The oddest birthday party setup/situation that you have encountered

[Anonymous]

What was it?

[Anonymous]

The one for a 5-year-old at his home that was overly-planned. Play-doh in one room, then another craft in another, then another in another room. Then some goldfish, then some cake. Kids didn't have any fun. Spent too much time lining up and being shuffled from room to room.

Oh, and it wasn't drop-off. No chairs, drinks, snacks, or cake were offered to parents. It was wretched.

[Anonymous]

Acquaintances hired a nationally known kiddie group to perform at their dc's 1st birthday party at their McMansion. They invited many of their colleagues; parents, childless, married, single, gay, young, old. Not a lot of kids, though.

[Anonymous]

Birthday party for 1 year old on a Saturday at 1. Pizza, soda, cake, so far good time. Lots of parents and kids that knew each other. 1 year old birthday child's naptime was 2. Mother brought child to room to start naptime routine while father continued party (bringing out more dessert, drinks) as we all tried to leave. Father insisted we all stay "no need to leave just because baby's sleeping" and kept bringing out drinks, Mother joined in when she came back out BUT at the same time insisting everyone be very quiet and only whisper.
So we are trying to whisper our goodbyes, having beverages put in our hands, being chastised simultaneously for being too loud and asked to stay a little longer.

[Anonymous]

My daughter's sixth birthday got weird because the entertainers fell in love and couldn't get out of bed to come work the party, which I only learned when they didn't show up. So, bunch of kids, nothing planned, on a rainy day in a rented space. Fortunately I know some games and my friend is a storyteller. It was pretty weird and disorganized, honestly.

[Anonymous]

How do you know they were in bed? Did they actually tell you?!

[Anonymous]

19:59 - Do tell so others won't make the same mistake!
I'm sure it was quite obvious, unless you are completely "devoid".....

[Anonymous]

I don't know if this qualifies - not odd, just over-the-top. After school (on a weekday) birthday party for 6-yr-old girl. Very small house. 16 kids. Lots of family members plus the party company staff of at least 3 or 4. "Spa" themed party including little pink robes for all the girls; they lay down with cucumbers on their eyes; had their nails painted; full makeup put on; hair done, etc. They were suppoed to bring their princess dresses. Once they were all dolled/dressed up, Princess Belle arrived and everyone had photo ops with her. When the parents were arriving to pick up, closing in on 6:00pm, they were only just getting to the cake. The next week the mom sent everyone the 500+ photos that were taken by the party company to document every moment.

[Anonymous]

DD7 got invited to a birthday party at a classmate's house. I dropped her off. When I picked her up I asked how it was. "Okay, except [Classmate] wasn't there - she went to some other kid's birthday party that she knows from camp."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD7 got invited to a birthday party at a classmate's house. I dropped her off. When I picked her up I asked how it was. "Okay, except [Classmate] wasn't there - she went to some other kid's birthday party that she knows from camp."

WHAT??? That's just crazy. I can't believe anyone would do this.

[Anonymous]

We were invited to a party via evite and told something along the lines of "there are a limited number of spots, so not everyone invited will be able to attend." When we opened the evite, we already were too late, and our DC didn't make the cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were invited to a party via evite and told something along the lines of "there are a limited number of spots, so not everyone invited will be able to attend." When we opened the evite, we already were too late, and our DC didn't make the cut.

Unreal.

[Anonymous]

First grade classmate of my daughter's. The kid apparently liked helicopters, because the parents rented a real helicopter that flew in and gave the kids rides at the party. Everything else was over the top too, but I had rented a goat for my daughter's party a few months before and felt a little, um, amused by the whole helicopter thing. Kids thought it was cool. And the R/C helicopter gift bag thing was cool too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if this qualifies - not odd, just over-the-top. After school (on a weekday) birthday party for 6-yr-old girl. Very small house. 16 kids. Lots of family members plus the party company staff of at least 3 or 4. "Spa" themed party including little pink robes for all the girls; they lay down with cucumbers on their eyes; had their nails painted; full makeup put on; hair done, etc. They were suppoed to bring their princess dresses. Once they were all dolled/dressed up, Princess Belle arrived and everyone had photo ops with her. When the parents were arriving to pick up, closing in on 6:00pm, they were only just getting to the cake. The next week the mom sent everyone the 500+ photos that were taken by the party company to document every moment.

That sounds pretty lavish. (And the full makeup sounds a bit creepy!) But how did the six-year-olds like it?

[Anonymous]

I have to say elaborate birthday parties for a 1 year old with more than 10 people are always strike me as inconsiderate to the child and alll about the parents. Overwhelming, loud, sometimes the adults get too drunk. I went to one with a DJ and the kid was crying hysterically. It seems to make more sense to invest a ton of money and planning into a birthday party your child will actually remember!