Party Disaster Forthcoming

[aprilsails]

I am so upset right now. The two day forecast is up and it looks like it's going to be steady rain for DD's 1st birthday party. Which is a disaster. Help me solutioneer this:

We did a Facebook invite three weeks ago. Lots and lots of people since my family is enormous to begin with. Right now there is the potential for 32 people to show up according to Facebook. Still a whole bunch of non replies of course.

We have a decent sized backyard with a pool and a massive deck and no space on our first floor. Like 20 people is pretty much a full house inside. We were thinking of doing a tent rental if we needed to but DH lost his job last week, so the idea of forking out $450 to rent a 10x30 tent is laughable. Also it doesn't buy us that much space since the layout with the deck and pool is pretty limited. People would have to run through the rain to get inside.

There is no option to host at a larger grandparent's house since they are all out of town this weekend and basically coming in on Sunday night in time for the party.

Do we start by asking our friends to not come? We could have them over next weekend for a bbq. Tell everyone who still hasn't rsvp'd not to show? I don't think I can do a rain date in the next month since after labour day weekend everyone's lives go crazy. Ugh. I hate this.

I usually hope for the best but I need to go grocery shopping today and he thought of spending more money on this is making me sick.

[MadamePresident]

Can you open up other parts of your house for the party? Garage or even upstairs? I know in my family the teens typically like to go find their own space to hang out.

[mrshandy]

So is anyone traveling specifically for the party? Did the grandparents' change their travel plans just for the party?

I would just cancel and reschedule for another weekend. You may not get everyone but you should get some of them right? Or is everyone booked for the next few weeks?

It's a big bummer. But your DD won't remember or care. I'm sorry that things didn't work out. Being under a tent in the rain still isn't very fun, IMHO.

[lostarz]

Can you move furniture to help fit more people inside? Maybe move a couch to the side or into another room and just have folding chairs or something? That sucks, I'm sorry. We're having my SD's bday party on Saturday and the forecast before showed nothing but a nice sunny day but that seems to be changing now :/ I swear, it always rains at our parties.

[jeaniebueller]

You really can't uninvite people. Do you have a garage you could set up as a party area?

[karinothing]

So this happened at a party we had the other day. Our house is small, we had 50 people come. We set up a tent in the backyard, but same situation people had to go through the rain to get to the tent. Honestly, we just kind of made the best of it! The kids had a blast playing in the rain, I set up towels so they could dry off when they came inside. We had picnic blankets laid on the floor so the kids could eat and chairs in the living room for the adults. It was pure chaos but oddly people told me they had a blast.

So I guess I would KOKO and just embrace the mess that it will likely create lol.

Also ask around for tents, we borrowed one from a friend.

[lostarz]

Yeah you could go out and stock up on some cheapy umbrellas for the kids to play in the rain and just try and make the best of it like karinothing said.

[aprilsails]

We did renovation to the first floor last year and the garage and basement are still full of construction crap. I wouldn't even know how to start to make a dent in all of it, and DH is saving all of it to do the basement renovation too, so I can't just throw it out I the rain for he day.

[aprilsails]

There really are no kids coming. These are all aunts and uncles and adults- we're the first of our friends to have a kid. So I also feel like I can't just send people to go hangout upstairs.

[jeaniebueller]

Aug 26, 2016 7:58:05 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

There really are no kids coming. These are all aunts and uncles and adults- we're the first of our friends to have a kid. So I also feel like I can't just send people to go hangout upstairs.

Serioulsy....try not to stress this. It will be crowded, but that is fine. People will deal.  (heart)

[redpenmama]

I wouldn't disinvite people. Either reschedule or throw the party as planned. Do you (or any friends/family) have tailgate-style tents you could use? If you set a few of those up and put chairs under them, you'd have some seating options outside. I'd be wary to reschedule this late, and you're still rolling the dice that you'll get good weather on the rain date. Good luck ... I know this sucks!

[karinothing]

Oh if there are no kids coming, I wouldn't worry about it all. Adults will be fine in a crowded area. I mean think about it when you go to a bar, it is crowded there and folks still have fun right. People really will be fine and as long as you feed them. I promise

[momof2]

This is really, really not a big deal. You will have a packed house, and if people don't like that they will duck out early. Unless your family members are jerks, they will roll with this. And if they are jerks, who cares what they think?

Do you think possibly your stress about the job loss is making you more upset about this than you normally would be? If spending money on food seems stressful right now, I personally would call a few relatives that I was closest with and ask them to bring something (in my family this would be no big deal -- I do this even when money isn't the issue).

[krystee]

If you belong to a church or park district or something, you could see if they have a multipurpose room available. My church would let us use it for free, I think. That would be difficult if you are cooking, though.

[bluelikejazz]

Is there anyway you can re-word the invite to make it an open house instead of set party times?

"We're still planning to celebrate DDs birthday this weekend! Hope everyone can come! Due to the anticipated rain, we're having an open house from 12-3. Come for cake and birthday girl smiles!"

[aprilsails]

Aug 26, 2016 8:10:07 GMT -5 momof2 said:

This is really, really not a big deal. You will have a packed house, and if people don't like that they will duck out early. Unless your family members are jerks, they will roll with this. And if they are jerks, who cares what they think?

Do you think possibly your stress about the job loss is making you more upset about this than you normally would be? If spending money on food seems stressful right now, I personally would call a few relatives that I was closest with and ask them to bring something (in my family this would be no big deal -- I do this even when money isn't the issue).

We already bought all of the meat and plates and decor weeks ago. All I have left is the salad stuff and fresh foods. I just don't want to buy a lot and waste it!

If I set the Monday night of the labour day weekend as my reschedule date would that be too terrible? I have one cousin with 1 kid in school and one friend who is a teacher who might be impacted. Otherwise I don't think it would be problematic for too many people.

[aprilsails]

Aug 26, 2016 8:15:52 GMT -5 bluelikejazz said:

Is there anyway you can re-word the invite to make it an open house instead of set party times?

"We're still planning to celebrate DDs birthday this weekend! Hope everyone can come! Due to the anticipated rain, we're having an open house from 12-3. Come for cake and birthday girl smiles!"

I wish. We set it up as dinner since it worked best for the grandparents who are all away at cottages this weekend. I don't think many people would be able to show up before 4:30. Also the timing would not work with DDs nap schedule.

[momof2]

Really, I think the majority of people here would say to keep the party when it is and not worry about it.

If this is really stressful for you and you prefer to reschedule, then I think you just pick a new date/time that makes you happy. If that is the Monday of Labor Day, so be it. But, be prepared for people not to come with a fairly last minute change. It doesn't matter what anyone on this board thinks about that date/time if it works for you.

[momof2]

I would also figure out which of my neighbors like to tailgate (since we live in a university town) and ask if they have a pop up tent we could borrow. In my neighborhood, I could probably get 3-5 of those tents in about 10 minutes.

[icedcoffee]

Aug 26, 2016 8:15:52 GMT -5 bluelikejazz said:

Is there anyway you can re-word the invite to make it an open house instead of set party times?

"We're still planning to celebrate DDs birthday this weekend! Hope everyone can come! Due to the anticipated rain, we're having an open house from 12-3. Come for cake and birthday girl smiles!"

I was going to suggest something similar.  Try changing the time to be an open house from X-X time instead of a party starting at X time.  That way not everyone shows up at the same time.

But really...it will be FINE.  My high school graduation party was supposed to be outdoors with over 100 people invited.  We had a huge party tent with side flaps, but it was POURING and people really didn't want to be outside even with the tent.  My parents just kind of let it happen and people were tight indoors, but they made do.  Granted it sounds like my parents house is quite a bit bigger, but this was also a lot more people.

If people are uncomfortable or cramped, they will duck out early and only the fun people will remain.

My best advice:  Get a bunch of towels you don't care about and lay them out on the ground near doors and stuff.  Have extras to replace as needed.  It will really help with keeping the tracked in water or mud at bay.

ETA:  And extra towels to dry off chairs and tables outside.  Just because it says it will rain doesn't mean there might not be a gap of time when people can still go outside!

[pugz]

Reschedule!

[fashionx]

I would just go with it. It'll be crowded but people will deal with it, especially if it's all adults. Set up your kitchen counter like a buffet line and have people grab food, add a few folding chairs or outdoor chairs inside to add seating, and roll with it. I agree with PPs that if people aren't into it they will duck out early.

I think it would be fine to change it to an open house, keeping your original time frame, and letting people know what time cake will be served. Like, open house 4-8, cake will be served at 5. That way some people will come at 4, leave after cake. Others will arrive closer to 5, leave whenever.

[cricketwife]

Aug 26, 2016 8:21:20 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

Aug 26, 2016 8:15:52 GMT -5 bluelikejazz said:

Is there anyway you can re-word the invite to make it an open house instead of set party times?

"We're still planning to celebrate DDs birthday this weekend! Hope everyone can come! Due to the anticipated rain, we're having an open house from 12-3. Come for cake and birthday girl smiles!"

I wish. We set it up as dinner since it worked best for the grandparents who are all away at cottages this weekend. I don't think many people would be able to show up before 4:30. Also the timing would not work with DDs nap schedule.

I think you are missing the point, the suggestion is an open house. 12-3 , 4:30-7:30, whatever time frame suits you and your guests, is the suggestion.  

Also, this is not a big deal. Adults can cope. Fwiw, I used to host a xmas party inside every year with 50 people. I have an 1100 sq ft house, so not big.  My point is you can probably fit more people than you think.  Move some furniture.  People will fit, and those who don't like it won't stay long. 

Also, To answer your other question, I think the evening of Labor Day Monday is a terrible time frame but you know your guests. 

[icedcoffee]

Aug 26, 2016 8:39:50 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

Aug 26, 2016 8:21:20 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

I wish. We set it up as dinner since it worked best for the grandparents who are all away at cottages this weekend. I don't think many people would be able to show up before 4:30. Also the timing would not work with DDs nap schedule.

I think you are missing the point, the suggestion is an open house. 12-3 , 4:30-7:30, whatever time frame suits you and your guests, is the suggestion.  

Also, this is not a big deal. Adults can cope. Fwiw, I used to host a xmas party inside every year with 50 people. I have an 1100 sq ft house, so not big.  My point is you can probably fit more people than you think.  Move some furniture.  People will fit, and those who don't like it won't stay long. 

Also, To answer your other question, I think the evening of Labor Day Monday is a terrible time frame but you know your guests. 

This is a good point too.  I'm sure you can fit more than you think.  My grandmother hosts a sit down Christmas dinner every year in like 700 square feet for like 30 people.  We just somehow make it fit.

Another thing with rescheduling is that there is no guarantee it won't rain on that date also.  I would just stick with the date, TBH.

[sparkythelawyer]

Get on your local fb moms group and see if you can borrow a tent

[wesleycrusher4ever]

Do you have a key to your parents' or in laws house? Depending on your relationship, they prob would not mind you guys setting up there with them out of town. I think it's fine, if it does rain, some people will no show anyway and thin out the crowd.

[pinotgrig]

It will be ok. I would carry on as is since you have the food and date and just know you might have tight quarters. People are there to see you guys and celebrate DD, not for the party location.

Eta - if you reschedule, who's to say it won't rain and then you'll be in the same spot you are now.

[bluelikejazz]

Aug 26, 2016 8:39:50 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

Aug 26, 2016 8:21:20 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

I wish. We set it up as dinner since it worked best for the grandparents who are all away at cottages this weekend. I don't think many people would be able to show up before 4:30. Also the timing would not work with DDs nap schedule.

I think you are missing the point, the suggestion is an open house. 12-3 , 4:30-7:30, whatever time frame suits you and your guests, is the suggestion.  

Also, this is not a big deal. Adults can cope. Fwiw, I used to host a xmas party inside every year with 50 people. I have an 1100 sq ft house, so not big.  My point is you can probably fit more people than you think.  Move some furniture.  People will fit, and those who don't like it won't stay long. 

Also, To answer your other question, I think the evening of Labor Day Monday is a terrible time frame but you know your guests. 

Ditto cricketwife, a dinner open house is totally acceptable, the 12-3 was just an example.  Is the dinner buffet style?  Where people can serve themselves?  Have dinner ready as soon as people show up, and keep it hot (borrow crockpots if needed - everyone has one!), and let people graze/enjoy and come & go as they're able.  Obviously grandparents will stay longer (or the whole time), but friends and such will come, grab a bite, say hi and head out.

My brother/SIL have a HUGE Christmas party at their house every year, and I kid you not, like 200 people come.  But the party is from 4-whenever, open house style, so it never feels super crowded (it might this year when I'm 7 months PG though!)

[starburst604]

I posted here the morning of L's 1st bday party. We had a whole outdoor thing planned, complete with bouncy house and tables rented, and it was drizzling and freezing that day. I was so upset. I ended up getting the bouncy house anyway and the kids did not GAF about the weather, they loved it. It was really tight in the house but like PP's have said, we just rolled with it. Some people made a quick appearance and left, understandably, but our close family who matter most were there to celebrate with her. It's not a random cookout, it's a birthday party so don't worry to much about people's expectations. If I go to a bday party I'm expecting food and cake and that's about it.

Boozed helped too, of course. Me especially!!

[Velar Fricative]

We had a very crowded 2nd birthday party with similar circumstances. It went well, although now I know for future parties that rearranging furniture would have made things even better. And we had a lot of kids so I think adults will tolerate the crowd better. So I would make the best of it - definitely don't uninvite people.