1st birthday ettiquete question

lachute

We want to do an open house style birthday but to avoid having people show up at once we thought about scattering the times on the invites. Tacky? Or smart. Fwiw we aren't planning on doing a blow out the candles cut the cake moment until the end. But dessert would be served all day long. 

ering1115

if you have open house on the invite, i don't know if its really needed. especially, if you call out open house on the invite. we know that there is a section of the family that will come 90mins after any scheduled party time, there is a group that will come 45-60mins after, and a group that will be within 30mins. our families do the spacing for us. i'm not sure if times on invites would be tacky, per say, but i don't see it as necessary.

lachute

ering1115:

if you have open house on the invite, i don't know if its really needed. especially, if you call out open house on the invite. we know that there is a section of the family that will come 90mins after any scheduled party time, there is a group that will come 45-60mins after, and a group that will be within 30mins. our families do the spacing for us. i'm not sure if times on invites would be tacky, per say, but i don't see it as necessary.

Our families would show up and stay all day ha.  

NewQueen

If people find out about the different times, I feel like you could be bringing more drama upon yourself than if you just stick to one general time for all.

ladybug1211

We did an open house for the 1st birthday and it worked out great.  People did arrive at different times.  Though once people were there they did stay for awhile.  Ours was at the end of September and we were able to use our outside, though, so it did really work well.

I was invited to a party once where the party times were staggered and honestly (as NQ said it might) it caused lots of drama and hurt feelings.

 

lachute

Ok I hear you. Fingers crossed 40 people don't how up at once! 

ladybug1211

lachute:

Ok I hear you. Fingers crossed 40 people don't how up at once! 

 The one thing I tried to do to combat this was to really hilight the "open house" part of the invitation. 

Good luck, I'm sure it'll turn out great.

HeatherWain

NewQueen:

If people find out about the different times, I feel like you could be bringing more drama upon yourself than if you just stick to one general time for all.

This was my exact thought when I read the OP.

I know if my FIL had a later time than other people he would freak the freak out and be like, "So what... am I the B Team?!?!" It would be Drama City. 

Shannon1110

HeatherWain:

NewQueen:

If people find out about the different times, I feel like you could be bringing more drama upon yourself than if you just stick to one general time for all.

This was my exact thought when I read the OP.

I know if my FIL had a later time than other people he would freak the freak out and be like, "So what... am I the B Team?!?!" It would be Drama City. 

I agree with this.  I would just put open house and be prepared for a full house.  Maybe you could give close friends the heads up to head over later for more drinking action vs kid's party action earlier in the day.

lachute

i think i might specifically tell friends not family come a bit latter we will drink and relax at that point etc. 

larrysdarling

HeatherWain:

NewQueen:

If people find out about the different times, I feel like you could be bringing more drama upon yourself than if you just stick to one general time for all.

This was my exact thought when I read the OP.

I know if my FIL had a later time than other people he would freak the freak out and be like, "So what... am I the B Team?!?!" It would be Drama City. 

Yeah, esp with some of your family members. No offense, but from the bridezilla posts they seem a bit, er, dramatic shall we say?!

I like the idea of an open house, though! I'm struggling how to appropriately schedule a party in our tiny tiny house.