sockgirl77
Well-Known Member
Over the past year I have been invited to 5 parties that would have required me to spend money to attend. The first was a baby shower that specified for you to bring a dish. In fact, the person being showered asked it several times on the Facebook event that was created for it. The second was a birthday party for a 13 year old at Golden Corral. The mother invited me and my 3 children then specified that we would have to pay for our own food. The third was a 40th birthday party for the 13 year old's father from the second party. This was held at a VFW and asked for the attendees to bring a dish. This also had a cash bar. The fourth was a 17 year old's birthday/graduation party (coincidentally, the same girl that the baby shower was being held for). This was at Golden Corral and I would have been expected to pay for my own meal. And now, the last, the 17 year old's baby's first birthday party. It is being held at a park. Once again, we are being asked to bring a dish.
I opted out of the fourth, but am obligated to go to the fifth.
Is this just the norm now? I've never had a party that I expected anyone to bring a dish. I've never had a party at a restaurant that I didn't foot the bill for. I can understand BYOB or a cash bar if you're having something at a bar, but asking guests to pay for the food seems rude to me. I've had a few people go as far as texting to see what I was bringing.
Or am I way off by thinking that this is rude?
Here's another one, gifts. Is it considered rude to show up at a birthday party or even a wedding without bringing a gift or even so much as a card? Or is this the norm too? I've had both happen recently. I understand that some people just do not have the money to buy gifts, but a card would suffice. However, we had wedding attendees that did not even bring a card. Same goes for my son's last birthday party. Add that to the people that did not show up after they RSVP'd and I am just disappointed at what people are passing off as acceptable party etiquette. Do people not realize that most wedding caterers charge per plate and that is paid for before the wedding?
Rant over. I'd just really like some input on this. It's been bugging me for awhile, but I just do not want to continue to think that these people are rude if it's just me being over-sensitive.
I opted out of the fourth, but am obligated to go to the fifth.
Is this just the norm now? I've never had a party that I expected anyone to bring a dish. I've never had a party at a restaurant that I didn't foot the bill for. I can understand BYOB or a cash bar if you're having something at a bar, but asking guests to pay for the food seems rude to me. I've had a few people go as far as texting to see what I was bringing.
Or am I way off by thinking that this is rude?
Here's another one, gifts. Is it considered rude to show up at a birthday party or even a wedding without bringing a gift or even so much as a card? Or is this the norm too? I've had both happen recently. I understand that some people just do not have the money to buy gifts, but a card would suffice. However, we had wedding attendees that did not even bring a card. Same goes for my son's last birthday party. Add that to the people that did not show up after they RSVP'd and I am just disappointed at what people are passing off as acceptable party etiquette. Do people not realize that most wedding caterers charge per plate and that is paid for before the wedding?
Rant over. I'd just really like some input on this. It's been bugging me for awhile, but I just do not want to continue to think that these people are rude if it's just me being over-sensitive.