WWYD: Birthday parties (planning FAR in advance, yes lol!) Long, sorry!

I'm at work today so all the questions I've been meaning to post are coming out now.

I'm thinking ahead, but I'm confused about what to do for my girls' b-day party. For my oldest daughter, she's a June baby, so we usually do a backyard party, invite our closest family members and closest friends (and their kids), it's usually about 30-40 adults and maybe 10 kids.

Well, now 2 things are confusing me. Firstly, DD started preschool in September, and has 12 other kids in her class. I of course want to invite them to her b-day party (as she has been invited to theirs too). BUT, I cannot fit that many more kids and parents in my house/yard. Just not possible. So, I'd have to do a party somewhere else for the kids...fine...she's going to be 4 so a party at a place would go over well with her.

BUT, I also would want to have a party at my house still for the family members, PLUS my other daughter turns 1 on the same day, so I want/need to do a big party for her too....she deserves lots of attention too!

So, I guess my question is....if I have to do a "party place" party for the kids, who do I invite? Just the kids from my daughter's school? What about my daughter's cousins, our friends' kids who she's friends with, etc.? I'd invite all of those people too, but how can I expect all the same people to come to ANOTHER party at our house a week or so later to celebrate her b-day (with the additional family members who wouldn't attend a kid-place party) AND of course the baby's first birthday??

Help! I have no clue what to do (esp. since I've never had a party at a kids place before), and the baby's first birthday can't be forgotten too!

I know I have time to figure it out, but I want to look into places to have the kids-party soon.

Re: WWYD: Birthday parties (planning FAR in advance, yes lol!) Long, sorry!

I think I would invite all the kids (family included) to a party you have at a place, but discretely invite those who would come to a "family" party back to the house for something simple (and invite the adults who were not at the party place). Maybe just pizza and cake.

Then, have a separate party for your younger DD's first birthday.

Re: WWYD: Birthday parties (planning FAR in advance, yes lol!) Long, sorry!

Hmmm I think I would have a party just for her class, and then the regular party at your house for both of them.

Re: WWYD: Birthday parties (planning FAR in advance, yes lol!) Long, sorry!

From past experience, I recommend having the kids party on a different day. I invite the family/friends kids but they don't always make it because it is earlier.

Last year we had the parties on the same day and the whole day seemed so rushed. My DH was complaining about it because we had to be home in time for our family to come. I was very organized and even had waitress come but it didn't really help.

I also have family and friends coming from OOS so they can't always come to both parties.

I wanted to add:

If you do decide to have the party on the same day I usually make 3 invitations.
1.) just for kids coming to the kiddy place
2.) info for the kiddy place and then it says something along the lines of coming back for more festivities.
3.) just the home party

Message edited 12/29/2010 9:16:06 AM.

Re: WWYD: Birthday parties (planning FAR in advance, yes lol!) Long, sorry!

I would have just her class at the party place and everyone else at the house party.

Re: WWYD: Birthday parties (planning FAR in advance, yes lol!) Long, sorry!

Re: WWYD: Birthday parties (planning FAR in advance, yes lol!) Long, sorry!

party place or kid party for the kids.. and then a separate family party.. But to tell you the truth, we only do family parties (beyond grandma, grandpas and us) for big birthdays.

I like a party place because you dont' have to do all the work. When having it at home, when you get everything you need to get, do the cleaning, etc.. it usually winds up costing the same as a place anyway (and I'm not saying that because I own one.. LOL)