https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:41:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776763 Sat, 30 Sep 2017 22:48:56 +0000 hellocupcake 2776763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: love your perspective about an opportunity to show grace and learning to love our neighbor. &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776736 Sat, 30 Sep 2017 12:27:23 +0000 misolee 2776736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe</p> <p>I agree with you. That's why I didn't say anything or mention it. Just an eye roll. </p> <p>I don't about a bond bc I've known them for a long time and like I said, they've done many questionable things. I guess we will have to find a way to politely decline next time 😅 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776733 Sat, 30 Sep 2017 10:39:13 +0000 gingerbebe 2776733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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.</p> <p>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? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776731 Sat, 30 Sep 2017 09:52:56 +0000 skipra 2776731@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally rude! I can't believe people do that! We recently had a birthday party for my LO at a bounce place and I made a point to let people know siblings were welcome for no cost because as a host it is my responsibility to make sure our guests are properly accommodated! I just thought that's how these things worked. One guest offered to pay for her other child and for special food due to allergies and I thought it was totally crazy for a guest to have to pay for anything but maybe they have been to parties like your friends before.<br /> In any case, what's done is done. Unless you are super close to the host I wouldn't say anything and just decline future invitations from them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776724 Sat, 30 Sep 2017 08:19:59 +0000 misolee 2776724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sweetiepie</p> <p>Nope. We had to give our names to the cashier. She checked my name and underneath my name was my husbands and my kids. She had a little chart with which party it was and next to it the amount. I did not see other people's amount but just our names. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776717 Sat, 30 Sep 2017 07:24:15 +0000 SweetiePie 2776717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@misolee: I mean, is it possible that the person who charged just did it by mistake? Did you state you were there for the party? I haven’t read all responses so ignore if you already addressed this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776710 Sat, 30 Sep 2017 02:25:24 +0000 misolee 2776710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also adding. </p> <p>That outdoor play area wasn't that great to pay$27 for. I don't mind paying for things but we would never come here as a family for that price. It was basically a jump area and a tire swing. There was a little maze you could go through but the kids are too young for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776709 Sat, 30 Sep 2017 02:16:03 +0000 misolee 2776709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sugarplumsmom</p> <p>Me too. That's why I was so confused. There were multiple single, childless people there. They all got in free. The family that got charged $12, had two kids and two adults like ours. </p> <p>The only thing I can think of that makes any sort of sense is.. only my oldest got in free. Both adults were charged and they charged for my youngest whose 16 months so a discounted rate for child's rate? What I should have done was ask the cashier about price rate. But af the moment, I was so flabbergasted nothing came into mind. There was also only one cashier and other people not party related in line to get in that I didn't want to hold others up. </p> <p>@truthbombs<br /> Leaving did cross my mind briefly but it was a 45 min drive to get there. We had to leave another function early to get there. And my oldest would have thrown the biggest tantrum bc he loves parties. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776705 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 23:15:24 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2776705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>"I wouldn't be surprised if host charged people differently. She's like that."</p> <p>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? 😱😵😳</p> <p>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? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776671 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 18:33:20 +0000 erinbaderin 2776671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JLC53: Personally, I wouldn't think an immediate family only party was rude, especially for a two year old, but I would be annoyed to be invited to a party and expected to pay my own admission. What if you had cake at your house with your immediate family, and then invited one other family with a young child to come to the water park and pay for them? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776657 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 16:11:40 +0000 MrsBucky 2776657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776644 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 14:43:42 +0000 Purpledaisy 2776644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Rude. The invitation should have specifically said if the whole family's admission was not covered. I would be pretty irritated if I had a surprise $27 fee to get into a birthday party. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776640 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 14:11:40 +0000 JLC53 2776640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not knowing about the fee to attend was rude.</p> <p>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... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776632 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 13:36:38 +0000 Truth Bombs 2776632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@misolee: I would have turned around and left 🤷🏻‍♀️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776609 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 12:45:25 +0000 misolee 2776609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anagram @lulumom</p> <p>I don't think it was the cashier fault. They had a spread sheet with the names of the guests bc we had to state our names twice. Then they had the amount written next to the names. </p> <p>I wouldn't be surprised if host charged people differently. She's like that. :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776600 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 12:22:46 +0000 psw27 2776600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure I can fully blame the host yet though since it seems like the staff was making up pricing as they went. But in general, if you are hosting a party I think you should pay for your guests to get in - unless they are inviting other kids or parents that you didn't anticipate. Whereas you and your spouse and kids were invited, you should have all been covered by the host. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776510 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 08:48:16 +0000 looch 2776510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Was the admission charged for the adults?</p> <p>I don't mind if that's the case, frankly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776494 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 08:10:01 +0000 LuLu Mom 2776494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with @Anagram . @misolee: I think this was an error of the location staff and you could have clarified when entering or leaving as to the cost. I think there might have been confusion on what was covered. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776484 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 07:53:17 +0000 Anagram 2776484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776481 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 07:41:31 +0000 misolee 2776481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@adira</p> <p>So if that was explicit in invite I would totally understand and that would also give me the chance to decline or attend the party. It was just so random and unexpected bc some people were paid for, others weren't, etc. and they invited a lot of people. It wasn't like a 10 child party 😬 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776480 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 07:38:16 +0000 misolee 2776480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrslemonline</p> <p>That's what I was thinking too. Except we have two kids. Who were both invited. And the husband got an invite as well. Additional families that came with kids all came with both parents as well. I asked a friend if she had to pay (2 kids, both adults) and she said she did but only $12 dollars. So now I'm really confused and basically wondering depending on the family or person, if the host just picked and chose who pays and who doesn't bc that another whole level of eye roll too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776468 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 06:58:33 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2776468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is another example of the host not communicating the true cost of accepting an invitation. </p> <p>@misolee: Sounds like the host paid for one adult per invited party. So basically single adult friend A you come and I pay for you, and you child friend come with one parent/ adult B and I pay for both of you. If communicated clearly that this was not an invite for the family then I would be A-okay with that. The fact the evite was sent to you and your husband complicates whether this was a family invite or a child invite. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776461 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 06:21:43 +0000 Adira 2776461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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.</p> <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776410 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 21:03:47 +0000 hellobeeboston 2776410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, strange they didn't cover the cost, or communicate that up front.</p> <p>I'm having a party for my son at a farm that has a little bouncy area you have to pay for, and we're covering all the kids invited to the party. But I put on the invite that although siblings were welcome, if they're over 2 they need to pay for their own wristband. I kept wondering if this was tacky to mention, but I think it's better they know. And we're already paying for 18-20 kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776384 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 19:08:04 +0000 Alba4 2776384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Rude. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776379 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 18:04:11 +0000 ALV91711 2776379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you are hosting a party at a place like that you either cover the admission or clearly state in the invite that it is not covered. </p> <p>For me I wouldn't knowingly go to a party that was going to cost that much with kids so young. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776377 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 17:43:27 +0000 birdofafeather 2776377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>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. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776373 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 17:19:14 +0000 caterw 2776373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be peeved for sure. Part of hosting a party is to cover admission expenses in my opinion. I don't host birthdays for my kids at places with expensive cover charges because I don't want to pay for everyone and I would never put my guests in that position. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776371 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 16:57:24 +0000 misolee 2776371@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc</p> <p>So I did some research after I got home. Kids were part of price and I think additional adult was what they were charging. But...there was no buffet. The kids are 3 and 2. There's no way that they were expecting a drop off for kids that young. </p> <p>Another mystery was they invited singles, no kids. We walked in with one. She was paid for by them. So it's just kids with adults they asked to pay? I was so confused and annoyed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/childs-bday-party-where-youre-expected-to-pay#post-2776357 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 16:15:42 +0000 agold 2776357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's just terrible. Pretty tacky, in my mind, to throw a party and expect people to pay to get in. </p>