Hi Moms!
Quick question, I'm having my daughters 3rd birthday party at a kids place this weekend. The kids will be served pizza and cake, after an hrs play in the play area. Party is from 2-4.
Question is... should I provide pizza/soft drinks & cake for attending parents? Maybe just cake (and coffee)?? This would be at an additional charge, and I can't bring ANYTHING in. 95% of the guests live in the area, 5% family members live 1/2 hr away.
Thanks for the advice!
Thanks everyone for all the feedback.
I will be ordering pizza/cake for everyone attending party.
I don't think, given the time of day of the party, that parents would expect to eat a meal, but maybe that's just me. Seems like an added expense that might just be a waste. Maybe you could just offer them cake, or is it a "package deal"?
YES! You should provide food for adults. I suggest a party tray if they sell it there or a combo pizza. We did that at our son's birthday and the adults were soooo happy to have food too!
No. And let the parents go away - I hate parties where the parents are expected to stay and stand around watching their kids. Give the parents a few hours off!
Yep provide for the parents. It is the polite thing to do since they have to help supervise their children at the party and have taken their time out of their schedules to participate. I highly doubt that you'll have to order that much more as I've never seen parents pig out. If you intend to throw a party then expect to pay the $$
I would definitely order some pizzas for the parents once you see how many there are. Just seems like the nice thing to do. I always get hungry for pizza when I'm standing around watching kids eat it! I'd also offer them some cake.
No, not obligated to feed the parents, when it is NOT a lunch party. 2:00 is after lunchtime and 4:00 is before dinner, so the pizza is a snack. I would provide coffee and cake for the parents, but the pizza snack is not necessary.
We have provided food for the parents at our sons 2nd and 3rd birthday party, and both times we over-bought. I would plan to get the parents some food, but I don't think they will eat much. We got extra pizza for our afternoon party for parents and most of it was left over. This yr we had a morning party, got bagels and coffee for the parents, and almost all of them were left over.
The parents will love you for it!
If it's around meal time, definitely yes. I've left parties absolutely starving because I had nothing to eat for hours at lunch time. If it's an off-time, such as after 2 pm, it's less critical. However, it's a nice gesture to have some extra on hand for parents. It's less expected as kids get older (5 years old+), when parents have the option of just dropping of their kids and leaving.
ETA: I see now it's from 2-4. I'd just make sure to have extra cake. Pizza isn't necessary for the parents since it isn't mealtime. Many will likely pass on it at that hour.
Have you already let the guests know that pizza and cake will be served? For a 2p party, I think it's perfectly fine to serve snacks (like a veggie tray or appetizers) and cake or even just cake. If your invitation said pizza and cake will be served, then you should also have food for the parents.
I always think that if you're feeding the kids a meal, feed the parents a meal as well.
I have been to many 3 yr old parties lately as my boys are 3.5 yrs old now. What I did at their party and all the other moms have done is to just order an extra pizza pie to have on hand. Some parents wanted a slice and others were too busy helping their own 3 yr olds to have the time to eat or just didn't want any at an off time like that. And usually the cakes are so big that there is plenty for the parents. They can drink what ever is on hand... water, etc. It is a kid party not socializing time for coofee and cake for the parents. Enjoy, those parties go by real fast!!!
