To send invitation for 8th party happening mid-Jan?

[cremello]

The party is booked already because dates are already becoming unavailable. Party is for 8 children.

It's far too soon. People will have forgotten by then.
I'd send them early Dec, so around a month's notice .

I think it's fine! Nice to have a party to look forward to in Jan, and it sounds like it's an in demand venue. Send a Save the Date now, and a full invitation in Nov/Dec, if you prefer.

Please don't send a save the date for an eighth birthday party! By all means book it now but wait with the invitations until early Dec as pp suggest

It's way too early. People will either forget, or not know what they're doing that far ahead and therefore avoid committing just yet. Send them at the start of December.

I’m would expect to receive an invite a couple of weeks in advance regardless of the time of year.

I’d WhatsApp the mums/dads individually to say “if you can save the date that would be lovely! But appreciate plans can change x”

They don't have to know what they're doing?

-Receive invitation
-Check diary
-If free - send yes. If not free - send no.

Do you mean they're waiting to see if something better comes along?

Dear god no. Just before Christmas break, with rsvp the first week back from school.

I don't get all the 'people will forget' comments. You put everything into your diary?

Two weeks is definitely not enough notice. If someone sent me a save the date message I would think they were planning a brilliant party at a great venue! And putting a lot of thought into it.
Send the save the date, OP, and follow up with a proper invitation, and obviously remind people closer to the time.

Yes, because some things are more important than an 8 year olds birthday. A wedding, a funeral, grandad’s belated 80th that couldn’t be booked in during Christmas. I personally am waiting on two surgeries, I have to have them 8 weeks apart, so first date hopefully in November, then second would be January. Currently, I can’t fully commit to anything between end of October and end of February because I could be in hospital. 🤷🏻‍♀️

You’ll be much more likely to get yes responses, if that’s what you want, by sending out the invites with a more realistic timeline for a response. You send them now, and people will hold off responding and forget, or say yes, but it won’t get carried over to the 2026 diary, so they’ll forget. Or people will say no, thinking they’ll be away, but actually they’ll end up being home but already rsvped no. Just wait til later and save yourself the stress of cancellations and no shows and chasing everyone.

I would find it weird to get a birthday party nvitation this far in advance.

I’d much rather know in advance rather than find out a few weeks before. I personally prefer when people say “I know it’s a bit early but my DD’s party is booked for 3 months time!” Than be told a fortnight before.

You can write on the invite that you’ll remind maybe a month before?

I think I probably would too! I'm always so organised with their parties, I want the invites out so it's off my desk so to speak. But I'll hold off. I'm not a massive keeno, just impatient to get jobs finished!

So would I.
Also, they might have a new best friend by then.

I’m guessing that all parents will have a similar age child and appreciate things need to be booked early.

For me, the more notice the better. Invite everyone via text saying Timmy’s 8th Birthday has been booked for 12th Jan, got in early as laser quest was getting booked up! Hold it in your diary, proper invites to come in December.

Surely parents will just put it in their diary and reply formally when you send the invite. If you know the date no reason not to tell people!

Yes exactly. Be realistic, sometimes higher priority things come up, especially for family events, or commitments for other siblings that might be more important.

Yeah of course. I won't be holding guns to anyone's heads

I don’t understand these replies. If you’ve booked it, send a save the date. Most people will put it in their calendar and make sure they don’t put anything else on top; some people will forget but be free anyway by the time you send the actual invitations. If you feel odd about it, just preface the message with an acknowledgment, eg “I know it’s crazily early to be thinking about January, but DC is really keen to do [activity] and the slots get booked up far in advance, so please save the date. I’ll send proper invitations closer to the time.]

It's too early. I'd send invitations about a month before.

RSVPs received now will be unreliable as people might drop out nearer the time for various reasons. It would be better all round to wait until just before the Christmas break and people’s answers then are more likely to be solid. I received an invite literally months ahead for a child’s party earlier this year and I thought it was mad. Yes you book the party if it’s an in demand venue but I wouldn’t dream of sending out invites more than six weeks max in advance.

Yeah way too early. I received an invitation 3 months in advance last year, and had to say I couldn't RSVP until closer to the time - because I didn't have my work schedule that far in advance.

My son's 8th birthday is in 3 weeks and I sent out Whatsapp invitations yesterday (and everyone had RSVPd by bedtime!!)

I wouldn’t for Jan. But at the same time I would never give anyone less than 8 weeks notice because I work with professionals who book up their evening and weekends quite far in advance: You can always send a reminder closer to the time.

I would send a save the date and send a reminder 3/4 weeks in advance of the date

I think you'd be crazy to send these now. Nothing would make me roll my eyes harder than someone sending a save the date for a bog standard 8 year old's party 4 months ahead. So fro ma judgement perspective, don't.

There are also practical considerations:
1 Except for my DC's absolute BESTIES, I am NOT going to commit that far ahead for an 8 year old's birthday party. I have no idea what we might be doign - what if family visit from overseas? What if DD gets the opportunity ot take part in a dance show or has an exam scheduled? What if we decide to take a weekend away? These are all things that I woudl consider perfectly justified in prioritising over a kids party, but they're things that I might not know about in October for January.

2 8 year olds' change their friendship groups. By December, your child may want to ditch Johnny in favour of Jackie.

If your child has had the same group of friends to his parties since nursery and still friends with them then message the mothers to say so they can pencilit in. This was case with my oldest he always had same friends.

If your child changes friends as some 8 year olds do like my youngest then you have to wait until closer to the time to save inviting someone who your child then doesn't want there. Remember this is for your child's party not yours so child picks the guest list and it isn't based on what you think is fair or the ones whose Mum's you like.