Bah! Birthday parties and not RSVPing

[indie]

I'll just preface this by saying that we missed a few RSVPs recently when we were living in a hotel because of a house fire.

But I know that most of the families in my daughter's class are not going through something like that. So it frustrates me that that her party is tomorrow and we've received so few RSVPs. In the past we've just had backyard parties and had 12-20 kids with most of them RSVPing. This year we've just received a few and four kids just canceled tonight (the night before the party).

Of course this would happen the one year that we finally give in to DD begging for one of those expensive parties at an inflatable place. Since it was $200 we told her that it is her gift. She's getting nothing else. Then if her friends don't show up, well, that just sucks for her.

I also emailed and phoned her teacher trying to get contact info. for the kids in her class so we could find out if people were coming or not and the teacher never got back to me.

I'm just hoping I don't end up with a disappointed kid.

[zebra15]

I hate when people dont RSVP. But from experience I would say if they dont contact you to plan on them comming. Most people thing RSVP is for regrets only.  I've learned the hard way but when I do a party for DS I include a note that says something like " i need your RSVP, even if you are coming by xx/xx/xx. If you don't rsvp I wont have a spot for your child at the party since I need to prepay for everything."

But I rarely have a party anywhere other than the house or DS will take 1-2 friends somehwere (science center, movie etc)

I dont think the teacher can give out contact info to you.  Privacy stuff and all.

I hope your DD has a great time at the party, no matter how many kids show up!

[DariusMom]

Originally Posted by zebra15 

I hate when people dont RSVP. But from experience I would say if they dont contact you to plan on them comming. Most people thing RSVP is for regrets only.  I've learned the hard way but when I do a party for DS I include a note that says something like " i need your RSVP, even if you are coming by xx/xx/xx. If you don't rsvp I wont have a spot for your child at the party since I need to prepay for everything."

I hope your DD has a great time at the party, no matter how many kids show up!

this! It annoys the !@#$% out of me, but I think that's just the way it is. I would count on them coming if you don't hear from them.

Hope it goes well!

[slylives]

I sympathise - I invited 12 kids to my daughter's birthday party (at a local indoor playground) and 2 days before, only 3 had RSVP'd. In the end I sent an email saying, basically, "If I haven't heard from you I assume you're not coming - please let me know if that's not the case." In an hour we had 8 responses, all of them to say they were coming. So perhaps the PP ae correct and people are only thinking they need to RSVP their regrets. Either way, I think it's incredibly rude and share your frustration!

I hope the kids show and that your daughter has a wonderful time. Let ue know how it goes.

[indie]

Oh well. It all worked out. It was our smallest and certainly most expensive per child party, but there were enough kids for it to be fine. And there was only one that hadn't RSVPed. And her mom apologized so much I couldn't feel bad about it.

The greatest moment was when my daughter opened up a singing Justin Bieber doll and yelled "I hate Justin Bieber." I felt horrible and the mom (same mom who didn't RSVP) whispered that it came from Target and take it back. Then we get home and my daughter says that she actually loves the gift but was embarrassed because her dad and I always make fun of JB so she feels like she has to pretend she hates him. So now I get to try to smooth that mess over.

I do think I'll go back to backyard parties though. Much less stress than when you pay a lot of money and don't know if people are coming.