Tactful wording for party invite

[Username9898]

What is the polite/tactful way to phrase ‘yeah siblings can come if you’re stuck for childcare but 1 - you’ll have to pay for them and 2 - you’ll have to buy their food’? We’re doing our first ever party so it’s a whole new world to navigate and we really can’t afford anymore people than we’ve planned to invite.

Is the party at a soft play?

What's the party, is it a play centre type place?

"While siblings are welcome, please bear in mind the venue will charge for their place and food."

Yes it is @Whendoesmydietstart I was hoping the invited they provide might have something printed on already but they don’t!

I would say something like "siblings welcome if required but will need to be booked separately via soft play centre"

“just to let you know the party booking for entrance and food only includes the invited guests list so if you need to bring siblings for childcare, feel free to make your own booking for them. Looking forward to seeing everyone”

I dont think you need to worry then. You just name the child who is invited on the actual invitation and you have a list of invitees at the door. Because it's a public area siblings will inevitably go along, but parents will automatically pay for them and organise their own food. I always had a couple of extra token party bags with a bit of cake for siblings, just in case, but the seating will already be for the set amount of people you have invited. Its much easier actually to manage siblings at a soft play than a private venue. At private venues parents pretend not to notice when non invited siblings start helping themselves to party food.

These are great, thanks everyone. Birthday is really near the start of LO reception year so we’re thinking it will be a good way to make friends, meet parents etc but no idea of the etiquette yet!

I like this but I would add 'We also cannot accommodate siblings in the party room'

and maybe a 'you' after the word 'charge'

So: 'While siblings are welcome, please bear in mind the venue will charge you for their place and food. We also cannot accommodate siblings in the party room'

I don’t think you need to say anything; if people ask then say politely you’re at the limit for the party but they could always pay for their other DC for soft play. No one has said this for a soft play party my DC have been to and I’ve not heard of it going wrong
Some good suggestions though if you do feel you need to