rsvp's to party invitations - is this pretty typical??

[SJaneS]

Anyone advise on whether I'm being a bit paranoid here?! I sent out the invites to my daughters party yesterday which is for 2 1/2 weeks time (bank holiday weekend). It's at a leisure centre. So far, I've only had three yes's on the 20 odd invites I sent out.

Is this pretty typical? I don't think my daughter is unpopular and seems to get invited to quite a few parties herself. I was just expecting more of response, even if they are no's! One Mum did ask me this morning if it was a pool party (there is a pool at the centre although it isn't a pool party) but the invites I sent out just said 5th birthday party and surely people would expect me to state 'pool party' if that had been the case?

I suspect I'm being deeply neurotic here but my Daughter is v excited about this and its her first party!

Unfortunately it's very common to receive very few replies.

I've stopped being angry about it. I now ring everyone invited a week before, and if I've not heard from them I text them and tell them that as I've not heard from them I assume they won't be coming.

It's a hassle.

Both my kids have had the 'party experience' now, so this year we're using that party cash to take them away for the weekend.

I'm sure everyone is just checking they have nothing on that weekend, with it being a bank holiday, before the commit. Relax

There's loads of time yet. Most parents will typically respond about a week before. If they are sent home on book bags, it may be a day or two before parents even find them, so panic not!

oops, just noticed you only sent them yesterday. Give people a chance!

3 responses by next day is pretty good, i'm surprised you've got any so fast. Give it a week then chase it to make sure parents have the invites.

It's only been 1 day since the invitations went out. I would say to expect the majority over the 4 days, once people have had a chance to check their diaries. I usually chase up any stragglers 5 or 6 days before the party stating that I need to be sure of the final numbers by say, 3 days before. I've never had anyone not respond after a reminder.

Don't worry OP, it's early days!

thanks for the reassurance - it did go in the book bags.
I always respond pretty instantly either way myself but think I need to take a big, deep breath!

If these children are anything like my dd was at that age, then the invitations are probably still in their bags and the parents don't know about the party yet!

I usually take a couple of days replying to invites. I do it when I have a desk day, sync my calendars etc.Definitely need to calm down if it's only the next day.

I only empty the book bag at the weekend (if at all )

Don't panic, most will reply. You will have to chase one or two though.

You've done well to get 3 responses in less than 24 hrs.
Give them time.
You won't get responses from everyone I'm afraid,
And, don't forget, as it's a bank holiday weekend, people will need to see what their plans are that weekend. Eg. They might need to speak to other family members about going away... They' probably don't know what they're doing that weekend.
So, give them time. Stop flapping. It'll be fine

You've done incredibly well to get three responses already. I'd assumed, from not reading your post properly, that these invitations had been out for ages. So yes, don't be worrying too much right now. However, I would say that you need to be prepared for people doing other stuff on a bank holiday weekend. Which means you may not get as many acceptances.

dd now 6 had her first proper party a couple of weeks ago, out of the 30 kids invited I only had 21 replies. I catered for the full 30, including party bags, just as well as they all turned up. Replies that I did get came the week before party.

You only sent them yesterday!!!!

Dd has an invite for the same weekend she got given before Easter. I only replied yesterday because I have family on h

Family on holiday, I'm working and she has show rehearsals that weekend too.

I needed to check first.

However I did send an immediate text to a mum arranging her ds party on the b/h Monday as she wanted to find out if ds was free before booking the date.

Normal...you can expect responses to trickle in over the coming 2 weeks and some wont respond till the day before. Others wont respond at all but will still turn up!

People are rude and ignorant but it seems to be par for the course! I now prepare for as many as I have invited...then i am not short of bags when they all turn up...even those who didn't RSVP!

Again, thanks ladies, just wanted a sense check if I was being a bit idiotic to have expected more of a response - am pleased to hear I am! Will calm down...not sure about chasing people who've not replied though - to me it seems another way of saying no but without the manners to say it??!

Don't even think about chasing anyone unless it gets to three days before the party and nobody else has responded...which won't happen.

People will reply back there is still lot of time back! Don't worry

I am in a similar boat but only had one reply. You have done well to get 3! Not panicking yet but first time organising a party and have heard about the nightmares of no-one replying!!

Wow, 3 responses by the next day is brilliant. Give people a chance.