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Bday party dilemma: Downsizing guest list...

HawaiiBrideGrmHawaiiBrideGrm
in Toddlers: 24 Months+

So, we've always had a lot of peeps at DDs parties. We are sooo over large guest lists and the $ it costs to feed them (lol).

So, do we uninvite our adult friends (one of our only excuses to have them over per year since we both work such long hours... sad, i know)? Have a separate family party with just a simple dinner? Have only cake/drinks and invite the huge lot (40-60 guests)? How do you downsize without letting people down?

We can cut out all of our neighbors. Last year we invited them b/c we were new to the neighborhood and wanted to meet them. That's around 10 people gone. We have friends we only see once a year who never invite us anywhere... our cycling club friends (we haven't ridden our bikes in 2.5 years). They are fun people, but since they never invite us anywhere, why should we (is that selfish)?

Thanks so much. We've been agonizing over this...

 

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Re: Bday party dilemma: Downsizing guest list...

  • brightningbrightning member

    Well, I love a party, so keep that in mind.

    But if it were me, I'd still have all of the people come (minus any people that you don't want to invite, like your neighbors or bike people or whoever) and just have the party at a non-meal time so you can just have snacks, cake, ice cream and beverages. Have the party from 2-4 or something.

    ETA: I replied to your page earlier today, but it was a while after you posted it.

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  • MrsCorbinMrsCorbin member
    We have a huge family and lot of friends so our parties are usually 100+ people.  I keep the costs down by having my aunt make the cake.  Our other aunts bring big sides like potato salad, pasta salad, etc.  We make sour cream dip from mix and get salsa and chips from Costco.  We grill burgers and hot dogs from Costco and buy the drinks there.  It is so hard to cut the guest list.
    image
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  • PeskyPesky member
    Here's the thing:  at some point, the party becomes about your DD and not about you seeing your friends.  I'd make that this year (FWIW, I'm doing that too this year).  So I would opt to eliminate all but your closest friends and family.  FWIW, we are only inviting the grandparents and the parents of a few of DD's friends.  It's more about her and her friends this year than anything.  If you want to see your friends, arrange a potluck BBQ or something.


    image
    DD -- 5YO
    DS -- 3YO

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  • Mrs.HubbardMrs.Hubbard
    We haven't done a meal at any of DS's party. We have ended up with a lot of people at both and that has really cut down on the cost.
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  • MnqMnq

    We're keeping it focused DD and her friends. We can have a party/bbq anytime but it will be more fun for her if it was all about her and not our friends... DH thinks it's not fair for our childless friends but IMO it's not about them. If you invite Bob, you have to invite Jane then you have to invite Carol and so on and so forth. I don't want to run around and feel the need to entertain a whole bunch of adults. 

    Last year DD had 7 kids and their parents, plus her grandparents and godparents. It was Bliss. 

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  • HawaiiBrideGrmHawaiiBrideGrm
    imageMnq:

    We're keeping it focused DD and her friends. We can have a party/bbq anytime but it will be more fun for her if it was all about her and not our friends... DH thinks it's not fair for our childless friends but IMO it's not about them. If you invite Bob, you have to invite Jane then you have to invite Carol and so on and so forth. I don't want to run around and feel the need to entertain a whole bunch of adults. 

    Last year DD had 7 kids and their parents, plus her grandparents and godparents. It was Bliss. 

    That DOES sound like bliss! I think you all just convinced me... thank you!

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