We're having a birthday party for our 7 year old from 6:30 to 8:30 on a Friday evening (the only time slot left!) at an indoor playground at a church. Should we serve dinner? We eat early as she is starving after school but do other people? If they play first, is 8:00 too late for cake and ice cream?
Thank you all for responding. I didn't realize that was dinner time for a lot of families. She is hungry right after school and it seems I am always hungry so we eat around 5-5:30. There are several pizza places right near there to choose from so that is perfect.
To answer the room question, our time is from 6:30 to 8:30, there is a party that is from 4-6 so we won't be able to get in too early considering they will be cleaning up. Since it is a church, there isn't a party planner that does all of that work. They have tables set up in a large entrance area and then the playground is in a separate room.
personally, I would have pizza (Little Ceasers or Dominos is pretty cheap) and cake and ice cream right away at 6:30, do presents and then the kids can play. Is there a separate room that you could eat in at 6:00 or is your time 6:30-8:30?
Have fun!!
I think people would expect pizza at 6:30 unless you note otherwise on the invitation -- which is fine, just be sure to let people know. Actually, let them know either way.
Ideal (for me) would be pizza right away at 6:30 ... then play time ... then cake and ice cream a little after 8:00.
Have a great party. :-)
For that time frame most people will expect something like pizza to be served. If you haven't sent out the invitations, you could just mention 'cake and ice cream will be served'. That would give people the heads up that you aren't serving dinner.
If you don't want to feed dinner for whatever, don't. Just be sure to notate on the invites that snacks and drinks will be provided. That will let them know that dinner is not provided and feed their kids first and will get snacks later. If it's a Friday night I don't think it's a big deal to have cake at 8pm. It's not like they have school tomorrow.
K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
Since that is right in the middle of a lot of dinner times, I would have something for dinner or heavy appetizers.
If it will be cake and ice cream only, make sure to let the guests know ahead of time so their most likely expectation of dinner served will be clear.
If it were me... I would most certainly provide dinner since the party is during the dinner time frame. Ideas.... pizzas, chick filet platters, sub sandwich platters, cold cut platters to make your own sandwich with all the condiments, fruit tray, veggie tray, etc.
People will generally think that yes, dinner is going to be served or offered. Because of the time frame of the party.
OR the invitation, should have... mentioned if it is only cake/ice cream, or dinner will be served.
That time slot, IS dinner time.
If you are going to serve dinner/food... have it out already and ready at 6:30. Then the kids can eat and play and whatever. BUT you then can do the cake/ice cream at say, 7:30.
You have only 2 hours to do the food/eating/cake/ice cream.
Thus, have the dinner/food/pizza out already and ready to eat, at 6:30. Don't wait. Kids will be, hungry at that time.
