https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 31 May 2026 07:57:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904578 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 09:01:15 +0000 Miss Ariel 2904578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: thankfully her closest friends have said yes so she’ll have fun either way... we may just be paying less??? I did send out Facebook messages to those I’m friends with and one immediately replied back that she was sorry he hadn’t responded but would be there..., so who knows?!?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904568 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 06:36:00 +0000 catgirl 2904568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mdf106: Thanks for the different perspective. I've never encountered a situation where it's normal for people to only rsvp if the answer is yes - I then worry people didn't get the invitation for some reason. In the future will definitely put "no siblings" on the invitation - just didn't think it was necessary but lesson learned. </p> <p>@PawPrints: Oh yeah, there are definitely situations I would get needing to bring a sibling - and would have been fine if people ASKED. It's the people who just assume that I don't understand. But I really don't understand the 10 year old - how will it be fun for them anyway?</p> <p>@erinbaderin: I think if I hear from anyone else at this point I will just let them know we are unable to accommodate them since I have already talked to the venue. All of DD's favorites are coming so it's not like I would be turning away one of her best friends. Just worried some of them will show up randomly. </p> <p>@Miss Ariel: Oh man I am so sorry you are going through this too! I can't believe how many you haven't heard from. This is just blowing my mind because I can not imagine not RSVPing. I hope you hear from more people and that your party all works out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904523 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 20:21:38 +0000 Miss Ariel 2904523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’re in a similar situation with Dd’s Birthday on Sunday. The venue’s maximum number is 20 and I invited 25. So far I’ve heard from 7 kids only! (And 3 of those are my niece and nephew!) We mailed invitations so it’s harder to follow up. Plus I didn’t invite her entire class since I wasn’t sure we’d have enough room, but if only 8 are coming I probably could have.... we’ll see how many show up on Sunday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904503 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 18:21:49 +0000 erinbaderin 2904503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would email and let them know that you have to give the venue final numbers so since you haven’t heard from them you’re going to take that as a no. Forget these jerks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904501 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 17:37:06 +0000 PawPrints 2904501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like there are some limited circumstances when it's okay to bring siblings, but it's always going to be weird to bringa 10-year-old to a 5-year-old party unless that older kid is already close personal friends with the birthday kid. I couldn't imagine unless you had some really extenuating circumstances (both parents do shift work and no childcare?) I'd still ask the host. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904494 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 16:56:05 +0000 mdf106 2904494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: It is normal in my circle for siblings to attend unless explicitly excluded and for people to not RSVP for "no." None of the no responses have attended in my experience. We did have a few "yes" responses not show up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904405 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 09:51:57 +0000 graceandjoy 2904405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Ugggh I know! Esp in this day and age! You don't check your email and/or texts daily?! I hope they don't show up without an RSVP; esp you'd have to fork over extra $! And I hope DD has the best time of her life for all the stress this caused :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904401 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 09:47:01 +0000 catgirl 2904401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: Basically. I heard from one person - the LO is coming. But still haven't heard from 3 people and the three who said maybe haven't responded either. I emailed them all and sent texts to 4, don't have numbers for the other 2. And these remaining ones are all picked up by grandparents so I don't feel like I can harass a grandparent at pickup. I still do not understand what is so hard about RSVPing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904398 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 09:41:07 +0000 graceandjoy 2904398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Ugh I am sorry you still haven't gotten responses. So are people just ignoring your emails/texts?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904390 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 09:09:40 +0000 catgirl 2904390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@missyoori: Thanks! Happy Birthday to yours! Oh man, I really don't want the no response people to show up! I was/am prepared to pay the extra $12 per kid over fifteen, but I was thinking it would just be a couple. But now we are on the edge of also needing to pay for another staff member - which is another $75! So I'm just not happy right now. </p> <p>But lesson learned, I will always specify no siblings. I also think this will be the only time we invite the whole class. We've also been reminding her she won't have a friend party every year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904380 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 08:39:28 +0000 missyoori 2904380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD's birthday party is this Saturday! Happy birthday to yours!! :D</p> <p>I totally agree with you, the whole RSVP process is extremely frustrating!! We've thrown 5 friend parties at this point, and we always had significant percentages of people who never bothered to RSVP... but half of them will show up, and then some of the "Yes" folks are a no-show! So I've given up on expecting anything anymore, and I just pay for the venue package that rounds up by ~5 people.</p> <p>For this upcoming party, my DD is at the age where she only invited good friends, not the whole class, and we still have 3 unanswered RVSPs out of 12 lol. (-_-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904209 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 23:22:53 +0000 ALV91711 2904209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just don’t get not rsvp’ing! How hard is it to send a text?! </p> <p>I assume no response is a no, but have always had a couple extra loot bags just in case. </p> <p>And the siblings, just leave them at home. I wouldn’t drag along the older sibling to a party of a kid he didn’t know. </p> <p>Last year when DS2 was a baby and DS1 didn’t want to be dropped off at parties(kindergarten), I took the baby to a couple parties. But I cleared it by the mom first! I would never just bring the baby along. And now thankfully DS1 is fine with being dropped off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904203 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 22:47:21 +0000 Mrs. Toad 2904203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just wish I had an email to ask about siblings. DS's entire preschool class turned 4 between September and January while DH worked nights. I turned down multiple invites as I didn't know if I could bring my 1.5 yr old. We changed schools and DH changed jobs, so it isn't an issue anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904196 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 21:39:58 +0000 catgirl 2904196@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I totally get the overwhelmed kid thing! We have at least 3 events every weekend until Christmas and I am already nervous how DD will handle them. As long as people RSVP by whatever deadline is given I think that's fine. I was always taught that the name on the invitation indicates who is invited but I think in the future we will have to use a wording similar to what you posted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904195 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 21:28:05 +0000 Foodnerd81 2904195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, not that this makes it ok, but I’m currently debating an rsvp to a party next weekend (12/14). We have a really busy weekend and while we don’t have anything during the hours of the party, my 6 year old gets really overwhelmed if we do too much. But I’d like for her to go if we can manage, partly because I know December birthdays suck! So... I’m actively debating. Mom sent out a request for rsvps today- though I did verbally tell her last week that I was still trying to figure out if we could make it work. I will definitely rsvp tonight! </p> <p>The siblings thing is odd. I’ve gotten a lot of invites that say “due to space limitations, unfortunately we cannot accommodate additional siblings” or something like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904187 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 19:58:49 +0000 catgirl 2904187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: Seriously! All I can think is "who raised you to think this is okay?" Because I feel like these are basic things I learned as a kid. Blah so annoying. That's my fear with the ten year old coming - that they will be in front of everything. But I hope you are right that no response means no. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904183 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 19:45:53 +0000 erinbaderin 2904183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, birthday party RSVPs are the worst - people are so rude and lose all sense of reason! You can’t say maybe! You can’t just say you’re bringing additional people! Have some manners! We once had a mom RSVP to my son’s 4th birthday and say she either needed to bring her 10 year old or she needed to drop off her 4 year old and have me watch her (never met before) because her husband was away. I said sure, and then she showed up at the party with her husband, and the 10 year old was first in line demanding a treat bag. </p> <p>But I digress. I’m sorry you’re going through this. Agreed that assume no response (especially after a reminder!) means no. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904161 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 17:58:36 +0000 LemonJack 2904161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That’s so frustrating. I don’t understand the sibling thing unless there’s some extenuating circumstance (only one parent at home that day, etc). Otherwise I don’t get at all. Why do all siblings need to be included when they don’t know the birthday boy/girl? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904147 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:54:55 +0000 Becky 2904147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The sibling thing is so bizarre. We had someone show up with a sibling once and there literally wasn’t room at the table for them. This last party we had a mom ask if she could bring her two sons to an indoor party at our house which is not a mansion. I felt like I couldn’t say no (and luckily she ended up just dropping off her daughter). </p> <p>Hopefully it’s easier next year! Only 2 parents stayed at DD’s party this year (she’s in first grade) and it’s because we’re friends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904145 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:45:46 +0000 hitchhiker 2904145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Boo. That's just rude. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904144 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:37:14 +0000 catgirl 2904144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hitchhiker: I made an invitation design but rather than printing it I emailed them to the parents. Each one was personalized to have the name of the kid invited (or in the case of two families - two names). I just don't think people pay attention/care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904143 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:30:03 +0000 hitchhiker 2904143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry, this is so annoying! </p> <p>This doesn't help you now, but maybe it will help someone in the future. In the evite for our 6 year old's birthday party, I wrote in the name of the invitee (her friend) with the parent's email address, rather than letting it default to the parent's name. So it was very clear even in the invite who we were inviting and who we weren't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904139 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:12:36 +0000 graceandjoy 2904139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Totally agree. Everyone knows the host has to finalize with the venue at a certain point. Ugh, such a huge pet peeve! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904138 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:10:58 +0000 catgirl 2904138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: This! I can't imagine not RSVPing - either yes or no! And on the off chance an invite slips by me I would immediately respond to a follow up email. Or in my opinion if you for some reason aren't sure, at some point you should say no - not leave the host hanging. It's not my fault if you can't commit to plans. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904136 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:09:00 +0000 catgirl 2904136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jennibenni: I did send the email asking them to get back to me by tomorrow - but I'm not feeling optimistic that I'll hear from them. </p> <p>Well a few of them responded in person to DH and said "x will be there and so will siblings", he was caught of guard and didn't know what to say, so he just said okay. So I don't feel like I can go back on that and it made me feel like I should say yes to the others. So at this point I feel like we are stuck. Thankfully not everyone is bring siblings but next time we have a party we will have a firm no sibling rule (unless they are a friend). It just honestly never occurred to me that so many people would assume siblings are invited to a venue party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904134 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:03:35 +0000 graceandjoy 2904134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very frustrating; I don't understand how hard it is to RSVP and also the simple etiquette of ASKING if sibling(s) can come along. Don't tell me you don't know how party venues work!</p> <p>I literally usually RSVP as soon as I get the invite! How do you not know whether you can make it within a week of recieving an invite?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904133 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 15:02:10 +0000 catgirl 2904133@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Litebrite: In theory I assume that not responding means no - but I am worried they will just show up! One of the maybes I understand, they are flying home the night before but we live in New England so weather is always a concern this time of year. The mom said they plan on coming as long as flights go as expected. But the other maybes are just obnoxious people not wanting to commit - and they don't seem to care that I am following up. I know the venue can handle changes but still we are talking 7+ kids (assuming more would try to bring siblings).</p> <p>@Corduroy: That is a good idea for RSVPing! We have already told DD she won't have a friend party every year anyway, but dealing with this has made me even more sure. I don't understand the sibling thing - like I said I invited a few but they were named on the invitation and DD is close with them. I have never met the rest and most are older. The party price includes 15 kids but then we have to pay an additional $12 for any kids over that! Which adds up quickly! And I don't understand why people just assume they can bring extra kids! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904129 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 14:54:40 +0000 Jennibenni 2904129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be frustrated too!</p> <p>I would email the maybes and say you need an answer today and you’ll assume no answer is a no.</p> <p>If you have not already agreed to the uninvited extra siblings, I would say “I’m so sorry, the party is at a venue with a maximum number of people so we can’t accommodate any extras! I understand if this means so-and-so can’t go, I just need to know by tomorrow whether he/she will attend.” </p> <p>The ones who have not responded (twice!) I would consider a no. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904126 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 14:44:49 +0000 Corduroy 2904126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: I am dreading having our next party for this reason. I did see on one class invite recently the host sent an update on the RSVP date saying there were only a few spots left at the party and the guest list would be capped at that point. I thought it was a good way to handle it. Not that it should be necessary. </p> <p>Apparently around here the assumption is that the siblings are invited (I disagree). At most parties the hosts express surprise that I didn't bring 'the other one.' What, do you have unlimited money for a whole classroom of kids, their parent(s), and untold number of siblings? How do you even plan for that? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-rsvps-2#post-2904123 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 14:41:08 +0000 Litebrite 2904123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yikes, very annoying. I assume no response means they're not coming, but not sure what to make of the 'maybes'.</p> <p>I try to be on top of invites, but sometimes they get lost in my inbox or texts, especially for not close friends. I am surprised by the sibling thing though. I've never had people bring a sib along without being explicitly invited. </p> <p>I think most venues are used to last minute changes to the number of kids, we've made day of changes and never an issue. </p>