What to do if nobody has RSVP’d to 7yr olds party

MommyGoblin · 2025-05-24T20:13:59+00:00

My daughter is having her 7th bday party next weekend and so far nobody has RSVP’d. We sent invites out two weeks ago to 26 kids, but still nothing. I’m getting really worried that no one will show up. My daughter would be absolutely crushed. She’s been looking forward to her bday party since last years! I don’t know if maybe the other parents forgot or maybe just don't feel the need to RSVP?? Honestly, I’m fine if people just show up without RSVPing, but not one person has so far so I’m worried. Last year we got about 10 RSVPs and about 15 kids showed up, so I figured we’d at least have a few by now. What can I do? I don’t have all the other parents’ phone numbers and no real way to contact them. And what if no one shows up? I just don’t want my child’s heart broken 😔

AndAllOurYesterdays · 24/05/2025 21:15

How did you send the invitations? Is there a possibility they never actually got to the parents? Seems pretty odd that nobody at all replied.

mnahmnah · 24/05/2025 21:15

How were the invites sent? I assume paper ones seeing as you don’t have phone numbers? If they were given to school to distribute, I would check they had definitely been given out. Even then I have found them in the bottom of DS’ rucksack a week later!

RocketLollyPolly · 24/05/2025 21:17

How did you send the invites? If it was via school, could you check they were sent?

Start gathering the numbers you have. Ask those people if they have other numbers. See if you have any via shared WhatsApp groups.

Half term can be a tricky time tor
a party. Is it something you can get push back by a week if needed?

Original poster

MommyGoblin · 24/05/2025 21:20

mnahmnah · 24/05/2025 21:15

How were the invites sent? I assume paper ones seeing as you don’t have phone numbers? If they were given to school to distribute, I would check they had definitely been given out. Even then I have found them in the bottom of DS’ rucksack a week later!

Edited

Yes, they were paper invites that I asked the teacher to make sure got into their special Friday Folders. I can definitely see them being lost in bags, so what should I do then? I don’t want to resend paper ones as they’d probably just get lost as well..

OP posts:

Oblomov25 · 24/05/2025 21:20

How did you send them? By school? Print and send again. Rental you know. Is there a year WhatsApp group, post on that. Be proactive, follow it up.

eldermillenialmum · 24/05/2025 21:22

Is there a school WhatsApp group you can ask on, if everyone is invited?

I agree with PP that it seems odd if no one at all has replied and I'd be worrying whether the invitations made it home. Are there any parents you're friendly with that you can ask?

mnahmnah · 24/05/2025 21:23

As others have said - message the people whose number you do have and ask if they got the invite. Get numbers for other people from them. Is there a class WhatsApp? That’s where I got people’s numbers.

Calmdownpeople · 24/05/2025 21:24

eldermillenialmum · 24/05/2025 21:22

Is there a school WhatsApp group you can ask on, if everyone is invited?

I agree with PP that it seems odd if no one at all has replied and I'd be worrying whether the invitations made it home. Are there any parents you're friendly with that you can ask?

Was just going to suggest this. All parents are normally on there and a lot of ‘is Susie parent son here’?.

Not sure I would have down the Friday folder thing as the school may have forgot and are sending them next Friday. I would stand at the school gates and ask
a few parents (your kid can point out rhe kid and rhe parent with them) and ask if they got the invite.

onwards2025 · 24/05/2025 21:26

Being half term you need to find a way to follow up, there's a good chance the invites will be found at the bottom of school bags the night before going back to school and will then be too late.

Birthdays in school holidays are tricky, we struggle and generally find needing to have parties a good 2-3 weeks before or after for people to be able to attend

RampantIvy · 24/05/2025 21:26

It's half term this week. It's quite possible that lots of them are on holiday and may not be back on time for a party next weekend. That's no excuse not to reply though.

NerrSnerr · 24/05/2025 21:27

If message a couple of parents and ask if they actually got them.

What I do for my children’s parties is make sure that I pick a date that their closest friends can make so they’ll have the most important people there and then anyone else is a bonus.

Original poster

MommyGoblin · 24/05/2025 21:28

I checked with her teacher and she confirmed that they were all sent home. We don’t have a WhatsApp group or any other parent forum for our school to connect with other parents. If I send them out again via paper invites, they wouldn’t go home into the day before the party. Is that ok? What if I make it a little “reminder of DD’s party tomorrow! Hope you can join us!” kind of note? You think that’d be fine?

OP posts:

skydiver1985 · 24/05/2025 21:30

Do you have any one’s number at all that you would have sent to? Just msg to ask if they received it. Just pretend you don’t know that the teacher definitely put them out

Original poster

MommyGoblin · 24/05/2025 21:32

We’re in the US so we aren’t on half term, but our summer vacation starts the first month of June.

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ShillyShallySherbet · 24/05/2025 21:33

Can you invite some of your own friends who have children to the party so at least there definitely be some children there?

HollyIvie · 24/05/2025 21:37

are the children who came last year to the birthday party the same group? Do you have those numbers
when they rsvpd previously? Can you contact them by phone if you are happy for them to attend and also some of your friend kids.
other than that you may have to approach some parents next week to check they got through

mnahmnah · 24/05/2025 21:39

MommyGoblin · 24/05/2025 21:28

I checked with her teacher and she confirmed that they were all sent home. We don’t have a WhatsApp group or any other parent forum for our school to connect with other parents. If I send them out again via paper invites, they wouldn’t go home into the day before the party. Is that ok? What if I make it a little “reminder of DD’s party tomorrow! Hope you can join us!” kind of note? You think that’d be fine?

Again - contact the parents you do have the number of and ask if they have any of the other numbers. Then set up a WhatsApp with those for the party. Add more as you get them.

BertieBotts · 24/05/2025 21:42

Send text reminders to any parents who have numbers or try to grab them at pick up and ask them verbally.

Say you want to firm up numbers for catering or something.

NerrSnerr · 24/05/2025 21:58

Do you have the numbers of the children who went to last year’s party? If you’re not on half term can you ask some parents at drop off/ pick up?

Rainbowqueeen · 24/05/2025 22:14

You must have some parents numbers surely? Use them. Send a text reminder and also ask if they happen to have contact details for other parents

eldermillenialmum · 25/05/2025 19:00

OP several people have asked if you know any of the parents and have suggested you ask them but you seem to be ignoring that suggestion

Blueberry911 · 25/05/2025 19:52

MommyGoblin · 24/05/2025 21:28

I checked with her teacher and she confirmed that they were all sent home. We don’t have a WhatsApp group or any other parent forum for our school to connect with other parents. If I send them out again via paper invites, they wouldn’t go home into the day before the party. Is that ok? What if I make it a little “reminder of DD’s party tomorrow! Hope you can join us!” kind of note? You think that’d be fine?

I wouldnt believe this if not a single person has RSVPed

minisoksmakehardwork · 25/05/2025 19:57

If not one person has replied, I would be contacting anyone whose number I did have to find out if they had received them, and asking for them to send my contact info to anyone I didn't have that they might.

It does sound like the invites haven't been handed out at all. The teacher is hardly likely to throw herself under the bus by admitting she hasn't.

Original poster

MommyGoblin · 02/06/2025 07:58

Just wanted to update quickly: I ended up messaging one parent to ask if she received invite and told her the situation. She then messaged any parents whose number she had and either asked or sent along my info. Had the party yesterday and it went great!! About 12 kids showed up and my daughter had a lot of fun. Thank you everyone for the advice! 🩷

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Rainbowqueeen · 02/06/2025 08:01

Great update OP.

Well done to your friend who really helped you out!