A Girl...

Oh Leah, that sucks.

The first Giftmas Hulk and I lived together, we threw a party and nobody came. Except the other people who lived in the building,one of whom brought Chipotle with him, sat and ate it, and left. It was really depressing, but everyone who had RSVP'd yes ended up not showing. We haven't thrown anything but a smallish dinner party since (not even birthday parties).

I'm thinking we might throw a Mardi Gras-ish party though. Maybe after 3 years it's time to try again.

Ah, yes. The joys and pains of party-throwing. I hope that your bash is fantastic, despite low RSVPs.

I have two suggestions: #1) Bring out a fun game. Cheesy? Yes. But I've had enormous success by playing a game. And eight is the perfect number for competition (Trivial Pursuit Pop Culture is a good one to try). It will be fun when combined with honey martinis. Everything is fun when combined with honey martinis. #2) The famously easy and yummy cream cheese and salsa dip I bring to ever party I attend. Buy some Tostitos, Fritos, or Dorittos. Then take three packages of cream cheese and blend it with one jar of HOT (must be hot) salsa. Heaven in a bowl and will make your party. :) And it's easy. Good luck - and I bet it will turn out better than you think. If I wasn't in St. Louis, I would invite myself to your party and make sure it kicked ass.

Thanks to you, I now know what Palazzo pants are!

I, too, know party disappointment. All too well. I just threw a party for my boyfriend's graduation from grad school (and the holidays) and more people RSVPed than we expected, and we were psyched! I made TONS of food and we even had a fire outside so we'd have enough space...etc. Well, not even half of them showed.

So, look at it this way: you can only err on the side of the positive with more people coming than you expected!

I am horrified by people who do not RSVP. I *love* throwing parties and I'm ALWAYS astonished by people who do not RVSP at all.

My guess is that more people will show up than the 8. I've had a dinner party that was supposed to be six that ended up nine ("oh, your brought your brother and he brought a date!") and a housewarming that was supposed to be 50 that ended up 90 when 40 people RSVP'd yes the day before (I pulled a whole loaves-and-fishes thing).

Everyone's got great suggestions above, but rememebr that these people all have you and yours in common. When I'm stuck for small talk at a party, that's always my go-to.

Good luck, and sorry we can't make it. I assume Mr. Boy RSVP'd.

I can't imagine it being anything but awesome, you two are quite fabulous to be around. I'll wait for the post-mortem, including details of it's sheer wonderfulness.

I didn't mean to add the apostrophe to the "its". Darn it.

Wait, apostrophe? No apostrophe?

*Head exploding*

Well, I live in Canada and might have come. Alas, not invited. *sniff*

I hope you have a grand old time though! I will send some cheer from here!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I had envisioned my birthday party to be a great little soiree at my favorite restaurant with everyone at this huge table talking and laughing over glasses of Syrah and Pinot Noir. I also hoped that everyone could make it and it turned out that all of my friends could be fairly non-commital. So it ended up being just 10 people at dinner and it also ended up being so freaking fun and fantastic that I hardly missed those that weren't there.

I have a feeling that you two will throw a splendid party and I'm fairly jealous. For I LOVE guacamole and martinis.

I also imagine you'll have more people than you have RSVPs. A lot of people are just lazy, or figure that you'll know they wouldn't miss your party! I hope it goes well at any rate.

By the by, where do you get your digital photos printed? I have only tried target/walgreens and the quality has been disappointing. Any recommendations?

i'll admit that unless it's required (like for a wedding), i'm not much of an rsvp-type. . . mainly 'cuz my work schedule is all weird and i generally don't know what i'm gonna be doing more than two days in advance. . . i try to make up for it by always bringing some dessert and wine so that i don't put undue stress on the grub situation. . .

one thing i have noticed, however, is that some people can draw a crowd to a party while others, less so. . . i know i'm a "less so", and when my friend threw me a surprise birthday party earlier this year and like four people showed (one whom i didn't even know), i told her, "yeah, don't stress, i'm honestly just not much of a box-office draw. .. it's cool tho' 'cuz i've known this for years.". . .

but anyway, for a housewarming party i'd expect people to lag on the rsvp front so i'm sure you'll pull in a decent-sized throng - *especially* if you sent the invite out to more than 70 people. . .

oh, and to seejanebee - i've noticed that the walgreens print quality varies depending on which one you go to (or more specifically, who's in charge of and/or running the fuji frontier developing machine). . . most of the photographers i know (at least one is a pro, the rest are hobbyists) dig the quality of the prints at the richmond costco (plus they're pretty cheap). . . of course if you don't live around here (the sf bay area's east bay) i suppose that doesn't do you much good. . .

Ack. What an awkward situation, and I too have been there. But this way there may be more honey martinis to go round, right? Enjoy, and I shall drink to you both on the other side of the pond this evening!

i got that uncomfy creepy crawly feeling while reading your post because you've articulated for me all the reasons why i don't throw parties anymore. (well, that and that last big party i threw cost me one close friendship because my roommate accidentally got two guests drugged by serving tainted banana bread). if i lived near you i'd be there. have fun!

Damn. If I didn't live in the great white North I'd sooooo be there. That is, of course, if I were invited. :OP

Damn. If I didn't live in the great white North I'd sooooo be there. That is, of course, if I were invited. :OP

I would I could, Leah.
Our fourth annual Halloween party was a flop this year, so I feel your pain.
I hope the party is still enjoyable, even if it's not what you had planned.
I vote you still make something with bacon, though. Nothing says party like bacon!

If you and Simon can't get many peeps to your shin-dig, Chris and I have buckleys of having any attendants at our Australia Day/1 year sober party we are throwing this week. I might as well cancel now! (Hang on, I know, I'll come to yours if you come to mine? hehe)

If I were not an idiot and also not 3000 miles away with a rabid toddler...I would indeed be there. Honey Martinis? Mmm. I will be with you in spirit.

I've got the opposite problem, EVERYONE comes which gives me the double load of work.

Ok, justJENN, you are totally not invited to any of our parties ever. Cool? :)

I wish I could have but we have moving stuff to do.

Sorry that turnout may be low, I hate that feeling too and really hate it when people don't RSVP, some of my friends are really bad about that. And I agonize over group dynamics and potential awkwardness too, with the "Oh no, if they're not coming, then X and Y won't have a buffer because they only know us through Z and we'll have nothing to talk about" etc.

But I agree that I bet you will get some unexpected guests who show up and that boardgames are excellent for smaller groups!

Well you are invited to any and all of mine. Just say the word. Hot dogs and ice cream will be saved for you.

Bummer! I hope you had fun anyway...more booze per person that way, huh?

soooooooo......how did it go?????!

You had nothing to worry about. We had a fantastic time, especially because Simon was so generous with the honey liquer. Too bad we couldn't stay for a puff on the hookah.

Really, we can't wait to come back.