Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

What time to start DD's 2nd b-day party, which will be a backyard BBQ in late-June.

I was thinking 2pm. Is that good?

Message edited 4/23/2009 10:19:48 PM.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

that sounds good...not too early, not too late.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

It depends if you are doing an "afternoon" party or not.

Last year we were going to do 2pm for DS' party. But we realized it was too late or lunch and way too early for dinner.

We pulled it to 1pm. By the time everybody came, talk, etc.. it was already close to 1:30pm when we started eating.

I think 2pm is a bit late. Especially since you won't be starting eating right away. Nobody comes in and jumps on a burger. KWIM? Well, I don't. I feel I am just coming to eat. So I talk to the host, guests, etc.. I might spend 20 minutes just getting in the "mood".

ETA: we also had a bunch of kids so we knew they would need to eat lunch at a reasonable time.

Message edited 4/23/2009 10:41:35 PM.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

I think maybe a bit earlier cause the kids invited will need to eat lunch way before then and dinner is still way off.

We are having a BBQ too and made the start time 12:00 so we would all be eating by 1:00.

People are all about the food

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

If you want the later side, I'd say 3 pm. If earlier, 12.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

We always do parties at 2pm in my family

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

We're starting Lily's party at 1.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

we're starting Erik's party at 1, but I've started parties at 2 as well.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

Last year I put 12:30 on DD's invite and the party was the second weekend in July. I did 12:30 thinking that people would know it would take closer to 2 hours to get to my house if they left LI at 12:30 so I figured they would leave early. I hired a waitress to help me out and had her come at 12. My first guest didn't come until 2pm. I had food warming to be served at 3pm. I ended up having the waitress stay an extra hour. I was so annoyed.

This year I am doing 2pm and I don't care. I tried to be considerate but everyone was complaining about how much traffic they hit. All I kept telling people were if you left by 10am you wouldn't have hit any and that was my goal.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

Hmm...I was just thinking later so it's a bit cooler (hoping for a gorgeous day, obviously ) and more shaded in my backyard.

Guess I'll do either 1 or 3 maybe. People can stay as long as they want, so maybe if I do it at 3, it will be more like BBQ dinner than lunch?

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

If you're looking for later in the afternoon, then, I think 3/4 PM. The serve food 1 hr to 1 1/2 hrs later and it will be like an early dinner.

I agree with the pp, 2 AM is too late for lunch and doesn't allow guests time to have lunch on their own, get ready & travel.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

I think later is better. 2pm sounds fine to me. 12 is too early in my opinion. Your guests know they will be fed, so they can adjust their meal schedule for that day.

I also like when the parties are a little later so you have time to do stuff in the morning and it doesn't kill your day.

We had DD's party at our house - start time was 1pm. I had the entertainment come at 1:30 and most people were late and didn't show up until at least 2pm.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

We had BBQ party's for Julia and always started them at 1pm.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

I think 2 pm is a perfect time! Not too early and not too late!

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

I would move it a little earlier or later. 2pm is not lunch or dinner.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

I am debating the exact same thing. I can't decide between 2 and 3. Also because there will be a few kids here that nap and I don't want to mess that up as well as have an odd eating time. Hmmm.....how about 2:30

ETA - we are probably having it on the same day, lol lol. I am thinking the 27th.

Message edited 4/24/2009 8:32:28 AM.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

We started DD's party at 3pm last year. DH made hotdogs soon after people arrived & then we had dinner around 5:45, people stayed until 8:30ish (cake was around 7)

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

We alwyas start our parties at 1pm

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

I usually start Jared's birthday party at that time and his b-day is June 13th.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

Does it matter that the party's on a Sunday? I was thinking maybe of pushing it to 3pm, but then a friend said something about it being Sunday and maybe I should have it earlier, so people would be home earlier.

But it's not a kegger, people won't be staying all night And only 1 family is from OOT, not sure if they're even coming...so I wouldn't see it as a big factor.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

Posted by cantbelieveit

I am debating the exact same thing. I can't decide between 2 and 3. Also because there will be a few kids here that nap and I don't want to mess that up as well as have an odd eating time. Hmmm.....how about 2:30

ETA - we are probably having it on the same day, lol lol. I am thinking the 27th.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

we're probably going to do 2pm.....it will be dd's first birthday and it will be a saturday in august so i figure 2 is a good time

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

Posted by nbc188

Posted by cantbelieveit

I am debating the exact same thing. I can't decide between 2 and 3. Also because there will be a few kids here that nap and I don't want to mess that up as well as have an odd eating time. Hmmm.....how about 2:30

ETA - we are probably having it on the same day, lol lol. I am thinking the 27th.

We're doing the 28th, but very close

When is your DD's b-day?

Message edited 4/24/2009 5:01:59 PM.

Re: Start time for home b-day party (BBQ)

I would try to work a little around naps. I think you should do what is best for you and your baby.