Hosting a kids birthday party and I have about 14 kids on guest list, and I'm allowing siblings. Need to pick up seasonal supplies before they sell out. So with siblings, potentially 25 kids could be here. How many of the seasonal item should I get since surely not everyone will come, right? I can't return these items for a refund, even if they are new and I have receipt, so just trying to watch my pennies.
thanks
Thanks so much. I am having at my home to allow my friends to stay. Really, the party is for me too. I want to be able to visit with my friends too. I also want to ensure this is a family event. It's the weekend, we all work for the weekend, only to have to separate the family due to parties that request guest child only. Yeah, fun sometimes...but I want this one to be a family event. I have help and a big yard, lots of friends minding their own kids, so we should be good as long as I have enough good chow and some yummy cake.
I would have the guests RSVP, for the invited guests and additional. Then buy just a little extra from that number.
If its too late for that, assume everyone is coming.
If it's too late to ask for RSVP or to simply call each family (14 phone calls would take you less that an hour, certainly), I'd get as many as I'll need if everyone comes... if you have extras tuck them away and bring them back out next time you have a summertime party... I mean, the birthday will be in July next year too, so you may be able to recycle or repurpose for a Labor Day bbq or something, right?
If you're inviting them, assume they will come. You can always sell the extras on craigslist or save them for a future party.
You can also buy the seasonal items just for the 14 kids on the guest list and do something smaller for the siblings.
My son's birthday party was on Memorial Day this year. I invited 21 kids, figuring a bunch would be out of town for the holiday. 20 of them came! Luckily, everyone RSVPd so I knew exactly what to expect, but even with summer/holidays/vacation time you could easily end up with a party where everyone comes.
Always buy enough to cover everyone invited, because sometimes they ALL come!
I would plan for the 25 and just store any unused items for a later time.
You should send out some type of invite asking them to RSVP letting them know that you need a proper count so each child will have a goodie bag so no one will be left out. Any leftovers you can donate or use for stocking stuffers or something.
K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
I would always plan on the maximum number so I didn't leave anyone out. If I ended up with extra I would donate the stuff to one of the teachers at school that had a treasure chest.
I always assume everyone is coming, unless I hear different. So I have enough of "whatever" to make sure everyone gets something. Are you talking about gift bags? I don't do them so that isn't an issue for me. But if I'm expecting a certain number, I make sure I have enough food, etc. for everyone. If you are buying gift bags, you pretty much need RSVP's. In that case if you invite 30, if 15 rsvp, you buy 18 maybe. If 25 show up, those who didn't rsvp don't get a bag. JMO. Good luck.
You really need to ask for RSVPs. People are either rude or clueless about this, for some reason - they expect the host/hostess to just DEAL with whoever shows up. I'm not sure of the age of the birthday child, but really, 14 is already pretty huge! Why you want 25 kids there is beyond me! The easiest way to watch your pennies is to know who's coming, not just for supplies but for food and goodie bags. I think you've kind of opened yourself up by not requiring responses. It's really okay to ask people to make a decision, and it's okay to just invite the friends of the birthday child and not everyone in their families! We see posts on Mamapedia with people asking how to do the opposite - how to tell people they can't bring siblings because it's too expensive. So I think everyone needs to be very clear on who's invited (just the child, no siblings), what time pick-up is (meaning parents don't stay and expect to be fed), and the deadline for letting you know. None of this business of invitees sitting around to see if they get a better offer or can't get child care and therefore want to send all the kids to the party regardless of age. THAT'S the general rule! Good luck - don't let yourself get taken advantage of. And really, a 25 person party is way more than most kids really want to handle!
I always buy as much as I would need, if everyone came.
