people who dont reply

[mycatoscar]

dd's birthday is the first weekend after we go back to school so invites to her party went out at the end of term. I have 6 non replyers and no way of contacting them before the party as I dont have numbers for the parents and I am not doing the school run the first week back.

The party is at a soft play place and I have to pay upfront for who is coming (although they have said I can pay for any extras on the day) and provide a guest list so they can check children in and out. Do I just assume the non replyers arent coming? I think I would be annoyed if they just turned up to be honest but probably wouldnt have the guts to tell them so , what do I do about party bags etc? I dont really want to buy 6 extra just incase they turn up but it would seem mean to not have one for them if they do turn up?

Apologies for that being long winded, if you've got to this point what would you do?

[SenoritaViva]

I know you're not doing the school run but can your DD not give an envelope to the teacher with a note for the non replyers?

You know a need to confirm with soft play plus make sure I have a party bag for your child so please let me know... I'd also probably send out a reminder to parents, I know it sounds awful but my DD went to a soft play party and only one other child turned up (they'd hired a whole room and everything and parents had confirmed...I was disgusted). Then if you've warned them and there's no party bag it's their fault...

Or you could just not do party bags!!

[mycatoscar]

Thanks for the advice, I have mobile numbers for most parents that have replied because they texted me so was
Planning to send a "looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday" type reminder text.

I think I will do a quick note for book bags for non replyers with the emphasis on confirming numbers for food and party bags. I am just concerned they will all think I am a control freak or a right pushy cow lol as I'm not in the cliquey popular group.

[mycatoscar]

Well, I realised I still had some old party invites with some mums numbers on them so I texted and it turned out they had both
Lost the invite and were sending a note in
On the first day so nearly sorted, will send notes in for other 3 at beginning of term.

[iwouldgoouttonight]

Birthday parties seem to be a minefield - we've just had one for DS and people who had said they were coming didn't turn up, but we still had to pay for them as we'd had to book per child. And some replied at the very last minute so I've rushed out and bought more things for party bags!

So good idea about texting everyone with a reminder just before - at least that way you should get a good idea of who to expect.

[mycatoscar]

oh no thats awful, especially when you have paid upfront

dd's party is at soft play and its the same thing, I have so far paid for 14 and they said I can pay for any extras on the day - so at the moment 17 people have said yes and 3 havent replied. So I am not going to tell soft play about the possible extra 6 yet, just incase some of the yes's dont turn up. I think as long as you have paid for their minimum number they probably couldnt care less who turns up on the day.

[SenoritaViva]

I'd do exactly that, then you're not charged for the pains who don't turn up.

[Kestryn]

One suggestion for the future - it won't help with the people who say yes and don't turn up, but we've started not putting times / venues on invitations so that if people want to come they HAVE to contact us first. I can see that if it's a soft play party the venue's probably obvious but they still need to know when to be there.