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Top 10 excuses for not coming to your party

65K views 85 replies 64 participants last post by  jkcoop 
#1 ·
Help me out with the list

-Couldn't find a babysitter (with a year, month, week notice)
-Couldn't find a dogsitter. (who needs a dog sitter for one evening?)
-Too far to drive home (then don't, spend the night)
-I don't like costumes (but you will paint your face and wear a team jersey?)
-I couldn't come up with a costume. (yeah, it's hard to paint whiskers on your face and call yourself a cat)
-I couldn't find a date. (Who said you needed a date, this isn't a teenage makeout party)
-(enter relative of choice) is playing in a football game that night. (football games are over by 10 or 11, our party goes till 3)
-(enter relative of choice) is in town. (and you can't bring them...because?)
-It's too far to drive. (it didn't seem that far when we came to your kid's birthday party)
-I have to work until 6pm. (so do 99% of the other guests)
-I have the kids this weekend. (so, you didn't realize you had them a month ago?)
-I planned a trip for that weekend. (Sorry a year's notice wasn't enough)

;-)
 
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#27 ·
Here are the excuses I received:

"I have school the next day" (C'mon! School on a Sunday?!)
"I had a hard week and am too exhausted"
"I don't do Halloween"
"I don't have a costume and my husband has a headache"
"We're going to a wedding"
"We're going to a baby shower in Maryland" (our party was in NJ)
 
#30 ·
Don't get me wrong, we had a great time. We'd have a good time with a few people.

It just makes me laugh that if we had a cookout with oysters and beer, and pull out the Wii... we could have 100% turnout. If the same people are invited to a Christmas party, the house bursts at the seams.

Eh.
 
#32 ·
I had another guy call me YESTERDAY to say he was sorry for not making it, that his friend was in town. I asked why he didn't bring him, and his reply was they had stayed out late on Thursday.

I appreciate the RSVP a week and a half after the party.
 
#33 ·
Worse one I got was I have to work (babysit), last minute call.. thanks to My space, next day there are pics of the party they went to.
Hey, I don't mind my friends choosing a different party, but let me know so I don't end up throwing food away :(
 
#39 ·
Worse one I got was I have to work (babysit), last minute call.. thanks to My space, next day there are pics of the party they went to. Hey, I don't mind my friends choosing a different party, but let me know so I don't end up throwing food away :(
Did you see on.. Headline News.. the kid(23yo) in ... NYC I think it was.. got fired because he called in sick to work, next day, kid posted his Halloween party costume pix on his MySpace page... boss pulled it up, pulled him in and canned him.. HARHARHARHARHAR!! Stupid costume too, dressed as Tinkerbell.. wasnt his color..
 
#35 ·
I got two excuses about back problems. Lame. And the second one didn't even bother to call. She sent me snail mail, which I just got this week. Weirdo. I have not talked to either of those people since.

I'm still bitter, I guess.
 
#37 ·
Huh, after reading these posts I feel a bit better knowing we weren't the only ones with cancellations. We had several people not show up, one was legitimate, her poodle was in the process of birthing 8 puppies. But we had half a dozen people not show because the World Series was on (lots of Red Sox fans in my area).
People really got peeved when they called and asked if we'd have the game on. When we said no, they said they weren't coming. The reason we didn't show the game was b/c a few years ago the Yankees were playing and half the people at the party sat in the living room and vegged out watching the game. Nothing spoils a party like t.v., so we don't have it on unless the kids want to watch a movie.
A few people left the party early to go home and watch the game, too. So my wife and I decided not to have anymore parties. Too costly, too time consuming and we're tired of competing with baseball.
 
#38 ·
Baseball interference, wow, never thought of that problem. Never.

But why cancel your party, why not try a different day? I'm sure if it was a couple of different teams it wouldn't have affected the party so much. I totally understand the work, cost and time involved. I've turned to a BYOB and a dish to pass situation because of it. I've been there myself with being soured on the whole idea, but by the next year I change my mind, hope it works out for the best for you whichever way you go with it.
 
#40 ·
The only party we throw is for a group of 4 couples and if any of them bailed they know we would hunt them down and kill them. This year 1 couple showed up without costumes because the glue they put them together with gave the guy a nasty rash, but he still showed.

Unfortunately, our party got scheduled on the same night another friend who always has a big blowout party scheduled hers. Add to that the friend is in the middle of divorcing the other host who many guests show up primarily to see, and it made her party a hard one to get to.

My wife went to bed after ours ended around midnight, but I drove the 20 miles to attend the other one and had a blast!
 
#41 ·
Excuses.. I have heard them all!

Last Year, one of my co workers told someone he couldn't make it because he didn't know how to get there -- which would have been fine except the fact he has the phone numbers of like 4 people at the party?!! He couldn't have called and just asked? LAME!

Then there was my friend who went out and bought a costume for the party then showed up 3 hours late and costume less. When asked why -- she said when she put it on, one of her boyfriends kids called her "FAT" and she decided to not wear it.

Why spend money on a costume if your not going to wear it?

And I HATE all those people who complain they never have a costume!!!

Every year my close friends make/or come up with their costumes, and I gotta tell ya, they end up being so much better then anything you can buy in a retail outlet!! My girlfriend last year dressed up as a Target zombie -- which was an inside joke because she used to work overnight there. It was simple - cheap and creative.
 
#42 ·
I hate excuses, I would rather people just be honest and tell me forthright if they do not want to come, for whatever reason. If I take the time to invite you to my home and feed you and entertain you for the evening, the least you could do is to be honest with me, and preferably oblige! lol

I didn't really get any excuses this year, I just got people drop out without apology, without reason and without notice. Oh, except one girl who had to be rushed off to the hospital because she accidentally sliced her hand open or something....... I let that one go, though, because she is a fellow Halloween nut and I know she wouldn't have missed it on purpose.

In the past I've had the most ridiculous excuses such as "oh........ I forgot" despite being reminded weekly for the proceeding 6 months... that and "I fell asleep".. I mean, for goodness' sake, give me a little credit here - that's as bad as saying your dog ate your homework!! *tuts* I also hate it when people say "Halloween's not my thing.." - what the heck is that anyway?!? Easter's not really my thing but you would be offended if you bought me a chocolate egg and I failed to return the favour or thank you for it.. *sigh*

People can be so rude :(
 
#43 ·
Wow, good topic. I get a few excuses every year. I'm fine with people politely declining because as Magic said, it's not their thing, but bad excuses suck... pardon my French. My party is adults only and costumes mandatory, so some people don't come because of that.

Getting up on soapbox... The reason I do it though is because I'm not making the party all about the kids. It's ONE evening for adults to have a good time without having to chase their kids around the house and entertaining them. Costumes are mandatory because I've been to Halloween parties (before I had my own house and party) that fell apart because every subsequent year fewer and fewer people wore costumes until the last year she had the party, the ratio of costume to not was 1-to-3 respectively. It was uncomfortable for everyone and the next year she didn't have it. Despite my rigid costume and no kids policies, my party has grown from about 20 to over 60 last year.

With that said, the excuse I hate the most is... "well we got invited to another party the same night and kids are invited too, so we're going to go there." A major pet peeve of mine is how parents' lives these days revolve around their kids. When I was a kid and there was an adult party somewhere, my parents got someone to watch us kids and they went and had a great time! These days, 99.99% of parents revolve their entire lives around their kids. It's so unhealthy for everyone. Don't get me wrong, I think parents should spend lots of time with their kids, but not every waking moment needs to revolve around them.

Anyhow, my haunted decor is delicate and geared towards adults, not kids. It's not gory, but it's not pumpkins, apple bobbing, and kids in white sheets if you know what I mean.

My distant second most dreaded excuse is "I don't like to wear costumes", or "I can't think of anything to wear". Give me a BREAK! How brainless are you to not be able to come up with a simple costume. I could think of 100 ideas right now... of course not all would be the greatest. And the not wanting to wear a costume? Grow up... put a costume on and hang out with your closest friends and have a good time you dolt!

WHEW, that was an angry post. I'm sorry about that. ;) Sensative subject I guess.
 
#44 ·
It is better to get it off your chest!
I was so dang mad after our party 2 years ago that I wanted to throw things! I swore I'd never have another, but after a few months the desire returned. I can't wait to have this year's. Even hubby isn't being nasty or difficult about it! :) I think tearing out the carpet and the bathroom repairs we had done has made him quite happy!
WooHoo!
 
#46 ·
I guess the one I get every now and then is I don't celebrate Halloween. But they buy costumes for their kids and go TOT'ing. Well that's celebrating-duh! Either that or they throw religion into it. Oh come on, in this day and age can't everybody get over it. It's a day to have fun, dress up, be something fantastic and imaginative and be a kid again. Let's face it those days are few and far between - oh basically one day a year. I've dressed up every Halloween for my whole life since I could and I'll keep right on doing it. That's another crappy excuse - while I'm on the soapbox - I'm too old for it. Well hell - then dig a hole, kick up your heels and jump right on in - life's over I guess. I'll be the rocking 80 year old grandma dressed up like a lunatic on Halloween.
 
#47 ·
I'll be the other rockin 80 year old grandma on the other side of the country. Still dressed like my favorite costume glamour ghoul diva!! Yep That'll be me... Me and all my little grandkids that I will be passing on the traditions to.
 
#48 ·
I know I've posted it elsewhere, but I'll reiterate it here.
I'm going to make costumes mandatory once again. The last party I had put "costumes are requested but not required" because of the increasingly poor turn out of costumed guests and costume related excuses.
Well, screw that!
This year the invites will once again say Mandatory! I'm actually thinking about adding "come in costume or get costumed at the door!" and having our son and his g/f do the honors (they will not be sympathetic! LOL). A selection of ugly giant old lady muumuus, hats, colored hairspray and some Halloween makeup may just make them think twice for next year! And help out the poor souls who couldn't afford or decide on a costume!
;) ;)
I'm having a vampire theme for godsakes! How hard is it to pick up a pair of plastic fangs and cut out a black trash bag cape!
Bwahahahaha!
 
#49 ·
there are no valid excuses. i say rule your party with an iron fist lol. and costumes should be mandatory this past year one of our friends came as himself circa 1990 and won scarriest costume by a landslide if he can do it so can anyone else. I mean come on excuses like "not everyone made it out alive last time" or "I don't know who you are stop calling me" who do they think they are kidding.
 
#50 ·
I've heard them all & do my best to cover my bases.
1. post invite or send out invites at least a month before
2. have all the information- date, time, location, directions, email address, & 2 phone #'s to call, on the invite
3. all ages welcome
4. lights on "Chicken Clause" for the easily scared adults & children

I still get from time to time:
I forgot
Was the party this Saturday?
We got lost & it was too late to come by the time get got turned around
Couldn't decide what to bring
No costume
It's too cold outside to go
Yes, yes, yes... I'm definately coming to your party
Halloween is against my religion & I can't come

Actually had one person show up the following Saturday at the right time... oops
 
#51 ·
Thought I would bump this thread since it's almost party time for most of us. The excuses we get are:
It's too far
Don't have a costume
There's a better party/bar/club etc. that night

The last one, I can't believe someone would be so rude to actually say that to a party host! I've always put 'costumes strongly encouraged' or something like that on the invites and most people show up in costume. EXCEPT my very best friend since we were 11. Argh! It drives me crazy. She says she feels silly or she's afraid she'll look silly. I said you look sillier as being the only one NOT in costume. Her other excuse is that things she wants to be, like Cleopatra, wouldn't look right with glasses. Oh brother. Sure Cleopatra didn't have glasses but who cares?! I wear glasses too and I'm thinking it might look weird this year since I'm doing full face makeup, but I'm still doing it. My friend is a kooky one.
 
#52 ·
Her other excuse is that things she wants to be, like Cleopatra, wouldn't look right with glasses. Oh brother. Sure Cleopatra didn't have glasses but who cares?! I wear glasses too and I'm thinking it might look weird this year since I'm doing full face makeup, but I'm still doing it. My friend is a kooky one.
My boyfriend was Jack Skellington couple of years ago and he wore glasses even though Jack really doesn't ;) ..and he wasn't as skinny either ;P ..and Herman Munster doesn't wear glasses either.. ..and John Preston too!

I wonder why your friend doesn't feel stupid by being the only one not in costume.. I would feel SOO stupid if I realised everyone else has something.. weird one.
 
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