I'm still new to the children's birthday party scene. A few people came to my sons party without a gift (which I'm MORE than OK with! I really wanted to say no gifts but I knew that would fall on deaf ears for most attendees, so I didn't bother.) Do I still send them a thank you for coming? Or do you just send thank yous for gifts?
My first thought was to still send a thank you for being there, but I don't want to do anything weird or awkward.
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I would have thanked them for coming when they left the party - I would not send a thank you after if there was not a gift
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@Mamaof2: Yes thanks! I meant to put that in my post. I did thank everyone for coming as they left so I wasn't sure if that was sufficient?
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I think the only reason I would send a card in that case would be if it was someone that made a lot of effort to be at the party. Either if they traveled or altered plans to be in attendance, that would be appreciated.
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We haven't yet hosted a birthday party, so I'm not sure what the etiquette is. However, we've only ever been thanked when leaving the party. I feel like that is sufficient. I've never heard of receiving an extra card or thanks after the event. I would only send a thank you card if someone sent a gift, but didn't attend the party. I'm curious to see what others say.
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I would just send thank yous for gifts.
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@ms.line: same.
otherwise you said your thanks when they left. -
I send thank you cards. (Apparently I'm in the minority.) But even when there is a gift I focus the majority of the card on how I'm thankful they were there to help celebrate the day. I do this because I don't believe the focus should ever be on the present and aim to teach my kids that.
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I don't plan on sending thank you cards at all for kids parties. I definitely wouldn't sweat it for someone that didn't bring a gift.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Phew glad it's not just me. I never sent or received thank-you cards for birthday parties/gifts when I was growing up, so it would not have occurred to me to do it for my kids. Unless I start receiving them from other people I guess?
I don't think I wrote a thank-you note until my high school graduation. My parents definitely were not doing them for me either.
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I still send cards and word it as "thanks for celebrating with me."
But, I know I tend to write cards more regularly than other folks. If you choose not to, I don't think it's a big deal!
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@PawPrints: we've sent and received thank yous for each kids party we've been too. I wonder if it is regional.
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Totally send a card thanking them for coming! I think personal notes are always nice!
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@jetsa: Oh I'm sure it is regional. But my LO is only 6 months old so I have yet to find out if it's actually the norm where I live.
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@jetsa: @PawPrints: I actually grew up in area DC where giving a kid personalized stationery was a common gift, but people didn't use it for thank you notes. We wrote to our friends over summers. I wonder if things have changed in my childhood hometown.
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I'd say if you're unsure, next time you email/text the people, you can say thanks for coming/mention to them that it was special to LO that they could be there. I wouldn't expect it, but time (especially weekend family time) is so precious that it feels nice when people recognize that. It won't make you look weird, they'll just feel appreciated, IMO.
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If they didn't bring a gift I think saying thank you for attending as they leave the party is enough.
Personally I write thank you notes for all gifts or gestures that go above and beyond. I think it is a good habit to teach LO too. Our nephews always send notes after their parties. When they were little my SIL just had them sign their name.
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@Twolittlemen: Same! Regarding the focus on them being there. I start the thank you with a few sentences about the party and them being there and maybe a special memory about them.
Then I thank them for the gift. -
We sent thank you notes and a picture of DS to every guest that attended. I'd rather send everyone a note than some.
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