Cancelling a party
September 17, 2024 2:39 AM
We moved house and got one of those outdoor pizza ovens and had the idea to combine the two and throw a housewarming party with pizza bar. Around 35 people have accepted our invitation and it's this weekend. However, now rain is forecast for the entire time....
I think we're going to need to cancel. Our house is really small and will fit around 12 people tops, plus we can't cook the pizzas indoors. We were really counting on this being an indoor/outdoor party.
I just feel kind of dumb cancelling, plus what if the forecast changes and it's actually nice out at the party time? What do I do and what do I say to people? Advice very welcome, please!
I think we're going to need to cancel. Our house is really small and will fit around 12 people tops, plus we can't cook the pizzas indoors. We were really counting on this being an indoor/outdoor party.
I just feel kind of dumb cancelling, plus what if the forecast changes and it's actually nice out at the party time? What do I do and what do I say to people? Advice very welcome, please!
You can set a rain date instead and let people know you’ll make a decision by X time. That way you’re not cancelling-you’re postponing.
posted by warriorqueen at 3:17 AM on September 17
posted by warriorqueen at 3:17 AM on September 17
This is why rainchecks are a thing, like warriorqueen suggests.
It is super hard to coordinate so many adults twice though, so I get why you would want to do it anyway. How long is the party for? If it is an all afternoon and evening drop-in cookout kind of thing, there probably won’t ever be all that many people in your house at once. Set up some soft rugs and floor cushions and encourage people to congregate in a few different areas of the house instead of all in one room, also. Skip the pizza oven since it’s probably a bit of a fire hazard to set up a temporary tent above it (those things get super hot!) and have a backup food planned. I suggest a large order from a local favorite restaurant, I’ve enjoyed Seattle rainy casual parties with Chinese food, fajita and taco bars, and one that was like big salads and pastas with different sauces and toppings. If it turns out it’s not raining after all you can still do some pizza, too, but just get stuff for the pizza that freezes well so you can use it later.
You could also contact everyone and explain the issue and ask if anyone would like to rescind their rsvp and come to a second gathering in a month or so (maybe Halloween themed?) I don’t know about everyone else but I often love when my plans get canceled, it’s like, hooray, my bra is already off, my tea is already brewed, we are staying home girlies! If you split your guest list in half I bet you can find half that would enjoy seeing your house and you but also won’t care much about rescheduling, and that way no matter what you just have to deal with a slightly overstuffed house both times instead of wall to wall teen house party style.
Generally speaking people are super understanding about this kind of thing. If this party is really important to you, that’s also fine, but try not to get too worked up about changing plans on people, unless some of them are like flying in from across the country (in which case, obviously host them.)
posted by Mizu at 4:35 AM on September 17
It is super hard to coordinate so many adults twice though, so I get why you would want to do it anyway. How long is the party for? If it is an all afternoon and evening drop-in cookout kind of thing, there probably won’t ever be all that many people in your house at once. Set up some soft rugs and floor cushions and encourage people to congregate in a few different areas of the house instead of all in one room, also. Skip the pizza oven since it’s probably a bit of a fire hazard to set up a temporary tent above it (those things get super hot!) and have a backup food planned. I suggest a large order from a local favorite restaurant, I’ve enjoyed Seattle rainy casual parties with Chinese food, fajita and taco bars, and one that was like big salads and pastas with different sauces and toppings. If it turns out it’s not raining after all you can still do some pizza, too, but just get stuff for the pizza that freezes well so you can use it later.
You could also contact everyone and explain the issue and ask if anyone would like to rescind their rsvp and come to a second gathering in a month or so (maybe Halloween themed?) I don’t know about everyone else but I often love when my plans get canceled, it’s like, hooray, my bra is already off, my tea is already brewed, we are staying home girlies! If you split your guest list in half I bet you can find half that would enjoy seeing your house and you but also won’t care much about rescheduling, and that way no matter what you just have to deal with a slightly overstuffed house both times instead of wall to wall teen house party style.
Generally speaking people are super understanding about this kind of thing. If this party is really important to you, that’s also fine, but try not to get too worked up about changing plans on people, unless some of them are like flying in from across the country (in which case, obviously host them.)
posted by Mizu at 4:35 AM on September 17
You say the event it this weekend, yes? That's still a ways away. Precipitation forecasts 4-5 days out can change a lot.
ALSO: Which day this weekend is the party? If it's Saturday, you can have Sunday as the Rain Date.
You can email people today saying "Forecast right now calls for rain but that might change. Will let you know by xxx-time whether we're going ahead. If not, the rain date is yyy"
posted by ManInSuit at 5:24 AM on September 17
ALSO: Which day this weekend is the party? If it's Saturday, you can have Sunday as the Rain Date.
You can email people today saying "Forecast right now calls for rain but that might change. Will let you know by xxx-time whether we're going ahead. If not, the rain date is yyy"
posted by ManInSuit at 5:24 AM on September 17
I mean, this is a pretty normal turn of events, I don't think anyone will be surprised if you say 'Hey, this weekend isn't looking good for an outdoor party. We'll keep an eye on the forecast and decide by Thursday at X time and let you know if we have to reschedule.'
That said, if you got a patio umbrella for someone to stand under while cooking pizzas, I'd almost guarantee that on a rainy weekend only a small subset of your RSVPs will actually show up, because people are super fucking terrible at showing up to things these days, and any excuse to cancel will work for them, so you'd probably have no problem fitting people in your house.
posted by jacquilynne at 5:56 AM on September 17
That said, if you got a patio umbrella for someone to stand under while cooking pizzas, I'd almost guarantee that on a rainy weekend only a small subset of your RSVPs will actually show up, because people are super fucking terrible at showing up to things these days, and any excuse to cancel will work for them, so you'd probably have no problem fitting people in your house.
posted by jacquilynne at 5:56 AM on September 17
Yeah, just cancel. Hi everyone, sorry for this but with the rain predicted this weekend we're going to put off the thing, we're looking forward to seeing you all when we definitely enjoy sitting outside, sincerely us.
If the weather turns out to be pleasant, nothing bad has happened.
posted by mhoye at 6:52 AM on September 17
If the weather turns out to be pleasant, nothing bad has happened.
posted by mhoye at 6:52 AM on September 17
How small are we talking? I've hosted parties with similar guest lists in a 900 sq ft apartment with no issue. Not anyone will come, and not everyone will come at once. You can extend the hours and emphasize that it's an open house. Move furniture around strategically and make the bedroom a place people can hang out. Order pizza!
posted by umwelt at 8:01 AM on September 17
posted by umwelt at 8:01 AM on September 17
Will the oven still work in the rain and will 35ppl fit in your house (in that fun party way)? If yes and yes I might just go ahead… what are the chances it’s pouring exactly that time.
Also test drive the pizza oven before the party… unless you’ve had practice with that before …
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:08 AM on September 17
Also test drive the pizza oven before the party… unless you’ve had practice with that before …
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:08 AM on September 17
I would not even blink if a host postponed an outdoor party because rain was forecast. And I would be grateful if they did it earlier rather later so I can make other plans.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 9:23 AM on September 17
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 9:23 AM on September 17
I would send a warning about the forecast now, and communicate if you are putting it off for Sunday or next weekend or whatever.
It's also very likely people want to come drop by and see you, pizza or no, and that they aren't all going to be there all at once. I'd feel OK with that party in my small house on a rainy day. I'd even consider parbaking a bunch of pizzas and topping/finishing inside as a "consolation prize"
posted by advicepig at 9:29 AM on September 17
It's also very likely people want to come drop by and see you, pizza or no, and that they aren't all going to be there all at once. I'd feel OK with that party in my small house on a rainy day. I'd even consider parbaking a bunch of pizzas and topping/finishing inside as a "consolation prize"
posted by advicepig at 9:29 AM on September 17
People love not having to go to a thing they said they would go to.
posted by mullacc at 10:21 AM on September 17
posted by mullacc at 10:21 AM on September 17
In the past I have tied a tarp to the eavestroughs of my house on one end and my fence on the other to make a huge tent/awning just in case it rained. Ended up not raining but the tarp was still useful for providing some shade.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 12:52 PM on September 17
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 12:52 PM on September 17
Most people who live in rainy areas have things to wear outdoors in the rain, just let people know that there's only room for 12 people inside at once and warn them to bring rain gear, and have a rain party!
I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to use the outdoor pizza oven, all the ones I've seen have the pizza covered by the oven. The rain is not going to cool off the oven much at all.
posted by yohko at 4:01 PM on September 17
I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to use the outdoor pizza oven, all the ones I've seen have the pizza covered by the oven. The rain is not going to cool off the oven much at all.
posted by yohko at 4:01 PM on September 17
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decorate with lots of fun textiles and fairy lights. Being outside in the rain, but not actually being rained on can be a lot of fun!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 3:07 AM on September 17