To cancel party

[rainingitspouring2]

DC is a December baby invited the whole nursery (their age) plus some other local friends and only one person has rsvp'd.

It is the first wkend in December. I know it's a busy month but I feel gutted as it's the first party I've thrown for them as they're turning 4. I haven't done one before for this very reason as I was worried it was too close to Xmas but they desperately wanted one this year.

AIBU to think if you're not coming to a party to at least rsvp not available? I also have no choice but to cancel do I as they can't have a party with one friend :(

It’s only October! Far too soon to invite. 2-3 weeks before is plenty.

This OP.

Im sure you’ll hear from people… it’s just so early!

@UpUpUpU it's less then 2 months away. I always receive invites at least a month or two in advance I thought with Xmas coming up more notice would be appreciated and mean more availability

I agree way too soon to send out invites. Many will decide much nearer the time depending on work schedules, family commitments etc. it’s really important for you and DC of course, but remember to everyone else it’s just another party. Don’t panic yet!

Did you put an RSVP date on the invite? When did you give them?

I agree with the above, it's far too early to be inviting people to a 4 year olds birthday party. Definitely do not panic yet!

Faaar too early. Here invites go out 2 to 3 weeks before. (Although I would have rsvpd straight away)

Agree. Too far away. 2 weeks is fine. Try and do it after nursery. So a Friday at 3-5pm. That way it’s not eating into weekend time during December.

My DS's birthday is the first week of December and I never sent out invites until about 3 weeks beforehand.

Unfortunately whilst our own children’s parties are super important to us, they simply aren’t to others (until they get older and it’s a best friends etc). I always try to be polite but I would definitely need to see what we were doing nearer the time and probably not let you know until November unless you really pushed in which case I would say no as I just don’t know at this stage and with the best will in the world a nursery party would not be top priority on a December weekend. Going forward I would recommend 4-6 weeks notice absolute maximum ( we have just received invites for first week and second week November for example - school though!)

It's too soon. People don't know what they are doing that far ahead. Wait a month and try again.

It's way too early! People won't know what they're doing then yet. Did you give an rsvp date?
You'll prob have to send out a reminder closer to the time, have you got a nursery WhatsApp ? Send a message on that in a month

I'm afraid it's far too early. A few weeks ahead is the norm.

For any of his friends who have older siblings, their parents will likely be in the 'just let's get to half term' mindset. Then the scramble to,fit everything in before Christmas starts. Plays. End of term activities. Last scout meeting of the year, concerts, ballet performances, parents evening, visit to Santa, trip to relatives who won't be seeing over Christmas etc. all things that are anticipated but they don't know the dates of yet.

I know you know all of this, but it's honestly a diary challenge when you've got primary aged kids.

For those who don't have older siblings, it's still too early to make plans for a December party. Im sorry if it's making you feel unimportant or that your DC doesn't have good friends. That's honestly not the case. It's just that most families don't plan that far ahead for anything other than maybe holidays or weddings.

You seriously always receive invites a month or two in advance for children's birthday parties?! I don't know what kind of circles you move in but that really isn't normal. Even for an adult birthday (unless it was a milestone one) I wouldn't expect to receive that much notice.

Agree it’s too early. I think you have to leave it for now and then send out a reminder 2-3 weeks before. It would be a shame to cancel because plenty of people are probably thinking they’d like to come they just can’t commit this early on.

People won’t prioritise children’s parties in the same way they would adult ones.

Dd is also 4 at the end of Nov and I’ve not sent the invites out yet because I think people will look at them, realise it’s far away and then forget. I might send them at the beginning of Nov

Ok I guess I won't be hasty and cancel just yet. I would usually do it the month before but I didn't this time with it being December. I guess I will wait and see...

Give people chance to reply. My son’s birthday is the first weekend of December, we usually start to get reply’s by early/mid November. I haven’t even sorted the invitations out for this years party yet 🙈. I always invite a few more than the number I want there as there’s always a couple that can’t come/will
already have plans.

December is a difficult month, especially at this age. They’ll have all sorts booked in.

That's what I thought hence the early invites so I could get an idea of who would be able to come and who couldn't. Tbh I have Xmas stuff already booked in for my LO in December so if I received a December invite I'd either reject or accept pretty early on. The rsvp date is early November now I feel a bit brash for putting one on but I need to be organised I think id feel too stressed if rsvps were coming in last minute ....

Goodness...I don't know what I'm doing in 2 weeks, never mind 2 months! It's a child's birthday party...really no need for all this over-planning and anxiety!

December is a really busy month, we're fully booked already. But fully booked with parties and holiday! So, I would welcome this amount of notice, OP. Get in first!

If I received an invitation and my weekend was free, i would accept and be grateful for the notice. Wait until your RSVP deadline and then chase!

Most parents never RSVP before a week or so. Its infuriating but hold on in there. I hope you DC has a great party!

Way too early, as important as it is to you, to them they are likely to want to wait until nearer the time in case something more important comes up.

Far far to early to have sent invites. I get that it's a tricky time of year to plan for but people won't have dates for other things yet to know if they are available.

I really hope you get sorted. I’m a December baby, Christmas week for me. I know what you mean about getting organised early. Could you bring it forward to the end of November?