how far in advance for invitations?

[JAK]

My ds was invited to 2 b-day parties this Saturday. He got the invitation to one party on Tuesday night and got the other on Wed. at school. Isn't that cutting it just way too close? I was a little upset that these parents waited until 3-4 days before the party to get them out. My ds really wants to go to both of them, but it just irks me. Is this just a pet peeve of mine, or do you think they should have given more notice too?

My dd's birthday is in a few weeks and I was thinking about giving out the invitations at least 1 1/2 to 2 weeks ahead. Is that too far in advance?

[AnnW]

Are you sure the parents didn't send them sooner and they just didn't get passed out? Our school doesn't even allow invitations to be delivered at school, and I know some save them to be passed out on certain days regardless of the timing.

It would irk me a little, but not enough to not let my child go.

I tend to give them 7-10 days in advance. I think any farther in advance makes it look like a wedding! LOL

[KarlaB]

Ds just got a birthday party invite yesterday for a party on Mar.2. Weekends tend to be crazy for us, so I like having the advance notice. :) 3-4 days does seem to be cutting it close and with our typical wknds it would probably mean ds would mss it. :( Are both of the parties at the same time? :\

[Cathy]

Sometimes if you send them too early, people lose them, forget to respond, and may forget to come. It's a tough call because people are so busy, and you want to give them notice.......

[TXmom]

Believe it or not, some parents don't even PLAN their child's party until the week before. Yes, it would irk me, but I'd still let my child go if it didn't conflict with anything.

I've got 2 birthdays in July to plan for - I'm dying to have the critter man come!

[Lynda-WA]

I try for the 1 1/2 - 2 weeks as well. One or two weekends prior. So for a Saturday party I may send them with the kids either 2 weeks and one day (two Fridays) prior. Or any where in that week a full week prior. I wouldn't go farther then the two weeks (and 1 day) because of people forgetting.

Isn't it funny that people will forget a child's birthday if given a written invatation 2 weeks in advance but not an adult party?

We had the neighbors invite us the day of twice so far! UGH! Nothing like a quick unexpected trip to the store! When it's an invitation that late you can't help but feel that they sent out initations to others and started getting worried about no-shows so decided to invite another kid or two.

[bizymum]

Yes, I find 3-4 days notice a little close.
I usually give out my Dk's invites about 1-1 1/2 weeks in advance depending on the day of the party.

[littlesista06]

I send them out 2 weeks before the party.

[JAK]

Originally posted by AnnW
Are you sure the parents didn't send them sooner and they just didn't get passed out? Our school doesn't even allow invitations to be delivered at school, and I know some save them to be passed out on certain days regardless of the timing.

It would irk me a little, but not enough to not let my child go.

I tend to give them 7-10 days in advance. I think any farther in advance makes it look like a wedding! LOL

Neither of them send them out sooner. One mom called me Tuesday after school to get my address to come bring it to me. The one from yesterday was handed to my ds right after school.

He is going to go to both, but I had to shuffle some things around to get it done because dd has a girl scout event right in the middle of the 2 parties.

[MaryL]

Originally posted by littlesista06
I send them out 2 weeks before the party.
Same with me. Doesn't it amaze you at how many parties your kids get invitied to???? It seems as though we are always preparing for one of the kids to attend a party. And they're usually 2 hours or so....so that kind of blows any plans we've made for the day by the time we get them to the party, and then have to pick them up! LOL Crazy~!

[AnnW]

Mary...how long are your parties? I couldn't imagine one longer than 2 hours.



One good thing I have noticed as the kids get older is that there are no more of those "invite every single human you know on earth to your party" parties. LOL So my kids are getting invited to less and we are inviting less.

[MaryL]

Originally posted by AnnW
Mary...how long are your parties? I couldn't imagine one longer than 2 hours.



Most of them seem to be between 2-3 hours. I agree...I don't think they need to be any longer. My vent was that by the time you drop them off (In my circumstance)...it feels like it's already time to pick them up! Most of the kids parties that my ds's go to live near our school, and not near our home! So we're 15-20 minutes away from most of these houses. Those 2 hours fly by (probably not for the birthday host parents! LOL). I actually limit my dk's parties to 2 hours. That is PLENTY of time!!!!:)