Party Planning-Invites

Contributor: MamaDivine MamaDivine
Im sitting here, planning three (yes...three!) kids' birthday parties. God help me lol. I have a 1st birthday party for my youngest, and my older two have never had birthday parties before! (I know, what a shame right!?) So I kind of want to really do it up for them. They have never had REAL birthday parties where friends come from school and what not. Its always been aunts and uncles, a few cousins and grand parents-So totally not cool anymore for a 9 and 11 year old lol. So, I was looking for invites and I was thinking: Does everyone use those little "Event notification/invites" on facebook nowadays, or do you still use the paper invites? I've been using the FB app for this, but for adult gatherings. Now, Im thinking that paper invites would be way more fun for the kids to hand out and we could get themed ones So, How do you invite to kids' parties? Any creative ideas for me to check into?
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
Facebook App
MamaDivine , Master DarkWolf , DreamWolf , Allison.Wilder
4
Other Networking site app
Word of mouth
Allison.Wilder
1
Phone calls
GONE! , js250 , Master DarkWolf , DreamWolf , Allison.Wilder
5
Paper invites-no frills/regular
MamaDivine , Master DarkWolf , DreamWolf , ejrbrndps , ghent529 , darthkitt3n , married with children
7
Paper invites-themed
MamaDivine , GONE! , js250 , Master DarkWolf , DreamWolf , ejrbrndps , ghent529 , Sammi , Peaches2000 , mpfm , darthkitt3n , Allison.Wilder , Stagger13 , Bex1331
14
other?
Peggi , Master DarkWolf , DreamWolf , Allison.Wilder
4
Total votes: 35 (16 voters)
Poll is closed
05/14/2012
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Contributor: GONE! GONE!
I love personal invites, be they paper or even just a phone call. I recently got invited to a party by way of Facebook event and it felt so impersonal.
05/14/2012
Contributor: js250 js250
Kids are still kids, even with FB and all the other social networking sites. Paper invites and follow up calls to the parents are definitely recommended. Some parents might not allow their child on FB due to age, grounding or other issue and you would not want any sad or hurt little guys. Paper also removes the 'not invited' stigma and includes everyone. I would also make a follow up call to parents since kids can be......forgetful until the day of the party. You will also get an RSVP that way and can plan quantities better.
05/14/2012
Contributor: Peggi Peggi
This is how my cousin's mom does it. (I don't have younger ones so the FB and emails are fine for me).

She sends a FB invite to everyone and those who don't reply within the first week (she does this a couple months ahead) she sends paper ones with my cousin, who gives them to classmates at school. Then, she sends followup emails and messages to the people who said they were coming. During the RSVP she asks if they want a reminder, and if so to tell her how to do it. She sends out cards or calls too, if they want it.
05/14/2012
Contributor: Master DarkWolf Master DarkWolf
Pretty much whatever you prefer...
05/14/2012
Contributor: DreamWolf DreamWolf
Quote:
Originally posted by Master DarkWolf
Pretty much whatever you prefer...
Any of the common ways what gets the word out...
05/14/2012
Contributor: ejrbrndps ejrbrndps
we use paper
05/14/2012
Contributor: ghent529 ghent529
shutter fly has some
05/14/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
evites work the best.
05/14/2012
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
We use paper invites - I usually make them with whatever theme our party is, and then the kids hand them out.
05/14/2012
Contributor: MamaDivine MamaDivine
Quote:
Originally posted by GONE!
I love personal invites, be they paper or even just a phone call. I recently got invited to a party by way of Facebook event and it felt so impersonal.
I hear ya. Most of my friends and family are on Facebook though and with our funds being tight lately....It was the best that I could do LOL. I need to start finding clearance racks with invites on them, and just stock up or something.

I did it this last time for a surprise birthday for my husband because then this way I could talk to everyone and let them all know (with one post) what was going on, where it was etc etc. This way everyone was on the same page. It was just easier this way. I did message a few folks individually though, to make sure that their "jobs" for the party were understood and things were set. I also personally talked to a few of his buddies that he hadn't seen in a long time and introduced myself lol. So, it wasn't totally impersonal, but I get what you mean.
05/15/2012
Contributor: MamaDivine MamaDivine
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
evites work the best.
awesome stormy! Thanks for the link Will check this one out
05/15/2012
Contributor: MamaDivine MamaDivine
Quote:
Originally posted by Sammi
We use paper invites - I usually make them with whatever theme our party is, and then the kids hand them out.
Im going to have to do this for my kids birthdays-have them hand them out. They live with their dad during the week. I live almost an hour from them, so its hard for me to converse and get to know their friends and their friends parents from where I am at Which really sucks, and their dad isn't a people person. So of course, he has NO clue about any of their friends or anything. This way I can write a personal note inside the invites asking their parents to contact me on FB or email or phone so we can arrange something with them as well. They have never had a birthday party with friends, so I know they are going to LOVE this years plans
05/15/2012
Contributor: Allison.Wilder Allison.Wilder
I personally send out paper invites, themed to whatever I'm doing for the party. I appreciate the paper invites more. I wouldn't hand them out at school though, kids can get really hurt about not being invited and sometimes the invites never make it to the parents in time, so I'd send them in the mail to ensure that the parents are also aware of a party being planned.
05/15/2012
Contributor: Bex1331 Bex1331
Paper is so much more personal, when people send out facebook invites I usually feel awkward going because I'm left wondering "did they pick me out of the list because they really want me there or did they just 'send to all'" =/
Plus with paper ones you can theme them all pretty and do all kinds of fun stuff!
05/15/2012
Contributor: married with children married with children
we always just send out invites, nothing special.
05/16/2012