I recently saw an article about a child who no showed to a birthday party and the parents sent the other child's parents an invoice for the amount they paid for his attendance.
Even though it seems ridiculous to send a bill for not showing up at a birthday party and unfair to drag the children into it, I actually have to sympathize with the parents who sent out the bill. It is so rude when people say they're going to show up for a party, you pay for them, and then they don't show. I probably spent an extra $500 at my wedding for people who didn't show up. And didn't even apologize for it.
For a birthday party, the amount of money is smaller, but really, it's the principle of the thing. You expect a certain number of people, you make an amount of food for that number of people, you pay the host, you make goodie bags. If you're not going to show up for the party, you better have a really damn good excuse. Not just "there was something else I felt like I'd rather do instead."
This is why, at an upcoming birthday party I'm planning, I am underestimating the amount of kids that will come. I'm sure they can make room for more kids at the last minute, but I'm not paying for the inevitable kids who don't show up.
Amen
ReplyDeleteI have yet to plan a kids birthday part with guests but I can guess it's a real pain in the butt. Now I know.
ReplyDeleteFizzy, I am not with you on this one. I just plan kids parties for how ever many people want to show up. I don't think that a 5 y/o's birthday party should be a hard and fast commitment for anyone but family. I have to pay the same for the magician or bouncy house or whatever no matter how many kids are there, and I serve food that I like to eat as leftovers. It just isn't a big inconvenience if some kids don't show up.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, that's not an option if I third-party is hosting the party. They usually charge per child and need an estimate in advance, much like a wedding.
DeleteThis is one of the reasons we had the party at home this year---rather than try to figure out if we should pay for 10 or 15 or 20 kids. We had last minute "can I still come" and no-shows, so I'm really REALLY glad we did not have to estimate a # for a pay-per-kid venue.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I just have a small apartment so having a bunch of kids over would be a disaster.
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