Sneaky invitation vent.

[4speedy]

DH works in an industry where there are a lot of social events and entertaining. I attend about 50% of the events and know most of his coworkers, some quite well.

DH has one coworker who I would say I am pretty friendly, he has even been to our house a few times to work on cars with DH. I've met his wife twice, she doesn't go to many of the industry events I attend with DH. They bought a house about 6 months ago and did a complete Reno on it before moving in a month ago. DH got an evite for the housewarming tomorrow night. I was curious to see the house as well as see some of DH's coworkers/spouses we haven't seen in a while. Arranged for a babysitter, all was good. Until last night. DH was checking the evite again and noticed it was a housewarming/high school graduation party for their son.

It just doesn't seem quite as fun to me anymore. Granted DH should have read the invitation a little closer right from the start but I really hate when people combine events where one group of invited guests will have zero interest in the other event. I'm not so much in the mood to be hanging out with high school kids and old Aunt Tilly. I feel even less like giving a graduation present to some kid we've never met.

DH still wants to go so I'll suck it up and mingle with the people I know with a smile. But I strongly disagree with DH, who thinks we need to give enough of a cash gift so as not to appear cheap to his coworker. (We're giving a housewarming gift, as well.)

[SusanBAnthony]

I would be irritated too, and would probably skip it, and tell DH to go by himself- especially since it was his fault for not looking carefully in the first place!

[secretlyevil]

I probably would pop in and leave early.

ETA: I would not give a graduation gift. I'd probably do a housewarming gift though.

[druidp]

Jul 26, 2012 15:54:07 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

Eh. I'd blob the two events together, especially considering 6 weeks ago at graduation time they were not even living in the house, and likely had no where to throw their kid a party.

As for the gifts? The traditional housewarming gifts are wine, bread and salt, and I'd get those and wrap in a pretty basket. Graduation? I'd dump a nice wad of cash on the kid.

This, with my edit at the end.

[ECB]

Yeah- I'd give a housewarming gift but I wouldn't feel I "had" to give a graduation gift.

[heightsyankee]

Actually, I would give the graduation gift but not the housewarming. Let the kid benefit from his parents' rudeness; don't reward them for it.

[4speedy]

Jul 26, 2012 15:54:07 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

Eh. I'd blob the two events together, especially considering 6 weeks ago at graduation time they were not even living in the house, and likely had no where to throw their kid a party.

As for the gifts? The traditional housewarming gifts are wine, bread and salt, and I'd get those and wrap in a pretty basket. Graduation? I'd dump a nice wad of cash on the kid.

Nope, they had a huge house less than a mile away from the new house. From what DH says, it was pretty spectacular, about 4000 sqft with a large yard, outdoor brick fireplace, etc. They are moving to and even more spectacular home, about 5000sqft, pool, on golf course, etc. So while I'm sure they want to show off their new house, they did have a great house for entertaining when their son graduated back in May.

[caden]

Are you coming down with that virus that's going around? I think you are. *cough* *cough*

[noodleoo]

I'd go because I want to see this amazing house! I'd probably just give $50 to the kid and bring a bottle of wine. Done and done.