To offer party place to somebody else?

[MissBeeshore]

DD is having a party at the end of November and has invited 11 friends from school. Places are limited and we have to give confirmed names a week in advance. I sent the invite through WhatsApp with a response date of the 1st to avoid the lost invite issue but one childs mum hasnt got back to me. I keep trying to find her on the playground but I'm not having any luck. I've sent a follow up message this morning asking her to let me know either way by next week as we haven't been able to talk to her in person. At what point do I offer the place to somebody else? I'd hate for the child to show up on the day and not have a place, but I also don't want to waste the £25 per head spot on somebody who doesnt show up.

You wait to the end of next week, as that's what you told her in the message, and then you message her saying that due to needing final numbers and not hearing back from her you've assumed they're not coming and have invited someone else instead.

I would let her know that if you don't hear by the end of the week you'll be offering the place to somebody else - takes 2 seconds to reply to someone no matter how busy you are so I think she'd be quite rude to expect you to keep the place for her daughter!