help with invite wording

We're having DS' bday party at Cradle of Aviation in October (2nd graders). The cost of the party includes 25 kids and 3 adults. If extra adults come, there will be an extra cost. They have people there to run the party (craft, food, then a museum wide scavenger hunt). DH & I will be there and I'll offer the other slot to a parent that has a child with special needs, but I don't want to pay extra for any other parent (it would be museum entrance + extra for food).

I know I can say "drop off" on the invite, but I've been to her parties that said the same on the invitation and most of the parents still stayed. Would it be uncool for me to say something along the lines of - drop off party but if adults want to stay it'll be $XXX? I kinda feel it's tacky to make people pay to attend a party, but we can't afford the entrance for the extra adults.

I also don't want people to think they can drop off their siblings. It's happened to us in the past - which were house parties. The parent RSVPd that their child would attend (the one from DS' class) and then they'd show up with siblings without telling me in advance.

help with invite wording

That's a tough one. You're right, people will assume they can stay. Maybe you can put something like "Drop off Only". Maybe the "ONLY" will give them a clue?

Re: help with invite wording

What if you wrote something to the effect of "If you plan to stay with your child, please contact me by (whenever)"? Then, you could explain the circumstances.

Message edited 9/25/2016 6:09:55 PM.

Re: help with invite wording

Both prior suggestions are great. At first I thought of "Drop Off Only", but it would be good to also offer the opportunity to explain the situation to any parent that wants to stay.

Re: help with invite wording

I like the option to have people call so you can explain - there is generally no "good" way to word this and you certainly don't want to pay for parents who might not have even stayed had they known you were paying for them.

help with invite wording

I think Drop Off only sounds perfectly fine. I wouldn't have them calling you to plan on staying, then that turns into siblings coming, blah blah blah.

help with invite wording

I think Drop Off only sounds perfectly fine. I wouldn't have them calling you to plan on staying, then that turns into siblings coming, blah blah blah.

Re: help with invite wording

Drop off only sounds good.

I don't think you can word it to say parent needs to pay if they want to stay.

help with invite wording

Guess I didn't need to worry about how to word anything on the invite bc out of the 20 kids I have an invite to..... I've heard for zero (and that includes nos and yeses). :(

Re: help with invite wording

Re: help with invite wording

what about something along the lines of "admission for child is included" ??