Quick Birthday Party ??? HELP!!!

[lilgoose]

We're having a party for our daughter...she was going to invite 7 s and then realized that it would only leave out 3 of the s from her class~all in kindergarten....So, instead of having hurt feelings, we decided to let her invite all 10 instead. Now, the invitations were very cute~homemade and have great reviews and specifically asked that an RSVP was needed to plan for their arrival by tonight (she handed them out last Wednesday at school). I have heard from 6 and nothing from the other 4....

Our question is do we send reminders for an RSVP or not? We are doing this on a budget and really need to finalize the plans. We are planning a craft of some sort along with a couple of finger foods. If the other 4 are not coming, then there can be a little more for the goodie bags and a couple of extra games or that would go into goodie bags for all of them.

How do you handle this situation? I know that it is very rude to not RSVP when requested but some just don't bother. I don't want the s to feel left out if they show up and don't get anything to take home with them.

HELP!! These are all 5 and 6 yr olds and I to see feelings get hurt by them showing up unexpectedly.......

[lrprn]

If I were you, I would call the parent and ask if their child is planning to attend the party. You don't have to explain that money is tight - just that you are trying to get a final count.

[lilgoose]

I wish I did have numbers.....but, I don't. I did have one more mom call a little bit ago and let me know that her daughter was coming. So, that leaves 3out of 10 that has yet to rsvp'd. I guess I should be thankful for those who have replied.

I suppose I will just go ahead and plan on all of them. I just the thought of a child doing without because of their parent.

Thanks for your help!

[SinkingFast]

I suppose I will just go ahead and plan on all of them. I just the thought of a child doing without because of their parent.

Thanks for your help!

That's probably what I would do, Lil. Fix a favor/goodie bag for all 10. Just in case.

Like you said, no fun for the child left out just because their parent neglected to call.

[lilgoose]

Thanks Sinking...It is so nice to know that there are friends just around the corner. It is nice to know that you can get up on the "soap box" and just babble on and on as I did earlier on the Political topic and still be able to be just "mom on a budget" who needs some help deciding what to do.

Have a super night and hope to check in tomorrow....youngins in bed and I need to park myself there also!

Nite!!!!

[bige1030]

If not everyone shows up, you can always split the spare goodie bag(s) with the other kids!

[JeepMom]

We invited 7 kids to dd's (on Sat also)
1 is not comming
3 are comming
1 says she is but her mother hasn't called
2 are cluess

(I pick up dd so I see the kids daily)

[pink_amulet]

my hubby's' family is notorious for not RSVPs..I hate it...hell his own father didn't RSVP for our wedding...doesn't that tell you something! Anyways I always make goodie bags for them. God forbid, they ACTUALLY show up once, and I don't have something....can't you tell I just LOVE my in-laws...LOL
what is nice is that my best friend's dd goes home with the girl goodie bags, and her ds and my two boys split the boy ones...since her family is always the last to leave cause the stay around and BS with us.
But yes my rule of thumb is it is better to have extra than not enough!!!
I do that with everything - (birthdays, holidays, events)...I always have extra food, games (I always have back-up ones) and cake! I don't want to known as "the party that ran out"...LOL this past Christmas I made extra homemade ornaments, and had an extra gift under the tree in case people showed up ...LOL

[JollyGG]

LOL I do the extra gift under the tree thing as well usually. It's something small like slippers, cookie cutters, gloves. (Not this year as money was tight with the bankruptcy). I learned it from my Mom, and I saw that gift pulled out and given to someone who showed up unexpectedly more than once.

[lilgoose]

I have always heard of the basket of extra goodies by the door kind of thing but didn't think that any one actually did that!!

I did get enough to do for all the kids. I love shopping at the dollar type stores and found a GREAT deal on baskets~which is the goodie bag. Being Valentines Day soon, there is all kinds of cute heart things out now and what better to go with a Princess party than hearts which symbolizes LOVE!

So, these heart shaped baskets were 2 for a buck. Now, there isn't a lot to put in to start, but a great way to carry home the crafty thing they will do, plus the crown and wand that they will decorate. With a handle, they are going to turn out cute!

Gosh, I am soooo excited over the decorations that we have done as cheaply as possible and I feel sooo good over how they will turn out.

We took a couple of boxes, same size, and covered with rolls of a marble look shelf paper (cheap discount store brand) which we will put around the posts at the steps to our front porch....Taking the gold beads that I trim the Christmas Tree with and that will be the "chain" that will follow a red plastic tablecloth~cutting in half for length~that will be the "red carpet". Made lots of tissue paper flowers for decorations...using lots and lots of streamers, also bought 2 rolls for a buck at the dollar store. Using white lights from Christmas laid in purple sparkly tulle to decorate the gift and cake table, which was bought on clearance at our local fabric store...Using plastic table cloths to do the eating table along with the gift table. Bought a couple of yards of sparkly purple faux velvet (also on clearance) to do the "throne" for our princess to sit in to open gifts and to eat.

So, if the other kids don't show up, then I have things that my daughter will use and the baskets always come in handy for all kinds of things.

Thanks all for your thoughts and sharing!!!