No replies yet to my daughter’s party invitations, is this normal?

[hannahmcc03]

We gave out invites to the 5 children in my daughters swimming lessons - it’s parent toddler classes that they’ve all been to together for over a year so the kids chat away in the changing rooms etc.
And preschool handed invites out for us, around 25 children I believe
I saw some leaving with invites so know that they got handed out
Thsi was all 7-10 days ago and I have not had one single reply
The party is in 3 weeks, my daughter understands the concept of her bday, her party etc and is so excited. But no one is coming and my heart is breaking!
Am I expecting replies too soon?
to me it’s rude and I would always reply as soon as we received an invite to make sure I don’t forget it/lose it

A months notice is a lot OP I would wait another week.

I think you’re very brave organising a big party for a preschooler. Friends and I didn’t do parties until we had to, 7+ it’s so much stress and hassle. I hope it works out for you xx

Were they paper invitations? In my house, I’d put it aside & completely forget about it… Most people do everything on WhatsApp.

I would say that’s very out the ordinary. From previous experience replies to invites usually happens from a day or so after they are sent and anytime up to a couple of days before, it’s very very irritating.
I have learnt not to send physical invites but to send them on the class group WhatsApp. It generally gets a better response and is easier for people

we don’t really know anyone with children, but she’s been really excited about going to preschool and making friends and asked about a party so thought what’s the harm in a hall and bouncy castle as was super reasonably priced
thought best to invite extras in case 50% aren’t free/don’t want to come as they don’t know us well x
mum guilt always takes over that she doesn’t have any Friends her age so wanted to capitalise now she’s having a lovely time at preschool

They were handed out by the preschool. There’s no group chat or anything so we don’t have contact details but saw kids holding them and showing their parents

Very frustrating!! That would’ve been ideal but there’s no group chat as it’s a preschool so diff kids on diff days/half days etc so were handed out at pick up x

I’m like you and I prefer to reply yes/no as soon as possible. However, people have other logistics they need to sort out, there are all sorts of reasons they may not have replied.

You are going to need to remind the parents at the swimming lesson next time you go. Also if it’s coming up to 2 weeks before and you still haven’t heard anything, go to preschool pick up earlier to enquire with parents. Is at a venue you need to confirm numbers with?

It's a tricky time of year for planning stuff. My kids have weekend classes, some of which haven't fully started up for this year, and have only just given me the times for this year's classes in the last few days.

DD got an invertation last week bit I just didn't know if we'd be free on not, so just had to put it to one side to reply to later (then forgot it existed)

We had quite a few preschool parties. That does seem odd. Maybe ask the teacher if they can ask for permission to pass a phone number on or check the parent got the invite. I’d expect a few to have replied by now!

Strange nobody as replied as some people would immediately so they don’t forget. Have you checked the details on the invite are correct? I have previously had an invite with no contact details and the parents had to resend them

I hope you get some responses! If you see the parents on drop off or collection, I would mention it to a few. When people say the invite gets forgotten, I genuinely don’t know how. I have 3 kids; work full time, have a busy schedule but never fail to reply. It’s common courtesy.

Always put 'rsvp by' followed by a date on the invite and along with your name and phone number.

Thank you - glad to know I’m not being unreasonable expecting at least a couple replies by now
If I haven’t heard by late next week I’ll ask preschool if I/they could send a chase up via WhatsApp perhaps!
I’ve double checked my details are all correct etc

Luckily we don’t need to confirm numbers - I’ve just hired a hall and bouncy castle and doing a little buffet so that’s one less thing to worry about and doesn’t matter if everyone comes or only a few
just want her to have the party she’s excited for - even if there’s only a couple from swimming and a couple from preschool she’ll be pleased - not expecting the masses to be able to make it as I know how busy weekends can get

This is so annoying. I always make sure I reply with 2-3 days. It’s awful leaving it for weeks. AND their child will be waiting too, I always tell my DD when someone replies.

I reply when I receive an invitation as I know I will otherwise forget. But I've also found crumpled invitations at the bottom of nursery bags after the party too.

If you can't get contact details then at least a second piece of paper with your contact details to finalise arrangements might help. Also always give a deadline for replies.

All my party invites have been done on Whatsapp (there has always been a class group) and replies tend to come within 24h. I don't bother sending invites to people outside the Whatsapp (things like swimming group), it's nicer when they all know each other well through school or nursery.

We did parties from 4th birthday and it's normal to give a month's notice. We are in London though where lots of families go to theatre, concerts, weekends away etc regularly which are booked months in advance, and I prefer to get parties pencilled in so I don't book something and then have to miss a party because it's something I can't rearrange.

It's a bit odd not to have had any replies. I would have expected some by now. Are you sure your phone number was correct?

Yeah I got worried that I’d messed up but have triple checked and husbands checked. All details are correct.
hoping some people on the thread are right and replies will come closer to the time🤞🏼🤞🏼

I'd send out a second set of invitations.

You can say on them that you're sorry to send another but reply details were wrong, you think, so please rsvp asap and looking forward to hearing from them 😊😊

We’ve had 2 Yes RSVPs so hoping that some more will trickle through in the next week or so!
thanks all!