSVPs

[TxJasmine]

My DS (2nd grade) is having a birthday party this weekend at a place that has bowling and laser tag. Most party places require 10 kids minimum and then you pay a certain amount for each additional child. This place only lets you add 2 additional children. So if you have 13 kids, then you have to pay for 20. We can't pay for 20 kids, so we want to keep the party between 10 and 12. I knew this would cause us problems, but I'm really getting stressed out over it!

I sent out invitations to all 9 boys in his class and put on an RSVP date of yesterday. I still haven't heard from 3 of them. DS wants to invite some kids from his day care, but I don't want to send out those invitations until I know how many from his class aren't coming. Time is running out, and I need to send out the other invitations.

My question is this - is it okay for me to call the 3 parents I haven't heard from and ask if their kids are coming or not? I don't know any of these people. I just don't know what to do. At this point, we don't even have the minimum number of kids, but if I send out too many invitations, I may end up with too many kids!

I am just so frustrated by this. On the invitation I put a phone number and an email address. I tried to make it easy to respond, but it didn't work

Sorry this is so long!

 

[MamaLema]

The same thing happened last year for my ds's party. It was at a bowling place also.

We invited 9 kids. NOT 1 RVSP. Well 6 showed up and I was really ticked because I didn't know what to expect. I still had to pay for the 3 kids who were no-shows and could have invited other kids.

 

[MagicalMom]

I would call the parents. In August my DD had a bday party (you may remember the post, the nightmare sleepover) & no responded. The all showed up & some of the parents just dropped off their children. They never even came to my door.

I would call b/c there is a big chance those children will just show up.

 

[Trish5768]

That really burns me up and it happens ALL the time with my kids invites, holiday parties etc. And then they do show up for the party and your left scrambling to accomodate all.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

I would call as well.

A friend of ours whose DS is 2 years older than ours called us the day before his party and asked if we could PLEASE come.

Turns out only 1 person had RSVP'd--she decided to call the others and discovered NO ONE except the 1 was coming!!! Her poor DS would have been devastated!!

So, she called us and a few other "B" list guests and the boys had a ball. (Our DS and hers don't really know each other which is why we weren't on the A list)

 

[TxJasmine]

Thank you all for your input! I will call the parents. Guess 6 out of 9 responses is GOOD!!!???

 

[laurie31]

My older dd wanted a BIG party last year. We invited eveyone in her class. Only a couple RSVP'd. I volunteered at the school so I asked the kids one day if they were coming. Of course, they all said yes. What kid wouldn't want to go to a party....

So I made 20 goodie bags, and prepared for 20 kids. Six showed up. I was sooooo ticked!


So this year, I did not put the location of the party on the invitations If they wanted to come, they HAD to RSVP to get directions. They couldn't just drop in, as they had no clue where it was. Heh. It worked, too! They ALL called!


You better believe I'll be doing the same thing for younger DD's birthday next month!

Laurie

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by laurie31
My older dd wanted a BIG party last year. We invited eveyone in her class. Only a couple RSVP'd. I volunteered at the school so I asked the kids one day if they were coming. Of course, they all said yes. What kid wouldn't want to go to a party....

So I made 20 goodie bags, and prepared for 20 kids. Six showed up. I was sooooo ticked!

So this year, I did not put the location of the party on the invitations If they wanted to come, they HAD to RSVP to get directions. They couldn't just drop in, as they had no clue where it was. Heh. It worked, too! They ALL called!

You better believe I'll be doing the same thing for younger DD's birthday next month!

Laurie

Laurie
HOW did you word that? I'd LOVE to know! That sounds like a fabulous way to avoid the no RSVP problem! GREAT idea!

Did you put something like "please RSVP for directions" or did it just look like you forgot to mention where it was?

 

[Otto's Doll]

Laurie, that is a great idea!!

 

[Freyja]

I always give them a phone call if the RSVP date is "expired". I only think that is fair and makes planning a whole lot easier.

 

[MB MinnieGirl]

Oooh! I LOVE Laurie's plan - I'm going to remember that in Feb. for my DD 5th b'day!

I had the same problem as the OP this past year and without thinking twice I did pick up the phone and call the parents. This is a HUGE pet peve of mine. That and then of course those that do RSVP yes and then don't show up for the party.

 

[shamrock bunch]

Great idea for not putting directions on the invite - I will have to remember that one.
I would call the parents too.

 

[laurie31]

Thank you all for your kind words about my secret RSVP plan My sister thought I'd left the directions off by accident (which is what it looked like I'd done). When I told her it was by design, she thought it was pretty funny. It's devious without being rude

I made the invitations myself on the computer. She had her party at a riding academy. There are several of them in our area. On the front I had a picture of DD with a horse and underneath it said, "Please come to my party!"

On the inside it read:

Elizabeth is turing eight
Come and help her celebrate!
Date, Time

Come ready to ride - wear long pants and tennis shoes or boots.

Please RSVP - 555-5555
------------------------------------
EVERYBODY called and asked which stable! LOL

I think you could adapt it to any kind of party ie - roller skating, bowling, Chuck E Cheese, etc. Just say WHAT you're going to do...but don't say WHERE you're going to do it.

ie:
Catherine is turing nine
She thought bowling would be fine
I hope we'll see you on Oct 1 from 2-4pm
Please RSVP 555-5555

Or even if you're going to have it at your house, you could say

Our little princess is turning four
Wear your favorite dress-up costume to her Royal Party
Date, time
RSVP 555-5555

And I haven't got a son, but I'm sure a boy rhyme is quite do-able

Mike's having a party
He's going to be six
We're going to play games and do some fun tricks
Date, time
RSVP 555-5555

...and of course, it doesn't have to rhyme

You're invited to Adam's 4th birthday party!
Date Time

RSVP 555-5555

Laurie

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by TxJasmine
Thank you all for your input! I will call the parents. Guess 6 out of 9 responses is GOOD!!!???