Hi, I'm having a 6th! Birthday Party at specific Party venue. My D's B-Day is during the Winter and we don't want to have a large kids party indoors. It's our first 'kids' party for her and we are excited. 15 children are included in our Party Package. How many invitations would you send out so that you would end up with about 15, give or take a couple is OK. I was thinking 18? And how do you discourage parents from bringing extra children? I am inviting some siblings that my D knows, BTW. I know friends of mine have had issues in the past with extra uninvited guests.... to the tune of 15-20 extra bucks per kid. We're not planning on doing this every year. We are on a budget. But I wanted to throw at least one bigger party.
I would specifically state on the invite that "due to space limitations siblings are not included in this event." You shouldn't need to do this but some parents are so clueless nowadays I think it's necessary.
Also do NOT invite more than you are willing to pay for because you just don't know how many will actually show up. It could be half of them or all of them, there's just no way to know for sure.
One thing I know is...you can't predict what is going to happen.
Most people know that when the invite says a certain name on it, it is intended for that specific child only. But there always seems to be one person that doesn't care or get it.
And I would say that 18 sounds like a nice amount to invite to get the intended 15 but just be prepared if everyone RSVP's, too. Also plan on people not RSVPing...which is common too.
My DH was surprised when I invited 12 kids and got 12 kids. I told him I picked carefully. Now, if this is going to include kids from class, figure out what your MAXIMUM is and then invite only that many. Less is fine, more would be a problem. I'd rather a few fewer kids than a headache.
You can simply say that due to the venue, you must know if the child is attending or not by x date and siblings cannot be included. Sorry. The siblings you did invite can get their own invitations.
We just got an invite for DD for a girl turning 5. The invite states that drop off is fine or we can stay. You might say that drop off is fine, which will encourage people to not stay with siblings.
How many to send out? That depends on who she is inviting because I have invited a lot of people and often have all or none show.
To discourage extra, not-invited guests....you address the invitation to those you want to invite and add a line on the invitation that says "additional attendees will cost XXX"). Notice I said "additional attendees" and not "additional guests". This lets the mom that has to bring a child the option to pay or make other arrangements because only the invited child is a guest.
It depends so much on the school, classroom, etc. My kids birthdays are at the end of July so we always had a tough time getting all their friends at their party as familes were away on vacation, etc.
Consider when the party is - if it's during vacation, on a holiday weekend, etc, you'll have to invite more kids as families often go away on weekends. If it's close to a big holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas you'll also have less kids come.
Keep in mind that once they're in a classroom environment with other kids birthday parties are *THE* social function that these kids want to be at. You should consider inviting all the kids in the class since they will be talking about it for days before and after the party, during class, recess, lunch, snack time, etc. Even if you tell her not to talk about it she will - she's 6 - it's sooooo exciting for them. Noting stings more than when all the kids are talking about an upcoming party and a kid in the class has not been invited.
Have fun!!!
You can never tell especially the first one. Some years we have had 7 show up some years we have had 30 show up. I would invite around 25 and not worry bout siblings if they come or not. Usually the siblings the parents take care for themselves and the kid you invited might not be able to attend unless the sibling can go. so If 15 show up with siblings then you got a nice party if more show up dont pay for the siblings easy as that
If you truly are willing to pay for only 15, then invite only 15! I know folks say "invite extra because some will say no" but if you do -- be totally prepared to pay for all 18 kids without any regrets. The one time you figure on at least three kids saying no will be the one time that everyone says yes.
Does the facility where the party is allow you to give them a final head count by, say, three days before the party, so you can really know what you'll pay for? If that's the case, you will have to be very firm with people about "the facility needs a final head count on (date) so RSVPs are essential before (date)."
The invitations should say clearly something like this: "Sally is invited to Susie's party at.... Invited kids only, please." If a parent turns up expecting you to accommodate a sibling as a party guest, just be honest then and there: "I'm sorry, but we've got a party package arrangement with the facility and the invited kids are the only ones we can accommodate. If you need to stay nearby to pick up Susie and need someplace to go with Sibling, you could take Sibling to...." and name a nearby place like a kid-friendly restaurant or mall with an indoor play space,etc. Think ahead and have those suggestions ready to go. Don't like telling folks to basically take a hike with the sibling? Assign your husband or a trusted friend or "auntie" to that kind of door duty. Mostly parents do realize that parties at facilities that aren't someone's home do cost money and do limit numbers, so I hope you won't have to give anyone that speech!
