The oddest birthday party setup/situation that you have encountered

[Anonymous]

^^The family is very warm and great and certainly don't bar anyone from their house, btw...

[Anonymous]

Next up: mildly sedated tigers and polar bears available for rides in the backyard!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS age 2 was invited to a birthday party for a daycare buddy. The family had a handful of snacks for the (few dozen) kids & parents, and then off to the side there were two buffet-type tables set up with copious amount of food - but there was a clear plastic cover draped over that table. A clown performed in the backyard and people ate a few chips and goldfish. After a little time went by, the cake came out and we ate it in the blazing sun.

We were then all hustled out of there, because birthday boy's relatives had begun to arrive. As DH and I left, birthday boy's mother was removing the clear plastic from the buffet tables and fussing with the copious amounts of food and drink, preparing them for her second round of guests.

Weird.

I've had this happen as well though not at a little kid's party. At a HS graduation party scheduled to start about 6 pm, the guests were fed nothing for the first hr. Then there were some limited appetizers -- samosas and Indian snack food, which I love, but not everyone ate as we grew up in the middle of no where and many of the grad's school friends had never tasted ethnic food. 8 pm rolled around and then 9 - at which point there was still no dinner service. All of us school friends bailed at that point and hit the fast food joints on the way home. As we were leaving, the dinner buffet was starting to be set out. It was clear that the grad's parents viewed this as a party for their friends and family and the "school friends" were token invites; we were supposed to stop in with presents and then leave so the real party could start. Years later it still leaves a bad taste and I don't understand why the 18 yr old grad even invited her friends if that's how she and her family was going to treat them. If you can rent out a ballroom venue for a high school graduation, you can certainly afford to feed everyone.

I think you misundstood this one. This is pretty standard in many cultures--you left before hte party started, basicallly. Dinner isoften served very late, and to serve dinner early would be rude, becuase in many cultures you essentially "eat and run"--the end of food signals the end of the party. THey probably thought you did not want to be around them, and were offended. Culture clash. You should probably just have talked to your friend....

[Anonymous]

We went to a lovely, large mostly outdoor birthday party (where we were allowed into the house for necessities). However, when my 4 year old son had to go to the restroom, relatives of the mom were showering in both bathrooms at 2pm. I was terrified my son would pee in their house while we waited outside the bathroom, but I didn't want him to pee in the backyard or front yard either. Fortunately, he made it just after an aunt walked out of the bathroom in her towell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Re parties that are held outdoors:

My husband is from the Midwest, and we've attended parties back there where teh entire party is held either in the garage or a garage/driveway/outside combo. I thought it was the saddest thing like maybe the people had just moved in and had not yet had their houses set up to entertain, and wondered why the heck these folks didn't just wait to entertain until they were ready. I admired all the other guests and how they could "pretend" that this was wonderfully fun when, really, it was kind of sad and boring and not really fun to be in a party in someone's garage. I thought everyone was just more loose and flexible and easygoing than I, and reminded myself to just loosen up and enjoy it.

COME TO FIND OUT: per my husband, this is customary. It's basically done all the freaking time, like for Memorial Day picnics, Indy 500 parties, Labor Day, housewarming, BBQs, you name it. I call it a "garage party" but I don't know if they have an official name for it. I don't know WHY the heck they do it. My DH was so used to it he cannot even explain really why, except maybe to prevent everyone from making a mess inside your house? But then I say, then why hold a party at all?? He cannot really explailn it.

So, this is all to say: this is the weirdest type of party I have been too!! A Midwestern "garage" party: a party of any sort which is basically held in the garage! Yuck!

Okay, so this type of party is common for my (somewhat local) family. The extended family is just so big that no one can fit everyone in their house! However, the house is always open and it is common for groups of people to hang indoors in the AC (especially older folks or parents with babies). People are welcome to go inside and use the bathroom or hang out at any time...but most people stay outside! My parents are currently building a beautiful, but small, retirement house on the water and are considering adding a huge two-story garage specifically for hosting crab feasts, cookouts, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

God, what a bitch you are PP. A mom tries to do something fun for her daughter and includes yours and you have to comment on the size of her house. My 6 year-old DD would have loved what you described AND it was a drop-off on a school night? What is your problem--they're 6! They don't have board meetings the next morning!

DING DING....Irony Alert! Who is being nasty?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went to a one year old's party at an exclusive country club in Lima, Peru. A hundred guests at least, dressed to the nines, uniformed nannies chased children around while gorgeous adults partied. There were rented amusement park rides, popcorn, cotton candy, sno cone machines, bouncy house of course, and a professional photog to document it all. There was also a cake cutting moment just like a wedding. In fact, it was a lot like an expensive wedding.

Anyone else attended one of these? I was astonished, but had a great time.

Had one of these for DS in Abu Dhabi (lived there, didn't fly there). Oceanside resort, catered by beach club, rides, dinner, etc. Combination 1st b-day and baptism party. Cake cutting, cocktail attire, nannies chasing kids. Over-the-top, yes. But everyone had a good time as far as we could tell...judging by how long it ran.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Invited to newly-built house, still just dirt for the yard. We arrived early because they were borrowing our bounce-around, so we needed to set it up. Were informed no one would be allowed inside--party would take place on tiny, unshaded back porch when it was a sunny, 100+ degree lunchtime.

Refreshments were not-cold water bottles, 1 bag of chips with salsa, and plate of PB&J sandwiches, cut into triangles, for about 10 families. Cake too small for everyone to have a sliver.

Clown arrived, and refused to work outside--her makeup was melting. So hostess made eveyone take off shoes and stay right inside the door.

We left hungry, thirsty, hot, and exhausted.

I went to a wedding like this. Outside in the summer, nobody was allowed in the house. Also, it poured rain, and to top it all off most people were not invited to the ceremony, only the "reception."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS age 2 was invited to a birthday party for a daycare buddy. The family had a handful of snacks for the (few dozen) kids & parents, and then off to the side there were two buffet-type tables set up with copious amount of food - but there was a clear plastic cover draped over that table. A clown performed in the backyard and people ate a few chips and goldfish. After a little time went by, the cake came out and we ate it in the blazing sun.

We were then all hustled out of there, because birthday boy's relatives had begun to arrive. As DH and I left, birthday boy's mother was removing the clear plastic from the buffet tables and fussing with the copious amounts of food and drink, preparing them for her second round of guests.

Weird.

I've had this happen as well though not at a little kid's party. At a HS graduation party scheduled to start about 6 pm, the guests were fed nothing for the first hr. Then there were some limited appetizers -- samosas and Indian snack food, which I love, but not everyone ate as we grew up in the middle of no where and many of the grad's school friends had never tasted ethnic food. 8 pm rolled around and then 9 - at which point there was still no dinner service. All of us school friends bailed at that point and hit the fast food joints on the way home. As we were leaving, the dinner buffet was starting to be set out. It was clear that the grad's parents viewed this as a party for their friends and family and the "school friends" were token invites; we were supposed to stop in with presents and then leave so the real party could start. Years later it still leaves a bad taste and I don't understand why the 18 yr old grad even invited her friends if that's how she and her family was going to treat them. If you can rent out a ballroom venue for a high school graduation, you can certainly afford to feed everyone.

Okay - just a different perspective - that timing is totally standard for Indian parties. I wouldn't come to the conclusion based on the food alone. In fact, serving dinner too early is seen as pushing your guests out; two rounds of food is meant to be hospitable to people for the whole duration of the party. I am so sorry it came across like that. I bet theirr families thought you didn't like being around their family and left early for that reason. Again, dinner service at 9 or 10 is totally standard for a big Indian party. Also, a party starting at six, guests aren't expected to arrive until 7 at least. Everyone is told to come at the same time. (Indian Standard Time, as we call it). Please don't stew on that - they weren't being rude, it's just that the cultural norms are different than what you're used to. That being said, your friend probably should have warned you. At my mehndi (pre-wedding party) some of my non-Indian guests didn't realize dinner was coming (at 9) and loaded up on appetizers. For the wedding the next day, word was out that there was going to be dinner served later, so people paced themselves appropriately.

First PP here. What you describe is not what we experienced.

Snacks for first round of guests: Chips & salsa, goldfish, cheese & crackers. Birthday cake.

We were then told the party was over. We were, literally, hustled out of there. We were clearly not invited to/included in the second round.

Food for second round of guests (family & adult friends from what I could tell): deli sandwiches, fruit platter, pasta salad, dips, crudites, and the like.

There were definitely two parties happening, and one was a lot more hospitable than the other.

I don't understand why they happened on the same day or in the same time frame, made no sense to me. As hostess I would have felt humiliated to have a plastic-covered table with off-limits food visible to round 1 guests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS age 2 was invited to a birthday party for a daycare buddy. The family had a handful of snacks for the (few dozen) kids & parents, and then off to the side there were two buffet-type tables set up with copious amount of food - but there was a clear plastic cover draped over that table. A clown performed in the backyard and people ate a few chips and goldfish. After a little time went by, the cake came out and we ate it in the blazing sun.

We were then all hustled out of there, because birthday boy's relatives had begun to arrive. As DH and I left, birthday boy's mother was removing the clear plastic from the buffet tables and fussing with the copious amounts of food and drink, preparing them for her second round of guests.

Weird.

I've had this happen as well though not at a little kid's party. At a HS graduation party scheduled to start about 6 pm, the guests were fed nothing for the first hr. Then there were some limited appetizers -- samosas and Indian snack food, which I love, but not everyone ate as we grew up in the middle of no where and many of the grad's school friends had never tasted ethnic food. 8 pm rolled around and then 9 - at which point there was still no dinner service. All of us school friends bailed at that point and hit the fast food joints on the way home. As we were leaving, the dinner buffet was starting to be set out. It was clear that the grad's parents viewed this as a party for their friends and family and the "school friends" were token invites; we were supposed to stop in with presents and then leave so the real party could start. Years later it still leaves a bad taste and I don't understand why the 18 yr old grad even invited her friends if that's how she and her family was going to treat them. If you can rent out a ballroom venue for a high school graduation, you can certainly afford to feed everyone.

I think you misundstood this one. This is pretty standard in many cultures--you left before hte party started, basicallly. Dinner isoften served very late, and to serve dinner early would be rude, becuase in many cultures you essentially "eat and run"--the end of food signals the end of the party. THey probably thought you did not want to be around them, and were offended. Culture clash. You should probably just have talked to your friend....

Definitely did not misunderstand as I'm Indian too and realize everything starts late. The difference is that when hosts are hospitable there are tons of appetizers and drinks - as the PP said you can easily fill up if you don't realize dinner is next. In this case it was one mini samosa and coke and little else for 3 hrs for a bunch of teens. And the lack of hospitality was also demonstrated by random family members saying in Hindi - who are these kids, why are they still here etc. if you're saying such things above a whisper about your guests, you should make sure no one in the group you're talking about speaks the same language.

[Anonymous]

I went to a kids birthday party that was held in the workout room of the parents' apartment building. There were several activities like a bean bag toss, but unfortunately it only took about three minutes to do all of the activities, so the kids were almost immediately bored and wound up running around & yelling in this small room with mostly nothing to do.

But the oddest part was that there were bunches of balloons, and of course the workout room didn't have a real ceiling but did have a bunch of sprinklers with sharp edges. So about every two or three minutes a kid would let go of a balloon and it would pop when it hit a sprinkler or a sharp/rusty edge on the exposed pipes. The workout room had a wood floor and almost nothing else to absorb the sound, so every balloon burst was like a gunshot going off and several kids would cry or be scared.

[Anonymous]

Every birthday party our son has been invited to has been wonderful in its own way, and we are grateful for every invitation. And I'm not saying that in an ironic or snarky way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a kids birthday party that was held in the workout room of the parents' apartment building. There were several activities like a bean bag toss, but unfortunately it only took about three minutes to do all of the activities, so the kids were almost immediately bored and wound up running around & yelling in this small room with mostly nothing to do.

But the oddest part was that there were bunches of balloons, and of course the workout room didn't have a real ceiling but did have a bunch of sprinklers with sharp edges. So about every two or three minutes a kid would let go of a balloon and it would pop when it hit a sprinkler or a sharp/rusty edge on the exposed pipes. The workout room had a wood floor and almost nothing else to absorb the sound, so every balloon burst was like a gunshot going off and several kids would cry or be scared.

This is so funny! I can see where it was probably a disaster from the hostess' point of view, as she did anticipate it, and then things started (literally) blowing up in her face, despite her planning, but it sure is funny to read abou there! Thanks for the laugh!

[Anonymous]

Re Midwestern garage parties:

I'm from Ohio, and it is basically using the garage in place of a tent if it's nice enough to be outside. This is what our family and many friends did for graduation parties, etc. You have a shady place to put the food and sit. A garage open to the driveway provides a bigger overall space than a room inside most houses, and kids can run around outside with adults around. Friends and family can wander in and out of the house. I don't see what's so strange about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

LOL

I'm the PP of the "ssshhh" party....the best part is that we actually stayed for awhile and whispered to each other, other guests, the other 1-3 years olds, to please the hosts and make like it was totally normal and we're having a good time. When we see this couple, we still go back and forth with each other about if we should have left, were we really supposed to stay and whisper, etc. All in a whisper, of course

This is hilarious!! Thanks for the luagh. lol