Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 19:23     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

Anonymous wrote:Agreed - beaten to death. I'm in the unpopular camp of... Seriously!!!! This is all you ppl have to worry about??? Just buy extra bags, deal with spontaneity, folks that plan poorly or miss multiple emails about kids’ birthday parties. Some of us jugglers are bound to drop balls.

I'm a type A and enjoy hosting parties - and this type of stuff doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I plan for it in advance and project out estimates of no shows, extra siblings, last minute replies, sick kids, etc... in my planning. There's an event planning science to it - and you don't need an exact head count in most cases. If you do, please make that clear in the invite for those of us assuming it's not that important in the grand scheme of things.

In sum, get a life. Flame away….



Beaten to death... and yet you respond at length. Hmmmm....
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 19:18     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

Agreed - beaten to death. I'm in the unpopular camp of... Seriously!!!! This is all you ppl have to worry about??? Just buy extra bags, deal with spontaneity, folks that plan poorly or miss multiple emails about kids’ birthday parties. Some of us jugglers are bound to drop balls.

I'm a type A and enjoy hosting parties - and this type of stuff doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I plan for it in advance and project out estimates of no shows, extra siblings, last minute replies, sick kids, etc... in my planning. There's an event planning science to it - and you don't need an exact head count in most cases. If you do, please make that clear in the invite for those of us assuming it's not that important in the grand scheme of things.

In sum, get a life. Flame away….

Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 18:58     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

To start out with, this really has been beaten to death on the general parenting forum, I am not sure how this is off-topic.

Second, the last kid's birthday party I threw was for a play, the children were young enough (4) that I invited parents as well. I had a date to give my number and I had to pay for tickets I committed to, so that would be about $30 extra to allow for a child and parent to just show up.

It is entirely reasonable to expect parents (all people really) to have manners, child's party or not.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 18:30     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

My DD's party is at a place where they have a cap on the number of kids allowed. If some of her old friends are not coming, I would like to be able to invite some of her new classmates. That is hard to do if her old friends don't RSVP. Can I assume that they aren't coming if they don't RSVP by a week before the party? Would it be rude to invite her new classmates that late?
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 18:03     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

Anonymous wrote:Just bring extra party favors and relax...the more the merrier!


So OP has to buy extra party favors because you can't bother to RSVP on time? Whaaa?
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 17:53     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

Hey, at least they RSVP'd. I had guests that didn't RSVP (and did show up) because the 'RSVP by' date had passed....as if it was an exam deadline or something?
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 17:30     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You expect folks to RSVP more than a week in advance for a kid's party?
Really?


If there's an RSVP by date, then yes, I expect you to provide your response by then, or I will assume you are not coming. Many places require a head count in advance!


I'm with you, OP. It is super-annoying (not to mention rude) when people do not RSVP by the deadline, or even do not RSVP at all. I am a "planner" and I like to have things done and organized too. Just wanted to add my condolences. . .

Hope the party goes well!
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 17:22     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

Just bring extra party favors and relax...the more the merrier!
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 17:20     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You expect folks to RSVP more than a week in advance for a kid's party?
Really?


You don't know what your kid is doing next weekend? Really?

Or is the issue that you're waiting for better options to come up?


My thoughts exactly.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 17:09     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

Anonymous wrote:You expect folks to RSVP more than a week in advance for a kid's party?
Really?


You don't know what your kid is doing next weekend? Really?

Or is the issue that you're waiting for better options to come up?
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 17:05     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

Anonymous wrote:You expect folks to RSVP more than a week in advance for a kid's party?
Really?


If there's an RSVP by date, then yes, I expect you to provide your response by then, or I will assume you are not coming. Many places require a head count in advance!
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 16:35     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

Set a RSVP date and always get extra stuff. Not having extra is kind of silly; something always comes up. A sibling is brought along, one kid drops their goodie bag in a puddle, you name it.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 16:29     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

You expect folks to RSVP more than a week in advance for a kid's party?
Really?
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 16:26     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

Hmm, I usually make the RSVP deadline a week before the party, just buy a lot of extra stuff for goody bags. Some people always do RSVP late, which is very annoying, but honestly, DS is happy to have more friends coming, so I try to spin it in a positive light for myself.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2012 16:24     Subject: Birthday Party Etiquette - RSVP-ing Late

I would very much appreciate if people could RSVP well in advance, more than 4-5 days of a child's bday party. As a working mom with a long commute, it's difficult to make logistics work for ordering/buying goody bag items if you RSVP at the last minute and 4-5 days before a party is last minute!

If you are not sure that you will be able to make it because of weekend schedules, sports, etc., please send a considerate note saying so, but please don't tell me that your kid is coming a few days before. Now, I have to scramble to get additional goody bag supplies.