Invitation Etiquette is it Universal? (a little off topic)

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Invitation Etiquette is it Universal? (a little off topic)

posted 3 years ago in Parenting

Member

1,490 posts

Bumble bee

Sweeney2Be Aug 23, 2008 Twin Cities Minnesota

I ask because I know all of you guys have awesome etiquette advice and I don't have anywhere else to turn. I aopologize for it being slightly off wedding topic, but I thought since it is an invitation question you'd still be willing to help.

I'm hosting a party for the soccer team my daughter is on (4,5 &6 year olds) and sent out an invite paretns about it. The first RSVP I got back listed off that they would be bringing their whole family.

My first thought is that is rude, like a birthday party one child is invited to - you don't send the other along and like bringing a date to a wedding when you've not been allowed a guest.

Etiquette ladies tell me whats up - and how I should handle this. We're having a bounch castle and I wanted the team to have a good time, not be over run by older or younger kids. -

Again sorry for off wedding topic, please send me some help though - out of the kindness of all our little planning hearts -

3 years ago

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2,181 posts

Buzzing bee

snmcdowell 9-13-08 Chicago

I'm not sure - how was the invitation worded? Was it clear that the invitation was only for the one child?

3 years ago

Member

261 posts

Helper bee

peihan17

I'm guessing the response would be the same as when people put extra "plus ones" on a wedding invitation... "I'm sorry, but we don't have enough food/space/whatever" or "We only planned for X number of food/space/whatever".

Hopefully they won't put up a fuss! Good luck =)

3 years ago

Member

412 posts

Helper bee

tanya2s

I'd just call up and politely say "I'm sorry, there seems to have been a misunderstanding. This party is only for the children on the soccer team. I hope we can all get together some other time." You might want to add something about the activities only being appropriate for a particular age group, but that would leave the door open for them to say "we don't mind," which is not what you want. Just keep repeating that the party is only for kids on the team, since they've been working so hard all season. Make it sound like a reward for the team, maybe the parents will be less likely to intrude that way.

Just to clarify, do you want the parents of the children to attend too? Because if so you may have problems with parents needing to find babysitters for their other children, and they may decline the invitation for everyone. But it's definitely your prerogative to set boundaries for who you invite.

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3 years ago

Member

1,490 posts

Bumble bee

Sweeney2Be Aug 23, 2008 Twin Cities Minnesota

We have offered to let parents drop off kids and/or stay with them. To help avoid this issue of finding child care that day.

The initial invite was worded to say it was a Soccer Team Party, date time and all that stuff. It said we wouldbe hosting a bouncy castle, hot dogs and juice for the team (maybe I said kids...maybe thats where the confusion is) and we hope to see everyone there.

Thanks for jumpoing off topic with me and helping me out gals I really really appreciate it!

3 years ago

Member

1,492 posts

Bumble bee

amysue 6/6/09

Hmm. Yeah, it would dramatically increase your guest list if everybody brought one or two siblings. I wouldn't be surprised if a bunch of people did this, though - I think I went to a few of my brother's end-of-year team parties, back in the day. But since you're offering to let parents drop kids off, I think you get around the "but I have to watch little John and Jenny too!" argument.

3 years ago

Member

180 posts

Blushing bee

prettykatie March 14, 2009 Oklahoma

I would just call them and say exactly what you said about not wanting the kids on the soccer team to get run over by older or younger kids. If I were one of the parents I would probably accept that.

3 years ago