We've been talking about parties all month long and we'd like your opinion on invitation etiquette. With everyone so busy these days and trying to balance ballet practice with basketball tournaments, how early do you hope to get an invite for an event you're expected to attend? Do you drop everything for late notices or say sorry, maybe next time?
Although it's easy to want your children to be able to attend every party they're invited too, sometimes it's easier to say no when invitations arrive late and you already have something penciled in on the calender. So we're asking you...
How far in advance do you appreciate invitations being sent out? If they arrive too early do you lose them and forget? Too late and can't make time? Share your thoughts on how soon you think they should be hitting the mailbox in the comments below!
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I send verbal invites out a month in advance, but I always forget to send out formal invites
2 weeks.
Two weeks sounds right to me. This year we've received several invitations on a Monday for a party on Saturday of the same week. We've only attended one of those.
30 days!
Two to three weeks. Any later and you run the chance of already having plans. Any sooner and I forget.
A week, no more. Personally, I prefer impromptu events, and have been known to call up people a few hours beforehand. It' surprising the number who DO turn up.
I need two to three weeks notice or I have to say no. If its something that we can reschedule, I don't mind doing that to allow my kids to go to a party but I would never cancel plans that had been made with someone else in order to attend another event. In any case, I've found that once kids are in school, you have to give parents that much notice just so that they can stay on top of things. Its hards to be spontaneous when you are juggling the schedules of a few kids.
Invitations! Of about 10 friends that have kids I am the only one that sends out any form of invitiation. Talk about irritating. I would like to recieve invites two or three weeks ahead or I we are usually booked already.
However, if you have a child who's birthday is close to a holiday (my son's is the week of Thanksgiving) make sure you send them two or three weeks ahead.
I love hearing that one week works because impromptu events are fun and seem to be always well attended. However, if you print invitations then, I shoot for 2-3 weeks being a good time window to send out my invites. I think it also depends on knowing your guest list and time of season - like around the holidays when it's busier for people.
For busy families 3 to 4 weeks. Especially during the holidays and summer. My daughters birthday is in July during peak summer vacation time, and she has a handful of friends who also have their birthdays during the same time, so we send an invite out early.
I don't care how far in advance I get invites with a minimum being two weeks. I don't like getting invites a week or less from the event...that drives me crazy.