Other than grandparents, I really think it's overboard to expect any other family to travel for a 2 year old's bday party, never mind during the summer and a key holiday week. My own personal "rule" is I go to the first bday and that's it.

However, that does not excuse the non-RSVP. I always respond to those and think it's rude not to.

Send the reminder email, and then don't worry about it. I'm sure the 2 year old will have fun no matter what.

In my experience most of the people that don't RSVP show up anyway.

We recently had my son's Bar Mitzvah, printed invitations, already stamped RSVP cards included, and still had to hound about 5 relatives (families, so we are talking over 20 people for those 5 relatives) and half a dozen school friends for RSVPs.

People just don't RSVP anymore, which is just plain rude.

Email them with a deadline, let them know you need the number so you have enough food, and going forward, don't ever be the person who doesn't RSVP!

Anonymous wrote:No one should be expected to come from another state for a 2 year old's birthday.

But everyone should RSVP. We just travelled out of town for a 3 year old party for my great nephew. l have a close family. We couldn't go last year and RSVPd no.

OP the party will be fine no matter who comes your daughter will celebrate and have fun.

While I agree with some of the PP's about not being able to come, It is still rude not to RSVP.
This will happen over and over again though OP as your kid gets older. We just had DD's 6th bday party and I had to follow up by text with a bunch of people.

Don’t be embarrassed. She won’t notice or care. I thought this was an older child whose schoolmates were ghosting her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one should be expected to come from another state for a 2 year old's birthday.

Why? My inlaws come in for every birthday. There are enough terrible things going on in this country - when we have something to celebrate, we should celebrate the hell out of it.

Grandparents are different.

This. My parents come from far away to my kids parties because they want to. No one else travels from more than 1 hour and I wouldn't ask them to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one should be expected to come from another state for a 2 year old's birthday.

Why? My inlaws come in for every birthday. There are enough terrible things going on in this country - when we have something to celebrate, we should celebrate the hell out of it.

The key word is expected, sure some will come, especially grandparents (still not expected), but it should not be expected.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one should be expected to come from another state for a 2 year old's birthday.

Why? My inlaws come in for every birthday. There are enough terrible things going on in this country - when we have something to celebrate, we should celebrate the hell out of it.

Grandparents are different.

Anonymous wrote:I do think it's crazy to expect family to travel for a 2 year olds birthday.

Local friends of hers and family should have rsvped.

This. Send out a reminder to get a head count, since the date is coming up.

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t travel from out of state during a holiday week for. 2 yr olds bday party. I would RSVP though. I can understand being embarrassed but dwell on it, it’s a learning experience. Little kid bdays are only a really big deal for he kids parents.

This. Anywhere around a holiday weekend is bad for travel. People already have plans, don't want yo deal with the traffic, or can't get off from work because everyone else has already done so.

May want to remind people. They may hate telling you they can't come. If they are local it's more likely they will be able to make it.

Send a follow up with a message saying you would like a head count for planning purposes. I had a few non responses to a party this month and the follow-up shook a few people to respond. I think that when you send an evite more than 3 weeks ahead people see the date is far off and aren’t sure what is happening and then just totally forget to respond. It is rude but not intended to be hurtful. And if this your first child, you won’t know yet but “end of school year” is like a month long period where parents are expected to do a lot more at school. It is frankly over the top but not worth fighting. So for me, I clear my schedule of all non-school related events for June. If an evite or invitation comes in in early June, it is possible it will be overlooked. You will understand when your child hits elementary. I swear. When I as a kid, we had ice cream in the last day. Now, the last 3 weeks of school is such a mess of events and activities and no learning. Anyway, that may play a role in your situation.

Anonymous wrote:I'm so sorry. That's a really hard weekend. My birthday is June 30 and I stopped trying to have parties years ago. Between summer vacations and extended July 4th weekends, so many people are tied up with other plans. Please don't take it personally.

I wouldn't cancel it, but maybe adjust plans for a smaller group. Good luck and happy birthday to your daughter!

Was going to post this. My son’s bday is June 30 and we quickly learned to celebrate it at the beginning of June before school let out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one should be expected to come from another state for a 2 year old's birthday.

Why? My inlaws come in for every birthday. There are enough terrible things going on in this country - when we have something to celebrate, we should celebrate the hell out of it.

Grandparents are different than siblings. I wish we could keep our birthday parties friends only.

Anonymous wrote:No one should be expected to come from another state for a 2 year old's birthday.

Why? My inlaws come in for every birthday. There are enough terrible things going on in this country - when we have something to celebrate, we should celebrate the hell out of it.