To be upset no-one came?

[anoelbthuthdy]

It's my birthday today, a big one. I don't live in the UK anymore but decided to throw a party back home to celebrate this milestone, with drinks, food and entertainment laid on. I invited people months in advance (with occasional reminders in between), and organised it on Sat just gone as that was the day most people could make. So we travel 500km, kids in tow, the evening comes and... 3 people turn up. 3. A few people did message that they/their kids were ill, but plenty of others simply didn't show. It was, quite frankly, humiliating.

AIBU to be gutted that no-one bothered to come? For context, I have thrown a couple of birthday parties over the years that were also poorly attended but those were on NYE itself, so I purposely avoided that this time. And this was a milestone birthday.

[Childrenofthesun]

Yanbu. How rude and inconsiderate of everyone. I normally don't like to cause a fuss but in this instance I would message everyone and tell them what trouble you went to and how hurtful it was they didn't attend

[curlykaren]

Ah no. People can be so shit. I'm sorry X🌻🌻🌻

[Crazyladee]

That's awful OP I would be gutted. How many people were invited?

I know how you feel as it happened to me once on NYE. The humiliation in front of the few people who did show expecting a huge turnout was awful.

So no, YANBU.

[MyGastIsFlabbered]

Happy birthday OP. I had the same thing happen over the summer. Have vowed no more parties for me. People are shit and rude sometimes.

[Hoppinggreen]

I’m sorry to hear that OP
However, in between Xmas and NY can be tricky as people really can’t be bothered and what to chill out. They shouldnt have accepted in the first place though
Also, I, sorry to say that if you’ve moved abroad people may have kind of moved on a bit and you are no longer in their immediate thoughts. Sorry if that sounds awful but a lot of friendships are based on geography and if they don’t see you regularly then you may not be in their thoughts either

[Howmanysleepstilchristmas]

I’m sorry. Happy birthday for today 🥂🎁

[flossietoot]

That is really rubbish. I would be very upset too.

[DisplayPurposesOnly]

That's awful for you. They are beyond rude. I'd be reconsidering my relationship with anyone that didn't turn up without sending an (reasonable) apology.

Happy birthday 🎂

[Nothisispatrick]

Sorry op that’s horrible. I’ve never actually had a birthday party since I was young child as this is one of my worst fears.

[GreenTulips]

You should’ve put up a FB message for attendees!!

Sod them all

Have a good day and enjoy those who male the effort X

[Dangerousplan]

How horrible and disappointing. You are amazing and generous throwing a big bash and putting in all effort, and they really dont deserve you as a friend. I wonder if there's a bit of envy there that you have forged a new life i another country. People can be very resentful of success.

Anyway sod them. Happy birthday for your milestone btw.

Show the ones who came lots of love.

[SuchAToDo]

Oh my god, that's awful...had all those people actually told you they were coming and then just didn't show up?...

[brizzledrizzle]

Unfortunately some people are like that, it's horrible.

[Neolara]

That rubbish. I'm sorry. As others have said, the time between Xmas and New year is a very tricky time to throw a party as most people will have family commitments that take them away from home. I've given this a lot of thought over the years as one of my dcs has a birthday a few days after Xmas and we've experimented with lots of different party dates. Last year, dc had their party in June.

[LadyWithLapdog]

Do you cut ties with everyone or forgive and move on? Don’t let it spoil your day. Focus on yourself and your family as that’s all that matters. Happy birthday!

[Lemoneeza]

People think it's perfectly reasonable to not show up for things because "self care". Selfish dicks. Happy birthday

[redexpat]

I've experienced this. You focus your attention on the 3 who turned up

[Reccy2018]

My birthday is between Christmas and nee year and this happened on my 9th birthday. Invited my whole class, and 3 people turned up. I said never again! I held by 30th a month after to avoid having a party at the end of December.

I really feel for you, it's awful. Big hugs xx

[Ginger1982]

That is really shit. This is why I don't do things like this for my birthday. I once organised a night out with a few friends for a random birthday and they were all over an hour late. I stood around in a bar by myself and felt like crap

[krustykittens]

I am so sorry, OP, that is such a shit thing to do to you. I have had this happen to me, bought food in, the lot. I won't do it again, it is too humiliating and expensive. I hope you had a good birthday, though.

[Badwifey]

That's really shitty op. I had a small get together a few years back for my 30th. My family showed but only 1 of my friends. More of my DH friends showed up which was embarrassing.

I wouldn't do as someone suggested by sending a text. I'd try let it go but I'd make absolutely no effort with those who said they would go but didn't show.

As for the others who did turn up. They too will probably be angry on your behalf.

[CoraPirbright]

That’s really shit OP - I am so sorry. We were asked to a birthday party this year on 29th but, knowing that we would be knackered from a big Christmas, we politely declined.

I do hope you didn’t lose a load of money on caterers etc?

I would be sorely tempted to send out a mass email to say that it was a big birthday, you paid for flights, venue, caterers etc and they couldnt be bothered to turn up - well fuck them and don’t bother to contact you again.

Honestly, what bastards.

[Notatallobvious]

I won’t be having any more parties for this reason. At my last milestone birthday I organised a party, people did turn up but it really annoyed me that some people went to the pub first and showed up at 10pm, others came early and left to go to the pub after, I just felt like I wasn’t important enough for them to commit to a whole evening. For future birthdays I’ll just be going away for a nice short break! Sorry you went through this, it’s shit!

[Loughers]

Did you request a RSVP ?