Hosting a Party at a Local Pizza Parlor!!

Hi! I've been to a lot of pizza parties and never seen one where the parents were not paid for. Do parents have to pay to get in? If so, I would expect some will be unwilling to do it and will decide not to have their child at the party. That's asking parents to pay for the privilege of buying your child a birthday gift. Try to remember that economics are bad for a lot of people right now and it might be really hard before Christmas to buy a present and pay for entrance to a party they are not even able to eat at. I think if money is an issue you might want to reconsider the pizza parlor and go with a park and hot dogs/hamburgers or something. You didn't say who the party was for, but I imagine at both of those young ages you won't have a lot of parents who are comfortable dropping of their little ones, so it might be unreasonable to expect them to have to pay. I just wanted to give you another perspective since so many of the moms on here seem to be more understanding then what my experiences have been.

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If you are asking for RSVP's I would put Please RSVP with you child's pizza preference (maybe they will be more likely to RSVP) then I would put buffet/pizza available for adult purchase

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Maybe put something like "children's pizza provided". As a parent who has been to a # of pizza parties I know how expensive they can be. Maybe you could try to gather some coupons so parents can use them if they want to eat.
Let us know how it works out, I'm sure other mom's could use the feedback.

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I would think they should know that only the kid's food will be covered. I've been to several parties along these lines, I always paid for my own food and never expected anything else. I think most people will feel the same way.

Simply state it on the invitation; the parents will understand. I just attending a child's birthday party at the new IMAX theatre in Tomball; the children's movie ticket was covered; the adults were not. They stated it on the invitation something like: admission includes pizza, drinks, and one child's movie ticket. If stated properly, the adults will get it.

You really should not have to tell them anything! if asked then tell them that it is only paid or the child. i believe most parents do not expect for their portion to be paid, knowing it can be a bit expensive already.

We had my son's 6th birthday party at Gattitown, and we only paid for the kids. I don't think I put anything on the invitation as to who was paid for, and I don't recall the previous party we attended there having done so either. I was kind of stressed about it beforehand, but it was really no big deal, and we also had most of the moms there, too. Nobody seemed upset that they had to pay for themselves; looking back, I don't really think they were expecting to be paid for. Have a great party. I thought Gattitown threw a great party for the kids.

Hi,

I'm assuming the party is for Celina in which case most of her friends would be around the same age. Would you feel comfortable if parents dropped off their children at the party? If not, it's probably the gracious thing to pay for one parent.

Hope this helps!

Since my girls seem to be invited to tons of parties, I can understand your situation! Here are my thoughts on this etiquette:

You address the invitation to the child ("Sarah" for example)- so it is understood to be for the child ONLY. If you want to invite siblings or parents, make that designation on the envelope. "Sarah & Emily" or "The Groove Family". You pay for who you invite. Those parents who expect to be paid for when they aren't "invited" are rude.

Now, as a parent, I always ask the hostess if siblings are ok to bring when I RSVP. This is her chance to tell me Yes, but I have to pay for them, which I don't mind. It's also a chance for me to ask "Do you mind if I just drop Sarah off and pick her up at 4?" Then there are no questions. I never expect to be fed myself if I stay, but then again I never turn down a free slice of pizza if it's offered! If you know that one of Celina's friends has younger siblings that usually tag along, say something to their mother.

Oh, and even if you don't pay for siblings to attend, having a few extra goodie bags to hand out at the end lets all the kids go home happy. Or, see if Gatti's will give them free balloons.

Have fun at the party!

When you send or give invitations, it needs to be stated.

Children are paid for, participating parents/siblings will need to pay

Most parents will drop-off with this going on so be sure and be specific on what time to pick their child up!! Or you will be stuck!!

I actually went to a skating party for my older son and the younger was not included. (not stated) The woman was rude about it. I stayed with my younger son and made it fun for him anyway. Thats why I added the sibling thing!! It is your budget, you can do only what you can do!!

You can put on the invitation Food, drinks, and games will be provided for the children. I have to agree with everyone most parents will probably just drop off the kids and the ones that stay wont expect the host to pay for them.

Hi!

We've done this several times. Most parents understand their meals will not be paid for. It has really never been an issue. But if it comes up, just say you're paying for the kids and that's it. It's expensive enough!!! Good Luck!

I can understand that it is an expensive party to pay for parents, but if you are not going to pay for the parents, then you shouldn't expect them to actually stay for the party-- make it be a drop off party (then you have the responsibility for the kids)

I have a 7 year old as well and personally would be reluctant to take my son if the invite said parents have to pay to come to the party-- unless the kid was one of my son's best friends and if the parents were friends as well.

Do the parents have to pay just to come in? If not, you can put "admittance for adults is free, and the pizza is available for $$?"

You might consider inviting less people and paying for everyone so your total is the same. You could also consider buying enough pizza for everyone and having the party at a public park with a nice playground. You would actually save money over Gattis.

Good luck with this, it is a tricky situation, one that I have had to deal with myself.

~J

It's very easy, just word the invitation this way.
We invite you..... (all the info) and at the bottom put
"So join us for some fun and food...children's meals and cake provided"
I have done this several times and no one has ever complained. Most parents understand that if they do attend a child's party, it is supervisory only, usually not as a guest.
Good luck and have fun!

I just had a party for my son at Chuck e cheese and on the inviation it had a place where you mark on there who is paid for.
Child food
Child and parent food
Or No Food provided.

It was hard for me to just put child only. But the parents that showed up understood I was already dishing out a lot of money for the party and kids they were ok with it. I know it is hard to say to the parents they are not paid for. But I know how expensive a party can get with just the kids alone.

Does Gatti's provide the invitations? I know that Chuck E Cheese has a spot on there for you to just check off who is being paid for! Otherwise, perhaps just include on your invitations, "Food, drinks, and games will be provided for the children."

With 7 year olds, I think you will have many parents who prefer to stay but many who prefer to drop off. I don't think you should be required to pay for adults. i don't go to a child's birthday party expecting to get fed, even when it happens!

Try this,
My Mommy and daddy picked the spot
Mr. Gatti's that is for my
3rd Birthday fun
So come eat up
lets have some fun
Make sure yur mommy and daddy bring
that card, because my mommy and daddy have
paid for your food and fun!
"Ga-tch Later"

in a smaller font write the cost of the meal plus drink and tax.

Hope this helps. :o)

These days it will most likely not be a problem for parents to pay for their own meal. Just state the truth, that the children's meals will be covered by you but the parents if they stay will need to pay for their meal. I feel that they will understand this.

Hi - I would simply list on the invite that it is a Pizza Party and this is what it includes: dinner for the child, etc. Also, when the paretns RSVP, just state that you are paying for the child only and theat the parent /other sibling or more than welcome to stay however, the additional family members will need to pay their own way. I would not go into any more detail or apologize for not paying for the parent(s). Good Luck!!

Hi- we were just invited to a pizza party at a local place last month. The invite stated "pizza and cake for the kids". I took that to mean that I was on my own if I wanted to eat. No problem. I ordered a salad. Don't worry too much about it. Any reasonable person/parent would not expect to be fed at a kid's party.

Good luck!

Most parents don't expect you to pay for them. I would just put on the invitation that it includes one free child meal. And I wouldn't expect the parent to stay if they aren't going to eat. You can give him/her that option to leave the child?

My daughter had a party at a local farm/petting zoo and we wrote on the the invitation that parents/siblings were welcome to attend at their own expense.

Most parents are very understanding and realize that a party at this type of venue can turn into a major expense for the brithday childs parents, so they are willing to pay their own way.

FYI ~ About half of the parents and a couple of little brothers & sisters stayed for the party and everyone had a great time.

P.S. Be sure to pack a few extra goody bags for the siblings
and you're good to go. Hope that helps. Happy Birthday to
you and your daughter!

Dear M.,
I am probably too late, but I think you should say
Child and parent are invited, but we can only pay for the child's meal.

I think everyone understands that you can't afford everything!