What would you do re: no-show dinner guests? **They called- update, post 19

[emer95]

Last Saturday I invited our neighbors over to hang out and have dinner with us today at 3:00 (kind of early for a Sunday dinner, I know, but I figured the kids could swim while we grilled and chatted). She (the wife) said yes, they'd love to, they'd bring dessert, and she'd see us then. I haven't talked to her since then, but it was only a week ago. They're an hour and a half late and we're sitting here with all this food, not sure what to do.

They live around the corner, and when my dh went out to buy the corn on the cob at around 2:30 he said their cars were gone and it looked like no one was home. I called them and left a message and said, "Hey, just wanted to make sure we're still on for today. We're ready for you anytime so give us a call or come on over." We don't know their cell phone numbers so there's nothing more we can do.

I'm guessing either there was a mix up on the day or time, or they had an emergency. I hope they're ok.

So in the mean time, what would you do with all of this food? We are only a family of four, and they are a family of six, so we have a lot more than we can eat. I was thinking about inviting my brother and his family over (they live across the street and wouldn't be at all offended by being asked last minute, they'd be thrilled) but what if our neighbors thought it was another day, realize their mistake and show up 2 hours later?

We have:
Homemade pesto and goat cheese crostinis
Chiavetta chicken soulvaki
Pitas that we will warm on the grill
Homegrown tomato and feta salad
Way too much corn on the cob
Salt potatos
Wine, beer, iced tea

If anyone wants to bring the dessert, you're welcome to come by and have dinner with us. Bring your swim suits!

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I wish I lived nearby, I would come w/my family! Your menu sounds so good! I think you should invite your brother & his family. If the neighbors show up later, explain that since they are so late, you thought they forgot but are welcome to stay. I hope they are ok & nothing serious happened. Hopefully just a mess up on the date. Good luck & enjoy your yummy dinner!

 

[teacups]

They forgot
You'll get a call tonight when they get home and hear the message. OMG they'll be horrified and wont know what to say. Yes, MAYBE there was an emergency... doubt it. I know a few people who think they can just remember things instead of writing them on the calendar. I cant do that. EVERYTHING goes on that thing! Look at the bright side... tomorrow nights dinner is already done. Leftovers

 

[DISNEY1975]

I wish I lived near you! I have a family of 5, including 2 teen boys who could take care of your problem!!!

I would keep trying and hopefully they can at least come late afternoon, early evening.

Do you have any family nearby? Try calling them and explain what happened! Im sure they would like a swim and dinner!

 

[teacups]

We have:
Homemade pesto and goat cheese crostinis
Chiavetta chicken soulvaki
Pitas that we will warm on the grill
Homegrown tomato and feta salad
Way too much corn on the cob
Salt potatos
Wine, beer, iced tea

After looking at this, I think maybe they went out to buy some hotdogs and punch for the kids to eat.

 

[Minnie_me]

Yup, they forgot. I'm big on the *reminder call*, because I know I could always benefit from getting one!!

And being a teacher, I don't know what day it is, all summer long.........is it really Sunday already!??!

 

[powellrj]

After looking at this, I think maybe they went out to buy some hotdogs and punch for the kids to eat.

I was thinking the samething but didn't quite know how to phrase it! Of my 3 kids, one would have loved it, one might have tired it and gone home hungry and one would have eaten lots of corn!

 

[emer95]

Don't worry, we had kid food too, LOL!

Well, it's 5:21 and still nothing. I called my brother, and they're coming at 6:00 if the other family doesn't show. We're starving!

 

[patsfan101]

Enjoy the meal woth your brother - it sounds delicious!

Sounds like your neighbors forgot. I hope they're a bit embarassed.

 

[CathrynRose]

We have:
Homemade pesto and goat cheese crostinis
Chiavetta chicken soulvaki
Pitas that we will warm on the grill
Homegrown tomato and feta salad
Way too much corn on the cob
Salt potatos
Wine, beer, iced tea

If anyone wants to bring the dessert, you're welcome to come by and have dinner with us. Bring your swim suits!

Are you Greek? I wanna come by... Mmmmmmmm!!!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

How thoughtful or thoughtless are these neighbors?

We have or should I say had friends (haven't talked to them in 2 weeks) do this to us a couple times. After I bought tons of food, beer etc would not show up and then would call a day or 2 later and apologize. Oh we forgot sorry, you should have called and reminded us.

Last 2 times I let it go, then it happened again. I got mad. Said why can't you write it down. If I can remember why can't you. My husband, myself and kids have lives too.

So our so called friends haven't talkedto me or our other friends in 2 weeks. Oh well. Sorry! If there was an emergency I understand. But to just forget and not show. Rude Rude Rude!

 

[trip]

I've been a no-show for a dinner. I had the dates mixed up. We laughted about it later - I was so embarrassed!

What are salt potatoes?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would have called earlier to make sure that we were still on.

And your menu sounds great to me, however they may have been put off by it perhaps?

 

[Becky2005]

Yup, they forgot. I'm big on the *reminder call*, because I know I could always benefit from getting one!!

And being a teacher, I don't know what day it is, all summer long.........is it really Sunday already!??!

This would be me. I'm not a teacher but with the kids home all day now, I get all confused on what day it is anymore. I do try to write things down but I've been known to get calls saying "just checking that we are on for tomorrow -- with me going "tomorrow???? wait..what? Oh yeah, now I remember."

My hunch is if they are this late & it's not a usual thing for them, they forgot. Have fun with your brother's family.

 

[Scurvy]

That sounds like a wonderful meal! I hope you and your brother's family enjoy it. If my neighbor was a no show and called a few hours later I wouldn't have them come over that day, but I'd say we should try again some other time. If they sounded really apologetic and/or embarrassed for having not shown up I would invite them again. If they acted like it was nothing, or if they didn't call to explain, I would not be inviting them over again. If it happened another time they'd be off my guest list for good. (Or at least for a really long time!)

ETA - I agree with roliepolieoliefan - You shouldn't have to call to remind your guests. It's their own responsibility to keep up with their schedule. If I someone expected me to call and remind them about invitations like this, they wouldn't be getting any more invitations from me.

 

[dismom2]

I bet they just forgot. I need to write things on a calendar or in my planner when things get busy. Usually, when I make plans with someone more than a day or two in advance, one of us will call to confirm. There have been times when we have mentioned getting together with friends, or vise versa, but if it's not confirmed, we don't always think the plans are 'set in stone'. That's why we always confirm. I'd share your food with your brother and his family---sounds yummy! Don't feel you have to wait any longer to eat...if it's aready been more than a couple of hours, you can assume your friends are not going to show up.

 

[DawnCt1]

You sound like a good cook. Call your brother and invite him and his family. Let us know what they say when they eventually call you!

 

[npmommie]

I think your menu sounds wonderful!!
why in the world would anyone be put off by it?

they prob just forgot, i have to write everything on my calendar or i wouldn't remember anything!

 

[emer95]

I think your menu sounds wonderful!!
why in the world would anyone be put off by it?
QUOTE]

Thanks! It was delicious. Also, they didn't know what we were having, so it wasn't that.

So, my brother, SIL and their kids, and my parents (we had a lot of food, man!) came over and we had a great time.

She finally called around 7:30, said she totally forgot. They were at another friend's house (hmmf! ) and when they heard my message they felt terrible. She said they want to make it up to us, she is so very sorry, etc. I believe her, she's a very nice person.

Interestingly enough, they did something sort of similar earlier this summer. They totally blew off an invite to my daughter's b-day party (a kid party that their daughter was invited to). They never RSVP'd or showed up. We had her goody bag all ready for her because we didn't know what to expect. When she called a few weeks later she apologized and said they were going to be out of town and she meant to call and tell us but never got around to it. I didn't think much of it because everyone forgets things now and then, but this is sort of becoming a pattern with them.

I'm sure we won't be issuing any more invitations any time soon. They're very nice people but we have lots of other, more reliable friends that we'd like to see.

 

[emer95]

Are you Greek? I wanna come by... Mmmmmmmm!!!

No, I'm Irish! LOL. I just like my dinner parties to have a theme.