To Massively Over-Invite cos it'll be half-term

[ToyCarsHurtMyFeet]

Accidentally booked the twins 5th bday party for the Sunday at the beginning of February half term. (ie the official half term starts the day after the party).

Substantial deposit paid; no change of date possible.

Hall is limited to 30 total, so boys + 28 guests maximum. Boys are in different school classes. if I invite both full classes, that's 54 children......AIBU to invite all of them, in the anticipation that many will be away for the February half term by that Sunday? or do most people not go away during that half term?

I tried to ask them today to select some of their class friends but they pretty much chose everyone on each list; their best mates seem to change every day.

It's the first party I've held so am a bit clueless?

[whitemonkey]

I don't think you can guarantee that many will be away, especially in February. What will you do if lots more accept, it's hard to uninvite. I would get them to write their favourites list and send the invites out discretely asking people to RSVP ASAP, then you can send out more invites if people can't come.

[whitemonkey]

I don't think you can guarantee that many will be away, especially in February. What will you do if lots more accept, it's hard to uninvite. I would get them to write their favourites list and send the invites out discretely asking people to RSVP ASAP, then you can send out more invites if people can't come.

[Sickandsad]

Don't do it - parents will see a party as a good way for their DCs to let off steam during half term and you'll get more yeas than nays.

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

I invited about 40 kids to ds's 5th party in October half term. Approx 5 declined and several others turned up with uninvited siblings so we had about 45 in the end!

[LillianGish]

I would invite up to the limit and have a reserve list.

[carocaro]

No don't invite everyone, hardly anyone goes away Feb half term, too soon after xmas. You have to drill it into your children that they can't invite everyone and they won't be invited to every party, not everyone can afford or wants to invite the whole class, as they sooner they learn this the better, less tears in years to come!

They will hardly even remember who they wanted in the first place when the party comes around, they will be too excited with the fun of it all!

Put the invites in a brown envelope and give them to the teacher, then she can be discreet when putting them in book bags so no one feels left out.

You could always ask the teacher who his friends are, which might give you a steer in the right direction.

54 children would be a hideous nightmare, 30 is just about OK. enjoy!

[mynameisnowsonicthehedgehog]

If you were just talking about over inviting 10, then I would say chance it... but hoping that half of children won't come is a tad ambitious and you will have weeks of stress to look forward too!

I would set a short RSVP date, then invite more if lots of no's.

Good luck, hope it all goes well... just booked my twin sons 5th birthday party, and didn't know till the venue manager told me it's on Mother's Day, so proabably will get some no's. I can invite 55 (venue big) as my two are in separate classes too, but secretly hoping for less which means less food/party bags etc for me to prepare.

[Backtobedlam]

We booked a birthday party bank holiday weekend, thinking only about half would come...ended up only 2 didn't make it! Don't count on people declining.

[mummytowillow]

Don't do it! My daughters birthday is always in summer hols, I invited the whole class and most came!

It was a little chaotic!