When checking my email recently, I found an evite invitation to a shower for one of my closest friends. Yay! Then I noticed the date - I had already missed the party. The invitation was sent less than two days before the party (and I don't check that particular account more than once every 1-2 days). When I opened the full invitation, I could see that everybody else was invited well over a month ago (because the website shows the RSVP dates), but I was apparently added at the last minute.
More than anything, I'm amused by it, especially considering I live 6 hours away and definitely need advance notice to come to town. (Although I'm not friends with them, the people hosting the party have met me multiple times and know I live out-of-state.) I couldn't have attended regardless of whether I had been invited in a timely manner - I had prior obligations that were scheduled months ago. I could, however, have sent a card and gift.
It seems silly to RSVP after the fact, so I didn't. I'm not even sure whether to mention it to the friend. I feel like acknowleding the shower would make me look bad for not RSVPing and not sending a gift, even though I couldn't because the invitation was so late! My thought is to ignore it, and just bring her a gift the next time I see her. What would you do?
Moral of the story: If you're doing an A list and a B list for a party, make sure people can't tell when they check the online invitation! Or, if you completely forgot to invite somebody until the last minute (which may have been the case), include a note of apology so the guest doesn't wonder why the heck they were invited so late.