To wonder if charging people to attend a party is normal?

[SittingOnIt]

DC will be 5.

They are having a party in a hall. With a lunch castle, that type of set up

I have a text (WhatsApp) from the mum who invited us asking for a deposit of £5 for the Papa John’s pizza. And if DC had allergies, could we please send over the money for her own personalised small pizza?

Not a joke. But I thought it was some sort of odd text scam. Then realised it couldn’t be, as it was about the party? Same text style as the woman

Is this normal, to charge for birthday food now? Seems very, very odd!

Dessert is cake and no cost there requested. My own mum would be in fits of laughter to be told someone was hosting a party and charging for food

First sentence should say bouncy castle, not lunch castle!

That’s ridiculous, if you can’t pay for the party don’t have a party.

Yes very odd, but what's more odd is that it's a deposit - a deposit is usually a reservation payment. Do you pay more if they need a separate pizza but if they're fine with Hawaiian then that's the full cost? It doesn't make sense to me...

Not normal at all. Some people have no shame.

No, not normal. 2 kids, millions of parties, never paid. We bring a present, that’s enough
you throw the party you can afford!

This has never happened to any party my children have been invited to!

Good point. Hasn’t been clarified by her!

Crazy

not normal. When I had a party for my daughter when she was about 3 I bought every kids an individual McDonald’s and wouldn’t have dreamed of asking for payment

No, it's not normal at all to charge to go to a party!

Then again I've never gone to a party in a hall where they've had pizza delivery. They could do it at a fraction of the cost without the overpriced pizza and not have to charge anyone.

I hope they said they didn’t want gifts on the invite.

Weirdy weird! And YANBU in the slightest!

Not normal. I would reply and say my DC doesn't like pizza (true) and so not to order for them - obviously trickier if your DC does actually love pizza

Honestly never heard of that. It's very strange and not normal. I'd decline the invitation.

Exactly. Surely a few trays of sandwiches would've been cheaper or just homemade finger foods, carrots, cheese, those tiny sausage thingies on sticks

A deposit though? Are you all going to be invoiced or is it to make sure kids turn up?

A deposit? Do you have more to pay on the day?
How much per slice? If you pay for four but others eat faster do you only get what’s left?

Thank you. Sounded really strange but this is my first experience of DC going to a birthday party

Should I set up a separate group chat and ask some of the other mums I know that are going??

Feels a bit mean.

Charging for a party is what you'd expect from a gang of teenagers trying to get the money together for booze, because one of them has a free house.

I don't think I would take DC. At that age they get invited to whole class parties. In a year or two it will just be a fraction of the class, as they begin to only invite friends.

What fresh hell is this....

I'd just text and say " thanks for the text - SO sorry we cant attend now. We have a clash I very stupidly forgot it is SILs birthday that day!!! 🤦‍♀️🤪 Hope Sophie has a lovely party!"

No not normal at all.
decline that invite!
I get that parties are expensive but that is why some kids don’t have them, or have very small ones.

I’d probably decline as well
if you start a group chat it’s bound to get back to party mum & although it’s justified she wouldn’t appreciate a group of you bitching about her

Not normal at all, she shouldn't be hosting a large party if she cant afford to cater for the guests, either that or shes just unbelievably cheeky. I would RSVP no to any children's birthday invite that required us to pay towards the party.

Not normal at all. I wouldn’t be attending.