Thread: Feeling a bit down about lack of guests this yr

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Hi folks,

Thought I would ask about numbers and how many people you are inviting this year?

1st year I invited loads of people (including older ppl like mum in law etc) as it was also a house warming party. I didn't like it as there were too many people in a small house and some just sat there not doing anything all night and I felt like I had to make an effort and talk to everyone. Reminded me of my wedding where I couldnt let my hair down! haha.

2nd yr was great. Had about 15 people - good friends, all the same ages and I really enjoyed it.

This yr, well alot of ppl cant come due to work/holiday/new baby committments and so I only have 7 ppl confirmed so far.

I have made a massive effort this yr on the theme - planning on decorating most of the house rather than just the 2 rooms and spending hours researching stuff instead of doing just a general theme (which was alot easier!). Now I feel a bit deflated as had I realised there would be only half the numbers coming, I would have done more of a dinner party instead and a totally different theme.

Has anyone else had the same problem? Can smaller work better?

I think you are worrying too much. Have fun and let your hair down. Do you not play games?

yes we do - well I did last year as didnt have time the first year. Everyone really enjoyed themselves but as there were a fair few people, it was more of a buzz. Will see - there is still time as doing it on the 30th this year.

How many people did you invite?

How many people do you want to attend?

Is there anybody you overloooked?

Do you allow your guests to bring a friend?

Originally Posted by propmistress

How many people did you invite?
29
How many people do you want to attend?
at least 15
Is there anybody you overloooked?
There are always people I could invite i.e other neighbours I dont really know or networking colleagues but it involves alot more having to be hostess with the mostess then, lol
Do you allow your guests to bring a friend?

Mostly they are couples or plus one but I dont expect them to bring 2/3 extra guests as it's a small house.

I know I am being silly but I just got a bit deflated and thought I would air my feelings on here as you all do the parties so must have experienced the same thing

I know the feeling, I've invited about 25 people through a facebook event but about 10 haven't bothered to reply - however I know some of them are coming as they've verbally said they will. It still drives me a bit crazy though, not being sure enough people will turn up.

Maybe you could casually mention to a couple of friends that if they want to bring someone extra they can!

Thanks HKitten, yes, I think I will see if any of them want to bring an extra friend or so. Prob we have is that alot of my hubby's mates all know each other and if you invite one person or couple, then the rest will be hacked off they werent invited. Yet I dont really like some of them as they are really 'clicky' and not v friendly so it's a problem. Hubby agrees btw - it's not just me, lol. There are some I wld love to come but hey ho!

thanks for the replies guys

Well - we invited about 41 people from Facebook - of those, 24 have RSVPd....we sent paper invites out to the lame-o's who don't use facebook or who didn't reply...and our total is up to 33 now...I will be fine if only 20 show..but something inside me tells me there will be more...

We had a Halloween wedding last year and everyone loved it... I think that has helped us get RSVPs...plus we talk about Halloween and ask people what their costumes are all the time..we try to get people excited about it and even leak little secrets about how we're decorating. I think that if no one has been to your Halloween party before, the best way to get people to show is to talk it up a lot and be really excited about it..but you have to talk to everyone you invited on a weekly basis...we tailgate - so we literally talk to everyone we know about the party and everyone seems excited...at this point...I hope we don't get too many people!!!

Hi BrahmaBabe,

Wow, a Halloween Wedding would have been amazing! I had a venetian one - in Venice, in full 18thC costume etc but I would have loved a Halloween one as an alternative! hehe. Brilliant.

To be honest, most of the ppl who are def coming are from last yr. Those from last yr who cant come - 1 is working night shifts (plus g/f wont come on her own), 2 moved away and the other 4 are my siblings - 2 cost they have just had a baby and live a way away and the other 2 as her hubby is doing some charity firewalking event so is away. They have always come down so it's a bit sad they cant make it but it's not their fault.

I know we will still all have a good time - I think I'm mainly annoyed as I would have done a Gothic Dinner instead for so few numbers. But it's done now and I have my costume and already bought alot of props so cant change it, lol.

I will stop sulking now anyway as the sun has come out and it will mean less food & booze to buy I guess!

Piggles, I SO know where you're coming from! We've had some pretty successful Halloween parties in the past, but last year's was the first in 3 years and it was kinda sad. We made it a housewarming Halloween party (for our first home) and saw a huge decline in attendance because in the last 3 years just about all of our friends spawned and, I don't know, stopped caring about anything else, or going anywhere without their kids...I don't know really, I don't understand it. But, whatever. So I was really hurt/disappointed with the turn out last year.

THIS year I'm determined not to let stress and the fear of dismal party attendance ruin my favorite time of year and my favorite holiday, so I decided to scale it back. I decided we would have a Halloween dinner party instead. But then as I got into the planning of it, I realized I wasn't really scaling it back, I was just switching around my stress points.

So the FINAL decision it to have a Halloween night reception (open house). We're sending out invitations just asking people to stop by and trick or treat, just visit, or stay for dinner. I'm making special treat bags for the kids. I'm going to full out decorate, prepare foods, have games ready and just enjoy my favorite holiday whether it's just my husband and I or us and a few friends. Maybe next year I'll feel up to planning a big party again.

I think the important thing is to make yourself happy, it's YOUR special holiday. You're not in control of anyone but yourself. But Brahma has a good idea too...talk it up, create your own buzz, people really do respond to that.