When should you send out an invitation?

I’d like at least 2 weeks notice.
You want to make sure that your guests have enough time to fit it into their schedule.

Post a flyer at work (with a “Please let me know if you are coming”) and personally invite the coworkers you are close to. No need for formal invitations there.

Close friends: call

Not so close friends: e-mail, but personally, not mass-recipients

Neighbors: If you know them, walk over. If you don’t know them, don’t invite them.

Keep it small. One year olds may be confused with a really big group. One or two week notice should be enough. Have a happy party.

@Blueroses Not how should I invite them. When should I invite them?

@Sunny2 Yeah. I’ve been to huge first birthday parties where the kid is totally overwhelmed. Something low-key sounds nice. Thanks!

Oh, I’m sorry @fluthernutter. A coworker just made a HUGE deal out of her daughter’s first birthday and it was total Raptor-mom! Celebrate my child and bring gifts, or else!

It was so off-putting, I’m sorry I carried that into your question.

Yes, I agree. Keep it to the people you really want to be there and 2 weeks notice should be fine.

@Blueroses That’s okay. I didn’t read any miffed-at-my-coworker tone in your response. Just thought you misread the question. :)

Two weeks is just about perfect. Enough notice, but not so early that people are likely to forget.

I agree two weeks with the exception that if there are a couple people very close to you who you really want to make sure are there, tell them further ahead of time verbally the date you are planning it, but still send them the invitation with everyone else’s.

Two weeks is standard. If you know more than two weeks ahead, certainly feel free to let people know so they can fit it into their busy summer schedules. For neighbors, if you want to keep it casual, you can even walk over on the day-of and tell them casually “hey, we’re having a little thing in the yard for baby’s birthday. If you guys are free and want to stop by later, please do.” For those last minute things, make sure you emphasize that they don’t have to bring a gift, just stop by, there’s plenty of food.

I would mail them three weeks before the event so that everyone had a least two weeks notice.

I like to have at least a months’ notice, so I try to offer the same. Six weeks is ideal. I would ask for RSVPs to be in about 2 weeks before the event.

We had a big barbecue for my son’s first birthday. There were activities for the kids, but it was very casual and not structured like a kids birthday party at all. We enjoyed it.

1 week before.
I had a friend send out an invitation of 1.5 weeks before, and everyone forgot. So I would send it out a bit early.