People not responding to child’s party invite

[Bournetilly]

My DS is having a birthday party a week on Sunday. Invites were sent out to the whole class at the start of the month asking people to reply by this Sunday as I need to confirm numbers with the soft play. I’m still waiting for 20 people to confirm if their child is coming or not.

When is reasonable to send out a reminder via the WhatsApp group? Should I wait until Sunday or would it be ok to ask a couple of days before? I need to sort out party bags etc and I’m now worried there won’t be enough children there.

I would just put a copy of the invite in the WhatsApp group, some parents might not have seen the invite..I sent paper ones in last year and a fair few parents admitted they hadn't received it.

I’d send individual whatsapp messages attaching a photo of the body of the invitation (in case they never saw an original). People know you need to confirm final numbers, absolutely fine to prod gently and say can you let me know by end of day tomorrow

Just send WhatsApp message asking for confirmation or decline .
Say you are waiting on numbers to proceed in planning

I wish I did send the copy on WhatsApp originally but now it’s almost the date when they are meant to reply, is it not too late?

Send out WhatsApp reminders now. Definitely don’t wait until the day of the party

The party is a week on Sunday but I asked people to reply by this Sunday. Should I send out the WhatsApp reminders now or wait until this Sunday which is when I originally asked them to reply by?

I know there is a few more days, I’m just panicking now there won’t be many children there.

I'd send out a reminder message today to give them a gentle nudge.

Either is ok. Ideally you would choose your "reply by" date to give you time to make a plan B in case of non-attendees, but I suspect you haven't? If that's the case, just send a reminder now, and then chase up any non repliers individually on Sunday.

Thanks. I don’t have anyone else I could invite anyway. There’s 10 coming so far but I was hoping for at least 15. 40 were invited including family/ friends children but they cant come.

The party will be going ahead either way so I am fine to wait until Sunday but just panicking there won’t be many people. I will post it today in the WhatsApp incase people have lost them/ not received them.

I'd do a super friendly "just popping this here in case any have gone astray in the bags" type message in the WhatsApp group, no one will mind.

Second the very friendly ‘just in case the paper invites got lost. Hope you can make it, do let me know’ type message.

Much better to politely people early than to wait. Sometimes party admin gets pushed aside and most folk probably meant to reply but forgot.

Hope he has a fab party

I followed up paper invites with a whatsapp copy to each parent individually in case the paper ones didn't make it home and messaged afterwards to please let me know if X was coming or not. When messaged directly everyone responded.

Thank you. I will send a message to the WhatsApp group tonight and hopefully get more replies. Next time I will send the invite on the WhatsApp group the same day as giving the invites out.

Just send a whatsapp message. You need to know to confirm to the venue… They’d be doing the same when it comes to their little darling’s party…

If you've given them until Sunday then leave it until Sunday!
People often leave it until the last minute so they're sure they can come or not.
Also at least 10% won't rsvp either way.