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That's weird that they still charge guests. Usually at any places like that, the host would pay a party package price that should include admission....

I've never heard of a party where you had to pay! But if that was the case the host should have specified in the evite so people weren't taken by surprise and prepared with cash or whatever.

I would be pretty annoyed if I were you!

Yeah, that's very strange. Ignore if I were having it at a venue that charged, I would absolutely be covering admission. Also, I'm kinda ballsy and I would probably have casually mentioned it to the host at the time, especially if they were friends like, hey, I just wanted to make sure that you didn't already paid for our admission because they charged us to get in when we came. Because if I were the hosts and I HAD paid, I would be pissed. Nothing you can do about it now.

Rude.

Definitely rude, especially if they didn't communicate the cost. We have places like that around here, but the "host" pays a party package to cover everyone.

I do have a friend that threw a birthday party at Thomas Land. It was expensive, so they were explicit in the invite that they would cover one adult and the kid they were inviting, but additional family were welcome to come, they would just have to cover their own expenses.

@misolee: I would have just asked the cashier---"Oh, $27? Is that for 1 adult? Did the hosts only pay for 1 adult and 1 child?". The fact that your other friend paid a different amount really makes me think there was a mistake at the front desk.

Was the admission charged for the adults?

I don't mind if that's the case, frankly.

Not knowing about the fee to attend was rude.

I am in a similar situation planning my son's 2nd birthday party. We live in the North East and our house is way to small to host a party indoors. If I want to have a party it has to be at a venue. We did a huge 1st birthday and don't plan on going that big for his second, but I am finding the cost is outrageous at any of the party places near by. I am considering going to a near by indoor water park and letting everyone know that is what we are doing for my son's second birthday but it will be pay your own way for admission into the park. I am still afraid that is rude. Nobody is obligated to attend but I feel some people will feel that way and it is a lot to ask for. I was thinking of not inviting anyone except our intimidate family, but I feel others with think that is rude. Obviously I am at a no win situation... Maybe I should create my own thread...

@JLC53: for what it's worth, we did his 2nd birthday at home with just grandparents and 2 aunts and an uncle. There were cake and presents and balloons and he was totally happy with that. Even having been to a few parties at the fire station, he didn't feel upset by not having a party. We are debating whether to have a party with friends for his 3rd and similarly we don't have space to host a bunch of little kids. As others have mentioned, I personally would be a bit miffed being asked to pay to attend a party, so if I couldn't afford to pay for those invited, I'd limit the list instead. Obviously different sets of social circles might feel differently though.

"I wouldn't be surprised if host charged people differently. She's like that."

Oh hell ... let me get this straight - she not only failed to state in the invite that there would be a fee, but charged people diffent amounts, even though everyone had their own individual invitations?

I'm trying to figure out how you were charged $27, while the other family only $12 and the single person was free. Was the single person a teenage immediate relative? Did the other family only have 1 child?

@misolee: I agree it was done oddly but by life group I assume it's like a church small group? If that's the case I think you just have to give grace and take the L. I led a small group for several years and there was always someone doing something totally headscratching to me and I'm sure people felt that way about our family. But that's sort of the point if small groups - you're working towards the same spiritual goal but you see in real life how different people are and through the process of living life together you learn how to love your (crazy) neighbor. Both my husband and I have regularly been in small groups since our twenties and it creates a bond between folks that is deep despite being totally incompatible in every other area of life. As for our family group, we are no longer in a group, but 3 years later we are all as different as we were before, but we have a weird bond that cannot be broken. I hear from these people super regularly.

TLDR version: even if your host did the worst possible thing and charged you way more for the party and it sucked, you're in a group with this person and you're going to have to just let it go in order to not let it get in the way of your growth in the group, nameen?

@gingerbebe: love your perspective about an opportunity to show grace and learning to love our neighbor.