Birthday party RSVPs

[Anonymous]

If you are a late RSVPer, why is that? When I get an invite, I check my calendar and respond accordingly--almost always within a day or two of receiving this invitation. If it is a close friend of one of the kids, and we have a conflict, I will respond with a maybe, state that we have a conflict, and we will see if we can resolve it somehow. For those who wait until the last minute, are they waiting to see who else is going? Whether something better comes up?

[Anonymous]

Not everyone knows as far in advance of availability as you. Not everyone wants to explain conflicts which you seem fine with. Not everyone gets the invitations - evicted go to spam, kids don't bring them home, etc. This is one of those posts from someone who thinks they are great and those of us whose schedules are less predictable don't live up to your standards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are a late RSVPer, why is that? When I get an invite, I check my calendar and respond accordingly--almost always within a day or two of receiving this invitation. If it is a close friend of one of the kids, and we have a conflict, I will respond with a maybe, state that we have a conflict, and we will see if we can resolve it somehow. For those who wait until the last minute, are they waiting to see who else is going? Whether something better comes up?

Sometimes there is a lack of clarity in scheduling--friends or family who "might" visit that day, DH sometimes has short-notice work travel making it difficult to plan too far ahead etc. Occasionally the birthday child and my DC might have an iffy relationship, and I prefer to wait until closer to the event to see how it's going. So long as it's before the RSVP deadline, what difference does it make?

[Anonymous]

I have three kids and don't always know their exact game schedule several weeks out. Sometimes I have to RSVP maybe and get back to a parent when I know our plans more definitely.

[Anonymous]

It's always the early RSVPers who no-show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone knows as far in advance of availability as you. Not everyone wants to explain conflicts which you seem fine with. Not everyone gets the invitations - evicted go to spam, kids don't bring them home, etc. This is one of those posts from someone who thinks they are great and those of us whose schedules are less predictable don't live up to your standards.

No, I just really wanted to know the reasons--and I guess I was hoping the reasons would give me some ability to guess as to how many will come. We invited 9 kids to my Kindergartener's birthday party and ONE has RSVP'd. Evite shows me that everyone has viewed it. While the RSVP deadline is not until Saturday, for a party the following Saturday, I'd really like to know more than a week out that SOME kids are coming. I guess I am just a little paranoid that only one kid will show! My kid is shy and does not make friends easily. He is my oldest and in our preschool, everyone RSVP'd quickly and turnout was always high.

[Anonymous]

NP--if there is family that might visit or a possible game or other event or the kids relationship is iffy, why not just respond No when you receive it?

By waiting it gives the impression that if nothing else more important comes along, then you'll attend.

[Anonymous]

It may fall on my Ex's day with the kids and I'm waiting to hear if he can take them or has something else planned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It may fall on my Ex's day with the kids and I'm waiting to hear if he can take them or has something else planned.

Why not send him the invite and let him respond?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It may fall on my Ex's day with the kids and I'm waiting to hear if he can take them or has something else planned.

Why not send him the invite and let him respond?

Because then the host will get no response at all.

[Anonymous]

What do you mean by late? I always RSVP by a week before the party. If someone sends me an invite a month before a party, I'm busy with my job, volunteering, kids activities. I don't always respond immediately. I don't know at that point whether DH will be traveling for work and whether I can transport one of the kids to the party while getting the other to sports practice etc.

[Anonymous]

We have a lot of problems with Evite going to spam on yahoo email. Just fyi to other people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone knows as far in advance of availability as you. Not everyone wants to explain conflicts which you seem fine with. Not everyone gets the invitations - evicted go to spam, kids don't bring them home, etc. This is one of those posts from someone who thinks they are great and those of us whose schedules are less predictable don't live up to your standards.

No, I just really wanted to know the reasons--and I guess I was hoping the reasons would give me some ability to guess as to how many will come. We invited 9 kids to my Kindergartener's birthday party and ONE has RSVP'd. Evite shows me that everyone has viewed it. While the RSVP deadline is not until Saturday, for a party the following Saturday, I'd really like to know more than a week out that SOME kids are coming. I guess I am just a little paranoid that only one kid will show! My kid is shy and does not make friends easily. He is my oldest and in our preschool, everyone RSVP'd quickly and turnout was always high.

I think you need to lower your expectations. First, rarely do we (4 kids) receive a birthday party invitation with an RSVP deadline, and certainly not an entire week before the party. This is a kids party, not a wedding. You will get most of your responses in the days right before the party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone knows as far in advance of availability as you. Not everyone wants to explain conflicts which you seem fine with. Not everyone gets the invitations - evicted go to spam, kids don't bring them home, etc. This is one of those posts from someone who thinks they are great and those of us whose schedules are less predictable don't live up to your standards.

No, I just really wanted to know the reasons--and I guess I was hoping the reasons would give me some ability to guess as to how many will come. We invited 9 kids to my Kindergartener's birthday party and ONE has RSVP'd. Evite shows me that everyone has viewed it. While the RSVP deadline is not until Saturday, for a party the following Saturday, I'd really like to know more than a week out that SOME kids are coming. I guess I am just a little paranoid that only one kid will show! My kid is shy and does not make friends easily. He is my oldest and in our preschool, everyone RSVP'd quickly and turnout was always high.

I think you need to lower your expectations. First, rarely do we (4 kids) receive a birthday party invitation with an RSVP deadline, and certainly not an entire week before the party. This is a kids party, not a wedding. You will get most of your responses in the days right before the party.

Really? I thought a week was standard. I need to give the venue a number a week in advance and I need to order a cake and party favors.

Nonetheless, I get that people not RSVP-ing until the deadline is perfectly appropriate, but was just wondering the reasons as I tend to respond quickly and the families at our preschool mostly seem to as well. I get it, chill out.

[Anonymous]

A maybe is essentially the same as no RSVP. It annoys me to get maybe RSVP's and I never use them. I think it's more
Polite to give a definitive answer at least a week out or by the deadline if stated.