Re: Venue dilema

Saturday. You can use debit/credit cards for the meters, so I wouldn't worry about people having quarters.

Re: Venue dilema

5 or 6 hours for a kids party?? Way too long!! I have never been to a kids party that was longer than 2.5 hours! You may want to reconsider the length, just voicing an honest opinion

Re: Venue dilema

I would have it Sunday for the ease of parking, but I would limit it to 2 hours...I personally wouldn't want to give up my entire afternoon on a weekend even for my nephew's birthday or for my best friend's children. My weekends are so limited in time that I would probably say no to a party that took up my whole day simply because it would mean I couldn't do the other things I need to do.

Re: Venue dilema

Sunday, unless the parking is close by and can be paid for all in advance or at the end. It would annoy me to no end to have to run out of the party and walk a few blocks every hour to put change in the meter.

Venue dilema

#2... With a shorter time frame... To be completely honest, I'd prob be ticked if I had to pay for metered parking. I come to a party to relax and have a good time... Not get stressed that I don't have quarters, wasn't aware of meters, had to park a mile away to avoid them etc

Venue dilema

Option 2 - I'd be annoyed to have to look for parking or if I got a ticket

Re: Venue dilema

I know this isn't what you're asking but I would absolutely and at a 5-6 hour child's birthday party. For a 1st birthday it's often a 4 hour time slot and people are usually leaving at the 3 1/2 hour mark. Sorry but even worse if your friend is singing Frozen songs to pass the time, lol.

As for the day, I always do Sunday if there are meters involved. 6pm end time isn't a big deal for kids who have school the next day. It's still early imo.

Re: Venue dilema

Posted by lynnd126

I know this isn't what you're asking but I would absolutely and at a 5-6 hour child's birthday party. For a 1st birthday it's often a 4 hour time slot and people are usually leaving at the 3 1/2 hour mark. Sorry but even worse if your friend is singing Frozen songs to pass the time, lol.

As for the day, I always do Sunday if there are meters involved. 6pm end time isn't a big deal for kids who have school the next day. It's still early imo.

Re: Venue dilema

Regarding the time, a 4,5 or 6 hour long parties are a regular in both my DH and my family. I'm Dominican so any party we have, we always have a DJ and get on the dance floor. We take this time to catch up and have a great time. So the first 2-3 hours are for the kids and the rest for the adult. Kids also get on the dance floor and have a great time. It's a win win for all.

Re: Venue dilema

Posted by lynnd126

I know this isn't what you're asking but I would absolutely and at a 5-6 hour child's birthday party. For a 1st birthday it's often a 4 hour time slot and people are usually leaving at the 3 1/2 hour mark. Sorry but even worse if your friend is singing Frozen songs to pass the time, lol.

As for the day, I always do Sunday if there are meters involved. 6pm end time isn't a big deal for kids who have school the next day. It's still early imo.

Re: Venue dilema

I agree with the others. I don't think a 6pm end time is a big deal but meters stress me out and annoy me. If there's is such a drastic savings going Saturday I would hire someone to mind the meters for you - warn people on invite to bring quarters and then have them sigh in with where they parked and type of car. I would really appreciate that as a guest but certainly wouldn't expect it.

I also agree that more than 3 hours is way too long for me as someone who is not used to that. We had a party last year that was 2.5 hours and I was worried it was too long. We had about 45 min of free play in our very large playroom that has essentially most of what le play has, then about 15 min of my cousin and his guitar doing songs, then we planned to do food and cake next then play more but we did food and then the kids went to play in our backyard which was set up with kiddie pools and water tables and play stuff. Then cake. And still people started leaving around the 2 hour mark and by the 2.5 hour mark everyone was gone except for one late arrival who had just gotten there. I feel like we could have played outside longer - at least, we could have filled that time -- but kids need naps, adults have other things to do, so it's not practical.

Re: Venue dilema

Posted by mommyof3girls

Posted by lynnd126

I know this isn't what you're asking but I would absolutely and at a 5-6 hour child's birthday party. For a 1st birthday it's often a 4 hour time slot and people are usually leaving at the 3 1/2 hour mark. Sorry but even worse if your friend is singing Frozen songs to pass the time, lol.

As for the day, I always do Sunday if there are meters involved. 6pm end time isn't a big deal for kids who have school the next day. It's still early imo.

Sorry but watching a very close friend who's been within our family since a baby sing a few songs for us is not passing the time, it's a time we take to appreciate the talent she has and support her. And I'm sure we will all be singing along not because we're bored but because thats what we do. We act silly and have a great time.

Re: Venue dilema

I would have the party on saturday. I just prefer saturday parties over sunday. The meter wouldnt bother me. I would bring some quarters just in case people dont have or whatever.

Re: Venue dilema

Here my take, its your party, you are paying for the time anyway regardless of how long you actually use then venue. Have it for 5 hours and if people duck out early bc they feel its too long, then they do. (just dont wait until the 5th hour for dessert).

Also, its 6pm on Sunday not 9pm. For me, with school aged kids, that is PLENTY of time to get home and get ready for school and bed.

I would go, on a Sunday from 12-6, intend to stay the entire time and just see how the party played out. I would make lunches for school that morning instead of the evening and even do baths and showers that morning instead of that night.

Just for a party that long, make sure you have it planned bc free flowing for 6 hours could get boring but if you have stuff going on, Im an adult I can be somewhere for 6 hours with friends, food and drinks (and even my kids) without having a meltdown. Hell, I sit at a far less pleasurable place for 8 hours of everyday M-F and manage to get through it.

Have it when you want, and if people want to leave early, then they can. End of story.

As for the meters, if they take debit cards, cool, if not, I never have change on me (keep in my desk drawer for the vending machine) so Id have quarters available for your guests so they arent scrambling at the last minute.

Message edited 5/25/2014 1:51:28 PM.