First birthday party...

[StellaLuna65]

I want to have a big first birthday party for my son. Loads of friends round to celebrate him making it to 12 months! He's amazing, but had a rocky start in life.

My question... How in advance would you send invitations if you have many people travelling from up to 250 miles away? 1 month? 4 months? I have no idea!

Presumably people coming that distance will need to stay over at least one night. So therefore the more notice you can give the better to book hotels and also just to try and be available. I've just looked in my diary and my next free weekend would be October. Your family may well be less busy than I am, though.

I'd tell them all as soon as you've decided on the date.

What's holding you back from deciding? Is it the venue? You should probably chase them up. You'll fell better once it's properly sorted and you can send the invitations out.

The venue is my house... It's a BBQ (we have a covered BBQ area with heaters in case of rain!) and party. Super chilled. Loads of music and food.

Nothing holding me back, I've just decided over the last few days I am going to do a party for him and havent decided date yet

Ok so what is stopping you from deciding the actual date?

Honestly, I wouldn't overthink it then OP.

If you meet up at least once a month with the rest of your family and they're going to be staying with you anyway, just send them a 'save the date' text once you've made up your mind.

Surely the date will be the weekend before or the weekend after his birthday...? Just pick one and tell them. I've had ILs ask about my LO 1st birthday. SIL lives abroad and has a wedding the weekend before my LO birthday so I set it for the weekend after and told everyone, job done! Also end of October byw

If they're already asking then tell them now

End of October? The pick the date and let your relatives know now.

Link it in with halloween at the end of oct. Loads of decorations for a theme and so many gorgeous halloween outfits for babies.
Shops also always have themed food.
Pinterest has loads of great ideas.
Tell them in the next few weeks, it is half term here. Not sure if that makes a difference.

2-3 months in advance. About 60 guests total including adults and children.

DD is a December baby and I sent out invites in October. Was a big first birthday party, went all out, total cost about £1400. No regrets!

Op don't forget to check when October half term is if they have children, they can be different dates in different places.

Why not text them a date and time as soon as you know. Then post out invitations a month or so in advance.

Not sure why people are being so negative about family travelling? Our family travelled from afar for both our DC's 1st Birthdays. I'd recommend 6wks notice. Sounds like you'll all have a lovely time!

If it’s just your family and they’ve already asked when it is, just tell them. Your OP made it sound like you were expecting a multitude of people from afar, hence people saying they may not travel for a 1st birthday, not your brother and parents.

This is a bit weird! I’m not sure what you’re asking either - you’re asking when to invite people but said they are all coming anyway so sounds like you’ve already invited them theoretically? Ergo confirming the day, whenever you so choose, is no big deal and just a matter of a mass family email or WhatsApp? Agree you’re overthinking, just do it, don’t analyse it.

What answers are you expecting OP? The venue is your house and you already have people asking when? Literally all you need to do is pick a day and tell them when, surely??

I'm inviting loads of people. Some of them family who live up to 250 miles away. They say they all want to come. Distance is no issue but as it's so far I want to give them warning in advance. I have other friends coming too from a multitude of different places.

I simply wanted to know when people would send invitations for a first birthday party. It's REALLY simple. Not sure if people are being obtuse on purpose or they genuinely don't understand...

I just wanted to know how much notice to give that's all bloody hell people are weird on here! I was just concerned that sending invites 3 months in advance would come across as weird or not, or if 6 weeks notice etc would be fine.

I would do a big halloween party and send invites out mid september.

If they already know there’s going to be a party and are expecting an invite, just let them know the date as soon as you confirm it. It’s not other people being obtuse.....

I think you're the one being obtuse if you're saying you don't know how much notice to give when you already have people asking you when it is??

A few of my family members are asking when it is. That doesn't account for all the other friends and family I want to invite.

They are all going to come. They have already asked when it is

If they are all asking when it is, surely you can just tell them ? It's not a wedding where you send out formal invitations - it's a baby's birthday. Just do a Facebook invitation to everyone , as soon as you decide on the date .

I don't have Facebook, so can't do that otherwise i definitely would. I just thought an invitation in the post was a nice idea 🤷🏽‍♀️ literally just wanted to know how far in advance people would want an invitation and my thread had been totally picked apart. I am going to ask someone irl and hopefully get a normal response....