Friend Birthday Party Question

[mellym]

DD1's first ever school friend birthday party is next weekend and we invited her K class. I've only had a handful of parents respond. The invitations were handed out by her teacher in their mailboxes at the end of the day and I asked them to RSVP by this Saturday. Do you assume if they don't respond, they aren't coming? I don't really have a good way of following up with the parents since I don't have their contact info. I'm trying not to panic since they have a few more days yet and I know that I put off responding until the last day in case something comes up but I hate the unknown of how many kids and stress of not having enough cake, treats, etc.

[akafred]

In my experience, very few people RSVP. Typically about half to 3/4 of those invited show up from what I've seen. Maybe 1/4 max will RSVP.

[186momx]

For big parties like this I've noticed that about half the class shows. We went to a couple last year in K and it was the same kids at both parties we went to. Has she gone to any class parties? You could kind of gauge the numbers? Otherwise I would have extra goodies if you are doing them just in case.

[sdlaura]

Try not to panic yet -hopefully you’ll get more responses by the weekend! Is there a class email list? If you invited everyone in the class, and haven’t heard back from a lot of people by the day after the RSVP date, I’d send a short email saying you hope they can join you and to please let you know one way or the other so you have enough food and treats.

[186momx]

Oh, RSVP sucks. I tend to get most of mine the day of which isn't helpful

[k3am]

RSVPs for yes and no’s I count as they indicate. Silence, I add to my headcount as a maybe/yes. I would rather have too much of everything than not enough.

RSVP people, it’s easy!

[waverly]

There is nothing worse than RSVPs. I didn't really get any until my deadline, and then I got a bunch even up to the day before the party, 6 days after the deadline. 

No one showed up that didn't RSVP but there were a few can the sibling come as they walked into the party.

DS sent out 30 invitations and 20 showed up. Unless it is a hectic or strange time I found that to be true that 2/3 of the kids show up.  That number isn't true if it is a super early time, or during the weekdays or around Christmas etc.

Then I had a few RSVP yes and then forget to show up. So it all evened out back to 20 kids in the end.

[2chatter]

This makes me insane, and it is why we avoid “invite the whole class” where we can - and because DS is at the same school as DD and we know most of the families, and before that he was at the same
school since 1, we finished with whole class/strangers when he turned 3 with rare additions.

I also do electronic invites wherever I can because it’s so much easier to track and follow up.

For his 7th, DS wants to go to a hockey game and have a sleepover, so it will be a short list. I’m so relieved.

[helenahhandbasket]

Well I am a freak and I text non RSVPers.

We have a class list for DD who is in K (it's voluntary to add your name/ cell #)

We have only had b-day parties at "places" bounce U, Children's Museum- so I really did need a head count. If I were having a birthday party at my home I probably would not text.

[supertrooper1]

We invited 11 kids from DS's class. 2 RSVP'd and 3 showed up. I was prepared for a few extra.

[librarychica]

I am also the one nagging via text when possible.

My experience has mostly been no RSVP=not coming. Only once did it mean “me and my H and our 4 kids are coming and we will let you know the day before” but that was a real friend of mine, not a stranger. 😉

[ECB]

Ive always had a very good rsvp turn out AND attendance for ds’s Parties. But i also have never done an “invite the whole class”. It’s always friends/neighbors/people we kind of know. I think it’s easier to ignore/ not rsvp when it strangers.

[librarychica]

Relevant to this thread: last night I got a text pic of DD1 and was like “whose number is this.” Well it turned out to be DD2’s old daycare teacher who happens to have a son in DD1’s class. So I rSVPed no to that party a few weeks ago but she never got it because I didn’t look at the number on the invite, just texted the number I had saved in my phone.

Whoops.

[mellym]

We invited 25 and only 7 have responded so far. I have DD1 telling me so and so can/can't come but haven't heard from their parents so....I have email addresses for the class because the teacher once sent an email without blind copying everyone so I think I'll go that route of emailing everyone that hasn't responded yet on Sunday. I do need a head count because it's at a place.

I'll let you know after next week if I'm ever doing this again.

[HeartofCheese]

I have found that about 25-50% of those invited actually RSVP. Of those who RSVP yes, only about 1/2 come. Of those who do not RSVP, none come.

I wouldn't worry too much. Just plan to feed 75% of the people you invited and you should be more than covered.

[polecat8]

DD and DS1 have mid summer birthdays. I have held 3 parties for DD. It was always so nerve wracking because it was hard to get a hold of anyone due to summer vacations. She would hand out invitations during the last week of school for a party that was a month later. We usually have about 10 kids out of 35 show up.
It's so stressful trying to follow up with people, so DD only has parties with her friends every other year.