Guests turned up 2.5 hrs late to 1st birthday party

[saHHe20p]

Family birthday party for a 1 year old. Only guests were very old family friends. Was meant to be at 5.30 but guests sent father of family alone and rest of them turned up at 8pm. So we were all sat round waiting. Am I unreasonable to be upset?

There was no message or explanation when they arrived other than they were a bit late. Kids all got too tired and ended up in tears.

I would have started the party for the little ones at the expected time and turned them away.

Extremely rude. Don’t invite them again.

Is there a reason nobody else was invited?

It all sounds pretty late anyway for a 1st bday party. I know when mine were small I had peaked by 6pm and def would not be entertaining! 8pm I would have sent them away!

What other things are there really for a one year old? Party food and a cake?

I’d have just carried on, their loss for being so late.

So unbelievably rude and upsetting.

Turning up for anything that late would be upsetting.

Ignore anyone saying otherwise, they're being deliberately moronic.

Why did you wait around? They obviously didn't know they were the only guests and presumed it was a much more casual affair. It's a bit rude yes, but it sounds like a case of mismatched expectations. Guests of honour have to be made aware that they are guests of honour. Doesn't sound much of a party though, and the 1 year old wont have noticed.

That is ridiculously late also most little parties last for 2 hours max so crazy to turn up outside of that window

I would have just got on with the party at the correct time. When it finished at 7ish, put the kids to bed. Sent guests on their way and when the other people turned up, I would have said: Oh , sorry, we couldn't wait. I had a friend who always turned up late. We were due to meet her and her husband for dinner. They were late, we ordered first course, second course, and they turned up at the end of the second course. We said: Oh sorry, we thought you weren't coming so got stuck in.

Wow. I might have waited half an hour then cracked on. When they eventually turned up I would have said ‘oh well it’s bedtime now you missed it, here’s a piece of cake to take back with you’.

This is true! It is the lesson I have taken away. It is harsh but better to live in reality. Thank you.

We did do the party but held off on the main food and cake until they arrived because the updated message we kept getting from the Dad was any minute they would arrive

Why were they the only guests invited?

why was a 1st birthday party so late in the day? Was there a bigger party on the weekend?

do the family themselves have young children that might have made an evening party tricky?

They did know they were the only guests

We did do the party but held off on the main food and cake until they arrived

What did that involve?

The whole situation sounds odd.
What did the dad say when he arrived? He must have given a reason?
How many children were there? Just yours or other family members?
What were your actual plans for the party and why was it so late in the day? Typically when small children are involved, gatherings are daytime, finishing in time for wind down time before bed.

Your friends behaviour was weird, starting with the dad coming alone. What was thst all about? I'd assume something had happened.

How far away do they live? What did the dad say as time dragged by?

Very rude! But yep a lesson is some people, regardless of how nice they (usually) are and how well you know them may not actually care too much at times!

You know who not to invite next time!

I'm confused why they were the only guests and you saying very old family friends. Are they childhood friends of yours or your husbands?

So was it you, your partner, you baby and the dad, all waiting for the others to arrive?

I hope you still had a lovely time. Otherwise maybe you can do a family only party next weekend?

I would have cracked on at 5.00 with the party and then put dc to bed at normal time. 6.00pm ish. Then sent them a few photos of the grandfather having a great time.

I'm even more confused now! Who was the grandfather?

Why did it start so late to begin with? Never heard of an evening party for a 1 year old! Surely that would just hype them up before bedtime?

Did they have far to travel? The dad presumably knew when they set off so would know when they were likely to arrive. It sounds like maybe a domestic tiff and your party was just caught in the middle.

Even if they didn’t know they were the only non-family guests, how long did they expect a first birthday to last?? I would’ve thought 2 hours maximum for a party of one or more babies. I definitely would’ve cracked on without them and if they missed it it’d be their fault, they knew what time it started

Well you should have said

"Ok but DC is a baby and we are hungry now, and the party started at 5.30. so we will eat and the latecomers can heat theirs up when they arrive."

Learn not to be a doormat