When should I pass out the invite?

[Cindy's Mom]

I need a little help here.

DS's 5th birthday party is March 31st. We are leaving for South Florida on the 7th, returning back to school on the 14th. Should he pass them out on the 6th? or the 14th? I know there are bigger problems in the world, but this is my little one right now.

 

[TimeforMe]

The 14th for sure. That still gives over 3 weeks. In fact, I would even wait another week after that.

 

[jrmasm]

I send invitations 6 weeks in advance. Nothing hacks me more than 2 weeks notice for a kid's birthday party. That close to the date there is almost no chance that we're not busy. It sucks having to say no because the invitation didn't come earlier.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

The 14th for sure. That still gives over 3 weeks. In fact, I would even wait another week after that.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I send invitations 6 weeks in advance. Nothing hacks me more than 2 weeks notice for a kid's birthday party. That close to the date there is almost no chance that we're not busy. It sucks having to say no because the invitation didn't come earlier.

You send out children's party invite 6 weeks in advance? While I totally agree with that for any other occasion.

We have dubbed our school the "non rsvp'ing school" We have the worse group of parents. For instance tomorrow night is a family pasta dinner w/ DJ etc.....10 parents has pre-paid responded. There will be 200 people there tomorrow night, MARK MY WORDS

 

[disykat]

I think 2-3 weeks is perfect for kid's birthday parties. Anything before that and people would just set the invitation aside to worry about later.

I've received many kid's invites with less that a weeks notice - that is too short!

 

[jrmasm]

The RSVP issue is the other reason I do it so early. Oldest daughter's birthday is shortly after school gets out for the summer. I have had to go to a Plan B because so many kids were unable to attend due to traveling. Luckily in that case, I had time to invite other kids to fill in.

 

[PaulaSue]

Earlier the better if you "really'' want the kids to come.

With my 3 girls we get invites every week and we go to at least one party a week if not 2. We go with first thing on the calendar is what we do, for example...if a Girl Scout function is on first they can't go to the part then.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Earlier the better if you "really'' want the kids to come.

BINGO. I'm sending out I think 27 invites, but I really only want 20, (my 2 included).

DS never had a "friend" b-day party (second child syndrom) and his b-day comes at a really bad time of the year for us. LOL. I must sound like an ogre.

Don't get me wrong - he does have the family party, aunts uncles grandparent, cousins, just not the friend one yet.

 

[lulugirl]

I would hand out the invitations when you get back from your trip.
That's gives everyone two weeks to respond, IMO plenty of time.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

The RSVP issue is the other reason I do it so early. Oldest daughter's birthday is shortly after school gets out for the summer. I have had to go to a Plan B because so many kids were unable to attend due to traveling. Luckily in that case, I had time to invite other kids to fill in.

You have a "Plan B" group of friends? What if the Plan B kids (and parents) find out they're Plan B? If I knew my child was invited to be a seat filler, I'd say forget it.

I agree that if they're sent out too far in advance, people will put them aside. And honestly, if something MORE IMPORTANT (ie, a family event) came up, it wouldn't matter when the friend party invite came...I'd be changing my RSVP.

 

[Becky2005]

I'm with the earlier the better crowd. I always try to send mine out at least 3weeks in advance.

I can't stand when I get an invitation say on Monday for a party on Saturday.

With 4 kids, our calendar gets filled up pretty quickly & it's not always easy to coordinate. The more leeway I have the better.

I guess it also depends on where you are having it & how important RSVP's are. I have the boys at an outside venue and usually the place wants a number a few days before we show up, so I want the RSVP's a few days before it's really due, so that when I have to call parents to see if they are coming or not (yes, I call them since I have to pay per person, *I* really, really, really need to know if they are showing up or not.)

 

[robinb]

I personally think 6 weeeks is too far in advance. I tend to put things off until the last minute and I would think to myself: "Oh, that party is NEXT month. I don't need to think about it NOW!" ... and then I would completely forget about it. Perhaps you can send an official invitation before you go and a "reminder" when you return. That way you make the uber-planners happy and you give the scatterbrained a little push .

 

[froglady]

You used the word pass out in the OP....does that mean they will be handed out rather than mailed? And if so, is the whole class invited? I know that many schools have a policy against handing out invitations at school unless the whole class is invited. Also, I have found invitations in the laundry, etc over the years, so it's much safer to mail them.

 

[jrmasm]

You have a "Plan B" group of friends? What if the Plan B kids (and parents) find out they're Plan B? If I knew my child was invited to be a seat filler, I'd say forget it.

Um no. DD has different groups of friends. School friends, team friends, neighborhood friends, camp friends, cousins etc. To keep hurt feelings to a minimum, I would have her invite all the kids from 1 group. The year that we ran into trouble with vacations, I was able to invite a second, smaller group of friends to fill in. Yes, they were fill ins but they were still her friends. And she still wanted them to come to her party.

 

[Katy Belle]

I think 3 weeks is plenty early. I actually think 1 week is fine. I think that for classmates/friends parties if we can go we do, but we do not necessarily "hold" the date unless its a dear friend.

As for sending out 27 invites and only wanting 20....good luck! One year I invited 18 little boys to a Science Party at my house. I was really hoping for a max of 15, counting my 3...all 18 came, we had 21 crazy kiddos! It was way fun though.

Have a great party!
Katy

 

[Cindy's Mom]

You used the word pass out in the OP....does that mean they will be handed out rather than mailed? And if so, is the whole class invited? I know that many schools have a policy against handing out invitations at school unless the whole class is invited. Also, I have found invitations in the laundry, etc over the years, so it's much safer to mail them.

Yes, he will be passing them out to his entire JK class. The teacher tells and makes sure they all put them in the "take home folder". Hope that works. At that age, IMO, they are soo excited to get an invite they make it a point to show me.

 

[KimR]

I'm with the earlier the better crowd. I always try to send mine out at least 3weeks in advance.

I can't stand when I get an invitation say on Monday for a party on Saturday.

Me too - that irks me to no end and it is so common around here. I've told my DDs that if they get an invitation to a party that is less than a week away they can't go. My weekday is full and I'm not rushing around to try to get a birthday present at the last minute.

 

[pfishgirl]

I'd say the 14th should be fine