No, because I haven't seen an invitation that doesn't specify what is being served.
Don't be too harsh- there's a big learning curve for parents to children's parties, and your child should be thrilled just to go to a party...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine any Asian family every thinking you can host a party without food (I'm Asian). Not as sure about other races.

I'm Asian. I have no trouble hosting a party without providing a full meal. I think there's too much emphasis on food in today's culture.

I am Indian and would be horrifically embarrassed to have a party starting at 12:30 and not provide a full meal. I don't know of any other Indian (or other Asian) who would even consider doing that. It is definitely a cultural difference.

The question really is, would anyone expect food to be served? And then you have two choices - serve food to be on the safe side, tell people you're serving a proper lunch, or tell people you will NOT be serving a proper lunch. If I showed up expecting that my kid would be fed, we'd probably leave during the party. Breakfast at our house is around 8:00/8:30, and if we didn't know that there would be no food, my 3 year old would have to wait until 2:00. No way that would work. If I knew beforehand, I could swing by and grab something right before the party, though.

I just don't understand this. Why is this a question - that is, if OP is party planner and not a guest asking - ? Any party people are invited to should have food and not just only a few fruit or veggie tray.

An actual lunch, not necessarily. If party was at a place like little gym, They would have an hour worth of activity first so it would then be 1:30pm followed by the 30 min of "party" part. If this was the case, I would put snack and cake will be served on the invitation. Snack of fruit cheese and crackers ect. Followed by cake. It all depends where the party is and what is being done. However I would make it clear what was being served in the invitation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White people are such stingy hosts.

Interesting, I had never associated providing lunch with race. Out of curiosity, is there any non-Caucasian out there who would host a birthday party without serving food/meal? Now that I think about it, I can't imagine any Asian family every thinking you can host a party without food (I'm Asian). Not as sure about other races.

My curiosity is more this: how does PP know OP's race? Or if OP was asking for their party or one they were invited to attend? The mind boggles at the way some people see the world.

Because only a white person would ask this question.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White people are such stingy hosts.

Interesting, I had never associated providing lunch with race. Out of curiosity, is there any non-Caucasian out there who would host a birthday party without serving food/meal? Now that I think about it, I can't imagine any Asian family every thinking you can host a party without food (I'm Asian). Not as sure about other races.

Not all whites are the same. Russians, French and Americans have differing cultures for example.

Yes. You said it's 30 minutes away for most guests which means they would have to leave home at noon. Which means if they were to eat lunch at home they'd have to have it at 11. Doesn't make sense.

Anonymous wrote:Was there food?

OP here. Food was served at the end of the party at around 2pm.

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine any Asian family every thinking you can host a party without food (I'm Asian). Not as sure about other races.

I'm Asian. I have no trouble hosting a party without providing a full meal. I think there's too much emphasis on food in today's culture.

Saying on the invitation something like "join us for cake and fun" or "join us for lunch" etc. is so helpful - I like not having to guess.

Was there food?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White people are such stingy hosts.

Interesting, I had never associated providing lunch with race. Out of curiosity, is there any non-Caucasian out there who would host a birthday party without serving food/meal? Now that I think about it, I can't imagine any Asian family every thinking you can host a party without food (I'm Asian). Not as sure about other races.

My curiosity is more this: how does PP know OP's race? Or if OP was asking for their party or one they were invited to attend? The mind boggles at the way some people see the world.

Not PP, but I can't imagine any other group or culture for whom this would be a question. The idea that you wouldn't feed guests is an anathema.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White people are such stingy hosts.

Interesting, I had never associated providing lunch with race. Out of curiosity, is there any non-Caucasian out there who would host a birthday party without serving food/meal? Now that I think about it, I can't imagine any Asian family every thinking you can host a party without food (I'm Asian). Not as sure about other races.

My curiosity is more this: how does PP know OP's race? Or if OP was asking for their party or one they were invited to attend? The mind boggles at the way some people see the world.

Probably not. Generally the parties have 60-90 minutes of activity, then the kids eat. So if the cake time is 1:30 or 2:00, I wouldn't expect lunch -- I'd have had my kid eat a little something in the car on the way to the party.