Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Three things that help a lot:

1) use software that tracks who has opened the invite. Text everyone who hasn't opened it. Spam filters and things get lost. You can also send automated reminders.

2) Include an ICS invite! I'm surprised by how few people do this. It's so helpful. Make a calendar invite and include the relevant details.

3) plan a party that's flexible. If you have a bigger space than you need, and if the headcount doesn't directly change the cost, it's way less stressful. So like, a rented room and trays of food. Of course you still need to estimate but you're not going to sweat the specific numbers. I know this isn't always possible with venues etc.

By software, do you mean something like Evite that does it for you? Or do you mean you actually found and downloaded software to allow you to see if someone opened your email??

I've always texted or separately emailed the non openers. I've never, ever had a non opener then RSVP Yes. Either they saw the email and aren't interested, or... I don't know what else. But I've never had someone claim it went to spam or they forgot, then RSVP Yes. It's always, "Oh, I forgot, and Jake can't make it!"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of my invitations get put in my spam and they are missed!! send a direct email to them checking in to make sure they got it or a text

So check your spam. Don’t your kids like to be included?

I have four kids and can barely keep up with my own emails let alone all these invitations so yeah we’re just getting by Day to day over here and if I missed your kids birthday invitation, I’m sorry.

Anonymous wrote:Stop inviting those people. I remember who they are and know that they are not for us.

Anonymous wrote:Three things that help a lot:

1) use software that tracks who has opened the invite. Text everyone who hasn't opened it. Spam filters and things get lost. You can also send automated reminders.

2) Include an ICS invite! I'm surprised by how few people do this. It's so helpful. Make a calendar invite and include the relevant details.

3) plan a party that's flexible. If you have a bigger space than you need, and if the headcount doesn't directly change the cost, it's way less stressful. So like, a rented room and trays of food. Of course you still need to estimate but you're not going to sweat the specific numbers. I know this isn't always possible with venues etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of my invitations get put in my spam and they are missed!! send a direct email to them checking in to make sure they got it or a text

So check your spam. Don’t your kids like to be included?

I have four kids and can barely keep up with my own emails let alone all these invitations so yeah we’re just getting by Day to day over here and if I missed your kids birthday invitation, I’m sorry.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of my invitations get put in my spam and they are missed!! send a direct email to them checking in to make sure they got it or a text

So check your spam. Don’t your kids like to be included?

Anonymous wrote:Stop doing parties like this. There really is no reason. You don’t need a special “party package” to enjoy any venue. Invite a few kids, pay for them when they get dropped off, order a pizza there if you can or take the kids back to your house for cake and ice cream. Two adult drivers should be able to transport at least kids. This is what we do and it’s so much nicer than the party package stuff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they don’t open it or respond, they aren’t interested. It’s an invitation not a summons.

OP here. I am not talking about people who don’t respond. I am talking about people who RSVP yes and then I pay for their kid and they don’t show up.

I’m totally fine with people not responding or RSVPing no. I’m even ok with people texting me at the very last minute to say they can’t come. I had a person say they were sick and I let a sibling join. I’m annoyed at the person who just didn’t show up and I am out $50. It is the principle more than the actual cost but the cost is annoying also.

Don’t invite them next time. And where are you paying $50/kid? Or are you including the cost of fruit punch, pizza,
and cake? Because you can take all that as leftovers. Individually wrap any cake slices and freeze them.

You also may across as way too intense. Maybe the other parents pick up on that and realize they’re not into it? They shouldn’t RSVP yes and not show, but you seem very, very angry.

🤷🏼‍♀️

You havent hosted a fun bday party have you. I treated my kid to a climbing party and it was $60 a kid with no food. I also had a race car party that was $50/kid for them to have 3 or 4 races.

Anonymous wrote:Stop doing parties like this. There really is no reason. You don’t need a special “party package” to enjoy any venue. Invite a few kids, pay for them when they get dropped off, order a pizza there if you can or take the kids back to your house for cake and ice cream. Two adult drivers should be able to transport at least kids. This is what we do and it’s so much nicer than the party package stuff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they don’t open it or respond, they aren’t interested. It’s an invitation not a summons.

OP here. I am not talking about people who don’t respond. I am talking about people who RSVP yes and then I pay for their kid and they don’t show up.

I’m totally fine with people not responding or RSVPing no. I’m even ok with people texting me at the very last minute to say they can’t come. I had a person say they were sick and I let a sibling join. I’m annoyed at the person who just didn’t show up and I am out $50. It is the principle more than the actual cost but the cost is annoying also.

Don’t invite them next time. And where are you paying $50/kid? Or are you including the cost of fruit punch, pizza,
and cake? Because you can take all that as leftovers. Individually wrap any cake slices and freeze them.

You also may across as way too intense. Maybe the other parents pick up on that and realize they’re not into it? They shouldn’t RSVP yes and not show, but you seem very, very angry.

🤷🏼‍♀️

Not OP but I had the same thing happen this past weekend- DS is in 4th grade and invited 10 kids total, 8 responded yes then 2 never showed up and I didn't get a cancellation text or anything. I don't even really know the parents, we are relatively new to the school and of the 2 no-shows I've met 1 parent in passing. I find it rude and understand why OP finds it rude- venting on an anonymous meesage board does not mean we are rampaging around kids' events with angry intense faces. Even if that was the case and the parents were scared by our intensity they should just reply "no" to begin with.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they don’t open it or respond, they aren’t interested. It’s an invitation not a summons.

OP here. I am not talking about people who don’t respond. I am talking about people who RSVP yes and then I pay for their kid and they don’t show up.

I’m totally fine with people not responding or RSVPing no. I’m even ok with people texting me at the very last minute to say they can’t come. I had a person say they were sick and I let a sibling join. I’m annoyed at the person who just didn’t show up and I am out $50. It is the principle more than the actual cost but the cost is annoying also.

Don’t invite them next time. And where are you paying $50/kid? Or are you including the cost of fruit punch, pizza,
and cake? Because you can take all that as leftovers. Individually wrap any cake slices and freeze them.

You also may across as way too intense. Maybe the other parents pick up on that and realize they’re not into it? They shouldn’t RSVP yes and not show, but you seem very, very angry.

🤷🏼‍♀️

You havent hosted a fun bday party have you. I treated my kid to a climbing party and it was $60 a kid with no food. I also had a race car party that was $50/kid for them to have 3 or 4 races.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they don’t open it or respond, they aren’t interested. It’s an invitation not a summons.

OP here. I am not talking about people who don’t respond. I am talking about people who RSVP yes and then I pay for their kid and they don’t show up.

I’m totally fine with people not responding or RSVPing no. I’m even ok with people texting me at the very last minute to say they can’t come. I had a person say they were sick and I let a sibling join. I’m annoyed at the person who just didn’t show up and I am out $50. It is the principle more than the actual cost but the cost is annoying also.

Don’t invite them next time. And where are you paying $50/kid? Or are you including the cost of fruit punch, pizza,
and cake? Because you can take all that as leftovers. Individually wrap any cake slices and freeze them.

You also may across as way too intense. Maybe the other parents pick up on that and realize they’re not into it? They shouldn’t RSVP yes and not show, but you seem very, very angry.

🤷🏼‍♀️