Neglected At Party

Let it go, life’s too short to worry. And don’t forget you were late arrivals.

Just message back saying lovely to see you, sorry we were late, had a great time, can't believe you are (the age) you are!

You surely aren't thinking of having a moan?

Just let it go. You were invited and it isn’t worth the hassle to complain.

Your friend was probably up to her eyes with friends and family and she couldn’t regulate what the guests were eating and drinking and why should she? Either go late and accept the consequences or don’t go at all.

I guess that what happens when you turn up late, hey ho.
It wasn't your birthday so why the fuss?

You were an hour and a quarter late so you can’t really complain although I understand it wasn’t your fault if there were only limited drinks, chocolates I guess they had been used up by then, not sure why there wasn’t enough seats for the number invited unless a few strays turned up before you
Not worth making a fuss as you were very late if you d been there on time and got nothing then it would have been worse

I can understand your feelings but I don’t think there’s anything you can do except let it go. Just send a reply thanking them for the invite.

I'm sure she was busy with the guests who had already arrived and didn't think to leave food aside for later. I'd of just nipped to a takeaway on way home if you were hungry. Just thank her for her invite whether you enjoyed it or not, you will be glad you did in a couple of weeks time, that's a long friendship, hold on to it.

Maybe she thought you wouldn't make it after all?

How did she greet you otherwise?

Honestly, too many people in a party to catch up properly with friends - one on ones are better, imho

If this is the first faux pas, I would let it go.
If not, I would reexamine my expectations with the friendship

Agree with Hithere

how about,

"thank you for the invite, it was nice to see so many people"

suitably ambiguous.

Very good idea, there.

How old are you, OP? Do you read any of the threads where people have real problems?

This happened at my friends party a few years ago.
We were on time with a lot of others but not much food on offer. Plenty of drink but food run out quickly. Mutual friends had a terrible journey there, through London and lots of road closures, consequently arriving late. Nothing for them to eat. I felt so bad for them .
The party took place in their rather large house, money no problem so why didn’t they cater appropriately. Rather have too much than too little.

The lovely thing about gransnet, Kitty is having wide and varied threads.

I've just remembered going to a barbeque where there was no food to be had.
They'd eaten it all, and half washed and wiped up when we arrived.

We’re you guests of honour at the party?
No?
Then I’m afraid being so rude as to turn up half way through the evening -even with a reason- you can’t complain that you were “neglected”.
I imagine your friend had invited lots of other friends and as late arrivals it’s just your bad luck the other guests had eaten the food and presumably drunk the wine!
(Do people not mingle and mill around at parties any more? In my day nobody sat down and you were either served your drinks as you chatted or helped yourself from the bar )

OP ‘Please tell me your neglected at party experiences!‘

I was one of two families - I think there were eight of us - that arrived simultaneously at a much larger family New Year gathering, held in an aunt’s large holiday let, at 12.30 pm as requested on the invitation. We joined everyone else as they were just starting on their pudding! ‘The children and Aunty J were hungry and couldn’t wait’ we were told. My sister had been allocated the cheese and biscuits to bring but my salads mostly returned with us. To this day we wonder why we were so polite!

I have replied thanking them and saying had a lovely time.
I had explained in advance I would be late due to the flight being late! In fact I had changed my arrangements so I could make the party. I had run myself ragged to be there.
I feel really stupid about all this. Please ignore me. 1st world problems.

Don't apologise.
Sometimes you need a neutral point of view (or several) to mull things over in your own mind.

Ahh don’t beat yourself up airy you ve done the right thing by thanking them it’s all over bar the shouting you probably felt worse about it as you were tired and felt disappointed
Put it behind you here’s to the next time
I can’t remember the last time I went to a party 😳they don’t come along often at my age

I was invited to a party and a candidate boyfriend was driving me there

He forgot I existed 5 minutes after arriving there and wouldnt detach from his best friend- another girl

I honestly couldn't stop laughing and met lots of nice people

I later talked to a classmate and he did the same thing to her

i have loads of problems and i would have still been annoyed, if that helps?

You might even be more annoyed than usual, with this problem on top of all your other ones.

In the noughties I travelled from the south to the very north of England to a friend's wedding. It was in a very old castle. They ran out of food so we had cheese wotsits. There was no heating so I spent the reception in my yachting jacket. Funnily enough it is the one wedding we still laugh about.