Help with party etiquette

[BubblePug1985]

Hi All,

My Twin girls are turning 3 and I have hired a local hall near me. We have hired a pop up play village and some and craft which is quite costly. Everything else I plan to do myself like decorations, party bags and kids lunches and the cake.

the party is running from say 10am - 12pm followed by some lunch potentially finishing between 12:30pm - 1pm.

I invited 10 kids from the nursery and last year we had a party only 5 accepted. All of them have accepted and including friends children I now have 16 children 😱… but with that comes how ever many parents.. I was thinking of providing lunch for the parents but I had a look at sandwich platters and it’s nearly £100 to cater to that many people. What do people usually do?? I could do drinks and maybe get some biscuits or cake? Is that acceptable.

normally it wouldn’t bother me but with entertainment, everything for the kids and hall hire it’s basically hitting some high numbers.

Any advice?

Don't provide food for the parents. I would just provide hot drinks.

You don’t need to feed the parents x

You don't need to provide anything other than tea and coffee for the parents. There will be loads of the children's food left over for any hungry adults.

That's standard, kids eat then adults have a couple of sandwiches and bits their own children have left. Don't worry about it.

Get some pizzas in?

You don't need to feed the parents - always grateful for a cup of tea though!

I do think your timings are a bit long though, I do lunch for 11.30 with a view to finishing at 12.All the parties DS has ever been to are 2 hours.

I agree no need to cater for parents. I’ve been at some parties that have and it’s lovely but by no means expected!

party sounds quite long though - I had a similar set up for my daughters 4th and after an hour of play they were angling after food!! 2 hours total time was more than enough.

Why is the food not incorporated in to the party? In my (vast) experience, toddlers stay at a party table for five minutes. Especially when their parents are there.

You need to get them to the table then the absolute second they are all there you bring out the cake, candles ablaze, and sing happy birthday. That way your own children know they have had a party.

Have the party 10-12. Do cake at 11, followed by lunch (as in sing happy birthday and blow out candles at 11, then take the cake away to be cut up while they start on the sandwiches etc, then serve up slices 10 mins later). Grown-ups can then go home and have lunch afterwards.

If you've already stated 10 - 1, don't worry. Just get some extra biscuits or something for hungry grown ups. They won't expect a proper lunch.

I agree with the others. There's no need to feed parents, they will eat the leftovers or nothing. Just offer hot drinks.

I also agree, do the whole party from 10-12. Have then play until 11.30, then eat and then cake.