to think that this was a very weird party?

[AKMD]

DH, DS and I were invited to a child's birthday party on Saturday in a large village hall. The parents were really pushing the message not to be late so we got there in good time. It was just us, the DJ and a couple of people blowing up balloons. We sat, we waited. Two hours after the start time, the birthday child and their parents had still not arrived and there were only a handful of other guests. We went home rather nonplussed.

I don't know when they eventually turned up but there has been no explanation, no apology etc. and as they eventually did arrive they are all alive and well.

AIBU to think that this was rude and strange behaviour?

We just had granny, auntie and uncle round to the house for tea for DD's first birthday. The next day DD ended up in hospital with a nasty urine infection.

squoosh i too have been to Liza Minelli's party's 'sniff', but on a serious note OP they sound like they are bizarre and rude, all that fuss for their guests to be early then they are late!!

Curiouser and curiouser, as Alice said

It must be a common thing then

I thought first birthdays were grandparents and siblings round for tea, trying to stop the child eating the candle kind of things.

PFB I reckon. The 'please don't be late' was due to how important the PFB's routine is. Then they went home to change (not for change, that'd be mental). PFB fell asleep and couldn't be woken as his nap was far more important than others' inconvenience. They'll look back and cringe in a couple of kids' time.

It was definitely 'popped out for change'. Not popped home to change. Bizarre.

The people who had arrived by the time we left were all family so they were just sitting round a table talking, not a word to us. The DJ was completely relaxed about the whole thing and just chatted to us. We didn't call them, I guess because I don't know them and it just wouldn't occur to DH. There were about 10-15 tables set out so lots more people were expected; we didn't want to leave and for them to arrive to find no one there, but after 2 hours felt they were taking the mick and wanted to do our own thing. We weren't planning on staying for so long anyway.

Yes, we left the present with the DJ. Not a word about that either.

Ah well, 2 fewer people I have to make friends with a I suppose!

No i reckon they had a row or a meltdown, went home to carry it on and then came back with the excuse they had been TO change...not to get change.

Had they written the wrong time on invitation by accident?

No Tess, the DJ had been told the same start time.

This thread makes no sense whatsoever. Everybody waited around for 2 hours for a party that didn't start as the people throwing the party weren't there?! What kind of child waits patiently for 2 hours for a non existent party?!
Even weirder is that no-one questioned it, rung them up or at least wondered what was going on?!

This is hysterical, did you get anything to eat or drink?

OK, so these people are friends of DH, but not you.

They must have told some people they wern't at the party, or there would have been more folk there.

All very odd.

How very strange

Ooh, I do love a mystery!

I reckon they had a huge row or pfb had a nap. Seems most likely doesn't it?

I'm a bit late to the party here guffawhuhuhfuhhsnort but this thread is BRILLIANT!

I concur - something's kicked off behind the scenes and they've tried to make out like it's no big deal.

OP you have a great attitude. Its their loss that they've alienated you as a potential friend. Weirdos.

WTAF??

Are tbey Asian by any chance? Sounds like the kind of thing my in laws would do. Organise a huge party for a one year old, be running absurdly late. And the don't be late instruction on the invite was probably not aimed at you but at other relatives who are equally bad at time keeping.

There's nowt as queer as folk how odd.

I was 45 mins late to my own wedding and am still a bit about it as it wasn't my fault the bar people blocked my car in, I did explain and apologise but it made me look likes right diva.

"We just had granny, auntie and uncle round to the house for tea for DD's first birthday. The next day DD ended up in hospital with a nasty urine infection."

Lol bunbaker

Didn't realise old-fogey ailments could be catching!

No, not Asian, Nigerian. Not a cultural thing either because every other party I've been to thrown by other Nigerian friends has been in full swing with half the BBQ eaten by the time we get there! I always get mistaken for staff and the old ladies laugh at my dance moves Food is always ace and I'm a bit miffed about the whole thing on Saturday because not only did the birthday child not show up but there was also only a stingy bowl of pastry snacks on each table along with bottles of orange squash. I love Nigerian food :(

havingaminutespeace if DS had been in full swing there is no way we would have sat around waiting that long but he was fast asleep on my shoulder anyway and then rather bleary-eyed when he woke up.

I think the couple had a massive domestic and were too busy throwing insults to come. Family were nonplussed as this is their standard behaviour.

OR

They were waiting for you to go. One of them had taken umbridge at one of you, so were waiting for a tip-off from family that you'd scarpered. Have you or your DH slept with one of them? Could be akward. If you on't know them maybe tey got to the door and realised you were a arch-enemy of auld.

OR

They were out to get cash to pay the DJ with and their card got swallowed/rejected so they had to find some money.

Why didn't anybody ring them?
And waiting for 2 hours
It's just bizarre