When is ideal time to send out a birthday party invitation?

[Anonymous]

We just received one for February. During Covid, we send out invitations 1 week prior and literally 2 days prior for one party and had excellent attendance. I think this was probably due to fact that everyone was not traveling and had no plans for like 2 years. These days everyone seems busy. pre Covid, I used to send invitations out 5-6 weeks in advance. My kids had friends with close birthdays and I felt it was better to give notice for the other birthday kids.

[Anonymous]

4 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Three weeks.

[Anonymous]

I’d say 3-4 weeks is ideal, and seems to be the norm in my kids’ friend groups. Any further in advance and it can be hard to know what else we will have going on that weekend— family plans may come up, sports schedules aren’t announced yet, etc.

[Anonymous]

What is the question?

Are you made that your kid essentially received a save the date bday invite?

[Anonymous]

2-3 weeks. I’ll totally ignore and likely forget about an invitation that come earlier than that. No one wants to commit their weekend day to your kids party a month in advance unless it happens to be their best friend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the question?

Are you made that your kid essentially received a save the date bday invite?

When is the ideal time to send out invitations for a birthday party?

I have 3 kids with birthdays coming up. I have one booked so far and will plan the other 2 shortly. Wondering if I should send invitation out next week (5 weeks prior to party) or wait until mid-late January.

[Anonymous]

Did you never go to a party before Covid? Things are back to normal now. In my circle about 2-3 weeks before is the norm. Everyone is as busy as they have always been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you never go to a party before Covid? Things are back to normal now. In my circle about 2-3 weeks before is the norm. Everyone is as busy as they have always been.

Before Covid, my kids were not nearly as busy. I used to get so annoyed when people didn’t RSVP but now I’m one of those people. Unless it is a close friend, I sit on the invitation until a week prior because all 3 of my kids are busy all weekend. Before Covid, only my two oldest played sports and they would each have one game per weekend. Now they play their sports more competitively and we often don’t even know when the games will be. Youngest third child also plays sports now.

I’m sitting on the invitation we received today for a party 6 weeks away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you never go to a party before Covid? Things are back to normal now. In my circle about 2-3 weeks before is the norm. Everyone is as busy as they have always been.

I also feel the quantity of parties has gone up significantly. Maybe it is just because of sports, holidays, travel, adult parties, etc. it just feels like a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did you never go to a party before Covid? Things are back to normal now. In my circle about 2-3 weeks before is the norm. Everyone is as busy as they have always been.

Before Covid, my kids were not nearly as busy. I used to get so annoyed when people didn’t RSVP but now I’m one of those people. Unless it is a close friend, I sit on the invitation until a week prior because all 3 of my kids are busy all weekend. Before Covid, only my two oldest played sports and they would each have one game per weekend. Now they play their sports more competitively and we often don’t even know when the games will be. Youngest third child also plays sports now.

I’m sitting on the invitation we received today for a party 6 weeks away.

Well, your kids are a few years older now than before Covid so that probably has something to do with how much busier they are now. 6 weeks is too early because we don't often know our game schedules and such, as you said. I don't think much of it, maybe the host just booked the venue and had all the details handy and got the invite out to check the box. I don't think it requires an immediate response. Would be worst to RSVP yes and then have to change to no when the schedule is known and now there is a conflict.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the question?

Are you made that your kid essentially received a save the date bday invite?

When is the ideal time to send out invitations for a birthday party?

I have 3 kids with birthdays coming up. I have one booked so far and will plan the other 2 shortly. Wondering if I should send invitation out next week (5 weeks prior to party) or wait until mid-late January.

I would definitely wait until later in January. That first week is still the chaos of going back to school after break and things are more likely to get missed. 3-4 weeks is plenty of notice.