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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Halloween party - who to invite?

15 replies

dinodino27 · 31/08/2014 18:21

Just wondering what is reasonable here.

I have 3 children

My son's birthday in on Halloween - He'll be 8. He and his siblings (age 6 and 5) have never had a party. This is despite being invited to lots and lots of other children's party - so I feel a bit bad about never having hosted a party. We have just never had the money plus we have had a lot on with my youngest child's health issues.

I have booked a venue (which is a church hall and quite big) to have a party, actually on halloween. We have booked an entertainer. There is no limit to how many children the entertainer will 'entertain' so I was thinking of inviting all my son's class and all in my daughter and other son's class and make it a general halloween fancy dress party.

However, my other children friends probably wont know my 8 year old so we obviously cannot expect them to bring gifts - so how do I word an invitation? I was thinking I could just put 'no gifts'. I dont think ds1 will be bothered by no presents as family will get him all requested.

I work full time so cant gauge opinion on the school yard is this a reasonable thing to to do?

OP posts:

Spadequeen · 31/08/2014 18:24

If you word their invite as a Halloween party then they wouldn't take gifts, problem solved

ChickenFajitaAndNachos · 31/08/2014 19:20

How many DC will there be if everyone attends? Does your DS mind his birthday party becoming a Halloween party and him not knowing two thirds of the guests. Re the gift thing I would just call it a Halloween party for the people he doesn't know and a birthday party for his friends.

Kimaroo · 31/08/2014 19:21

90 children?

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 31/08/2014 19:23

Just send different invites. So birthday ones for ds1 and halloween ones for the other two.

starlight1234 · 31/08/2014 19:25

I am not sure why you don't want him to have a birthday party and presents?

I8toys · 31/08/2014 19:41

My son will be 9 on halloween. He always has a halloween birthday day. We usually get about 6 friends - go to a soft play, cinema and back home for birthday tea then go trick or treating at night. My eldest son usually has one friend around. We ask them to bring outfits for trick or treating when it gets dark - then they go home. So would say 09.00-18.00hrs for the day.

Obviously different to yours but it can be a halloween birthday - after all it is his special day.

Lifesalemon · 31/08/2014 20:11

Good idea above to send two sets of invites. You could even have birthday friends come a little earlier then others and do presents cake etc then and get everyone else join you for Halloween celebrations say an hour later. Obviously wether this is doable depends how long you have the hall and entertainer for.
It sounds like its gonna be quite a party! Hope you all have a great time.

attheendoftheday · 31/08/2014 20:21

Even if the entertainer doesn't set limits they can't reasonably be expected to entertain 90ish children?

Original poster

dinodino27 · 31/08/2014 21:22

starlight1234 - I do want my son the have a birthday party with presents but as we cannot afford to have a party for all children this year - i thought it might be nice to give the other 2 a chance to invite their friends to this one.

In terms of number it will be about 60 -70 invited (not sure exactly how many - will need op check with the school , I think there is about 20 in each year group. I assume some wont be able to make it so I anticipating about 50-60. I personally think that is reasonable for an entertainer that us charging £150.

OP posts:

Kimaroo · 31/08/2014 21:29

60 children will need a hell of a lot of adult helpers! I've done joint parties with that many but the children were older and could look after themselves, even so there were 10 adults and we were all kept busy! Good luck!

Original poster

dinodino27 · 31/08/2014 21:36

I have noticed at the parties my children have been invited to , that parents usually stay. The odd one goes but it seems the norm in our area for most to stay - so i would think it would be manageable numbers wise.

I am just more concerned about causing offence if parents turn up and realise it is a birthday without a present an feel embarrassed o prenets are offended at getting invited to time in which they dont know the host. Hope that makes sense.

OP posts:

ChickenFajitaAndNachos · 31/08/2014 21:37

That's a lot of cocktail sausages.

MomOfABeast · 31/08/2014 21:42

Could you invite your older sons friends a little earlier and do a cake, presents etc. then turn it into a Halloween party an hour later when everyone else arrives (and the entertainer starts). As other people have said you could then do separate invites with the younger kids' invitations just saying Halloween and your older sons friends saying Halloween birthday party?

MrsCumbersnatch · 31/08/2014 21:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

dinodino27 · 31/08/2014 22:01

It's a minfield isnt it? - I know what you mean Mrs cumbernatch about it all being rather embarrassing. I hate the whole birthday gifts situation.

In terms of the having birthday boy's friends earlier, I dont think that would work as it would leave a when do i do the food situation (as i have never encountered cake before food and games - has anyone else?

I am the thing forget the whole thing and just invite the boys in his class to a soft play type place the next morning (which is a sat) -I am now thinking that will be alot less hassle and expense.

OP posts:

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