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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I feel really bad if my party doesn't look pinterest worthy. Like it was a gift grab. We always do at home birthday parties since I have a large yard, sometimes hire entertainers, massive water slides, and a large basement party room (1000 sq ft that's almost empty).

I spend a lot and I think it's a great party, but I think people see a home birthday party invite and don't want to come. We invited the whole Pre-K class for my dd and only 3 came. [b]She was pretty devastated. I definitely felt burnt out after that and she cried when her friends didn't show[/b].[/quote]

Oh that is terrible. This has also been my fear that people would not show up, so I do everything I can to get good attendance.  I am known to thrown really well attended birthday parties at home...and thankfully, I have never, ever had people not show up.  Usually, 99% of guests who said "yes" will show up.  And 2/3 of invitees would respond "yes" if I sent my invitation 4-6 weeks before the event.

I always did the following  
- Always have a core group of my people in each party, who I knew would come to the party and who were tasked with helping with small tasks to make the party flow well.

- Alway include parents and siblings, because it is logistically easier for one parent to take all their children and go to a party where food, drinks and entertainment is assured on a weekend.

- Send the invites early and in at least two different formats, with a couple reminders, I used to sent paper invites and evites.  This required that I had access to the  full contact list of parents at the beginning of the school year (and there are ways to get those too). 
(I also tracked and would call people who have not responded to get their "yes" or "no".  Finally, the day of the party - Send a TEXT with directions to your home as well as timing, because trust me, the dads who are bringing the kids to the party are not organized and they have no idea where they are going.

- Explain in the invite what will be served (Pizza and nuggets,  icecream, cake, hot lunch, wine/beer for adults, nut-free, vegan options). Don't cheapen out by having the birthday at an odd hour so that you do not have to feed people. Also explain what entertainment will be in place (face painting, petting zoo, magic show). Strict timings also.

- Have some paid entertainment.  Goody bags for all (even siblings), photo props and lots of space.

- Advertise in the invite what the food and entertainment will be, so the invitees can decide if your party is worth it or not.  Give timelines (and dress-code if needed) and adhere to it.

- End the party at the right time - leaving the kids thirsting for more. Do not wait for them to crash. I never allowed the "open the presents in front of people" because it is very boring for many people.

- Cut the cake early in the party and just before the entertainment (clown, magic show) begins and use it as a photo opportunity.   This ensures that the kids are not yet crazy, everyone is looking great, lots of pictures, blowing out the candle  is out of the way, the clown is also part of the picture, and your house does not yet have food and paper plates all over the place.  Those kids who want to leave early have already witnessed the cake cutting and sung happy birthday etc.  [/quote]

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