Can we put it to the vote?

[Mummysurfer]

In July I am having a birthday bash, a barn dance (can't spell kaylee), 90% of the guests will have children with them, the average child-age being about 6. Many people will be travelling a fair distance. The band we are having are fairly flexible.
My dilemma is this -

1. should we be conventional and start at 7.30 and go on until 11 ish?
2. should we start earlier, say 6, and the band finish at 10? Problems with 1) are that most children will start off tired and people will probably have to leave early. But with 2) what do we do at 10 o'clock. Those with children will probably leave. As will the band as they have a 150 mile return journey. But what will happen to those who remain?

Which option would you prefer? I would appreciate your thoughts/ideas. Thanks.

I agree, go for option 2. Or what about doing 6-11ish - then you'd have the best of both worlds. Especially if there's somewhere for children to be left to sleep if they drop off.

Agree with Dinosaur - as long as the bar remains open for a bit after 22.00 for those who don't have the time restrictions...

I think option 2 would work best for you, with a little bit of extra drinking time for those who want it. I am sure they will entertain themselves after that anyway.

Thanks for the qiuck responses. Was also going to add, what time ought we to eat? My thoughts go with - children will need to be fed pretty soon but if we start at 6 how soon is too soon?

food at 6 gets my vote since a/ kids will be starving by then and it's close to a normal tea time and b/ adults get to line their stomachs before drinking.

option 1 and 2 - people will stay late even if you invite them earlier

I reckon a)kids wil have eaten
b) they wont eat much of antyhing

Buffet food laid out so that people could eat on arrival?? Or were you planning a more formal 'sit-down' situ?

a bit of inbetween. Hot buffet, something suitable for a Barn dance like Hotpot????

Just throwing in another suggestion: could your party end up being an afternoon one - people arrive for a late-ish lunch and then you have an afternoon of music, finishing early evening. So no probs about children staying up too late and getting scratchy.

If some of the adults want to keep celebrating, could they then decamp to a good pub or to someone's home?

Couldn't do that as the venue has another booking at lunch time, but there'd be no problem starting at 6.