How to handle a party invite that came with a fee
Q: You get invited to a party, but the hosts are charging you to come. Should you tell them you’re not coming because of the fee?
A: On the surface, charging guests to come to a party may sound tacky, but it deserves exploring.
Maybe everyone is on a tight budget and sharing the cost is a practical solution, similar to a potluck. Or maybe the hosts know they can’t adequately supply the amount of alcohol their guests will consume, like a cash bar at a wedding.
Is it possible the host is trying to create a portfolio for an event business or taking donations for a charity? It’s certainly within reason to ask politely what the charge is for. If you decide not to go or you think there’s a hidden agenda behind the charge, then you can respectfully decline without calling attention to the fee.
—Chris Nease, editor and stylist for Celebrations at Home
A: There’s a lot that goes into planning a party that, as guests, we might not realize. This is especially true if the event is hosted at a venue.
In the case of being asked to pay for party attendance, I would assume the hosts wouldn’t charge if they didn’t have to. If you’re invited to a party, it’s because the hosts want your company and want to include you.
I would lean toward being gracious about the invitation. If you can afford to attend the event, accept the invite and don’t mention the fee. If you would love to attend but cannot afford to pay, simply decline the invitation. It’s as simple as that!
—Tori Tait, entertaining expert at ThoughtfullySimple.com