Have a made a mistake - party arrangements?

[SportNovice]

I invited friends to DD's party. It's an activity in the neighbouring town (we live in a village) 10 minutes bus to main station, change bus 10 mins and then a 5 minute walk. I put the date, time and venue on the invitation.

I'll be taking DD out for lunch beforehand so will already be in the town and then go to the activity.

Just had a message from one of the mums asking if the girls are meeting directly at the party venue. Is that not a given? Or am I supposed to put on transport from the village? I kind of assumed the other parents would arrange it amongst themselves...

I know some previous parties from class members have been "lunch at party child, then all go together to an activity and then all come back to child's house" type. I've only ever done parties at home before.

I’d say it was a given to meet at the party place. Maybe she doesn’t have transport & is trying to work out if she needs to ask someone to take her Dc?

I've never provided transport for parties.
So I'd reply with a breezy "yes of course". And leave it there.
I assume they know each other so can sort car shares etc.

We always met at the party place. Don’t worry about it - she’s just clarifying

She's just clarifying, don't worry. Just answer her yes, see you there.

I've never done transport unless specifically asked to provide a lift for someone or the activity is in London (theatre) so a train away and not drive able just to drop off.

How old are they? If old enough to get public transport themselves they are probably thinking it would be nice for them all to travel together from your village. If not then no it’s not usual for you to put transport on.

It is a given - she’s angling for you to offer her a lift.

How many friends have you invited?

If it's just dd plus a couple of children I would possibly be thinking you'd be taking them.

8 kids then no make your own way there.

This is just based on parties my kids have been to/we've had.

It also depends how old kids are. Under 8 then I would definitely assume parents have to take them themselves.

Kids are Yr6, so most have e.g. taken the bus into the neighbouring town centre, but not had to deal with changes and navigating from bus stop to a particular address.

7 invited (6 from our village and in same class, all parents know each other)

I don't have a car so can't give anyone a lift.

She's just checking.

Parties can be either.

I've done both before but I drive. DD went to a couple of parties in year 6 and 7 where they met at the party child's house then got the bus together as there were too many for car or the parents didn't drive.

She's just checking don't worry.

Maybe she thinks all the children will be meeting and taking public transport together.

She’s hoping for a lift. Maybe if you make a WhatsApp group then people can arrange lift shares?

Just say at the venue, just answer the question, no one can assume anything as it was a question so just answer it

Yes, it's always a given to meet at the venue unless stated otherwise. That said, we have often transported as many as we can when party is arranged a ways away. We live rurally and most venues that can host a party are 20-30 minutes, so we always try to take any close friends and they do the same. But it's not a given and always something we arrange individually with parents.

My guess would be that she is fishing for transport (if she thinks you do have a car) or she is hoping for convenience to just drop at yours and not have to navigate public transport. Just say, plan is to meet at the venue at x time.