Parents Adding Tip Requests to Kids' Birthday Invitations Spark Debate

A video posted by home baker Victoria Perry displayed birthday invitations that contain a small note encouraging guests to contribute cash for a tip bucket to offset party expenses. The practice has ignited a debate online, with etiquette consultant Charles MacPherson stating that hosts should bear all costs and that requesting tips is unreasonable, while still acknowledging that gifts remain optional. Party-service entrepreneur Victoria Paige, who runs a costumed-performer company, said she has not seen tip requests on invitations before but observes that performers sometimes receive tips and vendors may place tip jars at events.

She attributes the surge in party spending to post-pandemic demand for elaborate, Instagram-worthy celebrations, which can run into thousands of dollars. Perry notes that some customers are becoming more budget-conscious, opting for smaller cakes rather than asking guests to tip. While the phenomenon appears limited, with Perry encountering only a handful of such invitations in recent years, experts warn it could backfire if guests remember the expense negatively.