The Exotic Teapot

My cousin has asked me to help in planning her daughter's birthday. It seems to me that my family has now discovered my ability with party planning!

The situation is a bit unique. Casey (my cousin's daughter) and her best friend want to have a single party. We know her friend's parents, and we thought that it would be alright. But right now, since some of the guests are clearly from Casey's side and some are from her friend's, we are faced with the problem on how to tell guests that they don't need to bring gifts to both girls. We don't want them to feel that they need to bring 2 gifts.

Why don't you just give out separate invitations? That way, the guests would not feel obliged to bring 2 gifts since they would not know there are actually 2 girls having 1 party.

I agree with Mayling. I think having separate invites would be the best way. Then, you may just tell a few friends that it's actually going to be a joint party so they would not be surprised when they arrive.

It would not be proper to do it the other way around - giving a joint invitation and telling guests to bring only one gift. It's like telling them they need to bring a gift to your cousin's daughter.

If I know there will be two birthday girls in a party I will be attending, I would be bringing two gifts even if I don't know the other one. It would be really sad if after the party, one girl realises she has less gifts than the other.