Kids party

[PottyMouthy]

I've booked a party for DS birthday in a couple of weeks. It's costing almost £20 per child. All the parents have responded to say their kids are coming except 1. I don't know this parent at all. So can't chase them up for a response. I need to pay the balance next week. Would you pay for the child who's parent hasn't responded? What if they turn up and their place hasn't been booked? The party is not at a play centre - it's at a activity place so have to prebook for the group and preorder the food they've chosen. But also, I could add a different child on if this kid isn't coming. But don't what to pay for another - then this kid who hasn't responded turn up! Would you always respond to kids party invites with a yes or no ?

How was the invite sent out? Did you have a date to RSPV by?

Sorry, yes I would always reply but not everyone does. Once I didn’t receive the invitation until after the party.

DS took the invites into school with all the info on - I asked for a response by last Friday (when they broke up from school for Easter). The child has told my son he is coming and what he wants to eat - but I need to be told that by his parent as they're only 6!

I'd just assume his mum told him to say he's coming which is what he"s done.

Do you have a class whatapp group? Or can you ask another parent for this child’s phone number? The invitation may not have made it home.

Honestly, no. We had the same issue with a parent twice. One time they turned up and the other time they didn't. Someone's bound to have covid next week and not come and if not, they didn't respond and you tell the parent you;re really sorry but there's not space.

Thank you for your responses.
There's no class WhatsApp and the other parents I know don't know who this child's parents are either.
I don't just want to assume they're coming as it's almost £20 per child. I wouldn't usually spend so much - but he's missed parties for his last 2 birthdays cos of covid.

I would pay the £20 and assume he is coming. I don't really get the angst over the £20. Any one of your guests could come down with an illness and not be able to take up the paid for spot. It's no different really. Yes, it's a bit annoying not being sure but I'd rather pay the £20 than risk disappointing a small child.

@40Jem £20 is a lot of money to pay for someone who's not going to bother turning up. It's not angst - I'd rather not waste it. Especially at the moment.

Sounds like he's coming given the level of details he's given your dc. I'd risk the £20 in this circumstance.

I'd assume he was coming too. I had this at a birthday party before for DS but with two children who hadn't RSVP'd. It was a football party, 1 of the 2 didn't turn up and a sibling of a child who had been invited took their place at the last minute as they were just stood watching with their parent anyway. One of the many joys of children's parties.

How do you know they won't bother to show up? I just held a kids party at home. I had 3 kids show up that hadn't rsvp'd . It wasn't a problem, I had enough food etc. I don't know why parents do this but they do. Perhaps they are forgetful and think they already replied. I would always plan for extra coming if I didn't know for sure it was a no. You are lucky it's just 1 kid.

It could go either way and would be worse for the child to turn up and not have a place. Have none of the others mums got their number? I recently did a party for my ds and we had about 3 people that didn’t rsvp but they didn’t turn up either. And then about another 7 on the day that pulled out for various reasons. Safe to say he won’t be having a big party ever again!