> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.uplifter.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How can I offer birthday party slots?

> Compare offering birthday party slots as a booking or as a program per slot, including how you find out about a request and when families pay.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * **Bookings is a plan feature.** It's off by default and built for reserving a space or staff time in time slots.
  * **Families pay when they book**, even when a booking needs approval. Rejecting a reservation doesn't refund them, and booking lines can't be refunded from the invoice refund dialog yet.
  * **No alert for booking requests.** Uplifter doesn't notify staff: watch the badge next to **Bookings** in the sidebar.
  * **Parties sold as a program.** Staff hear about a new enrollment only if you add a **Program Enrollment** notification rule for **Staff & Coaches** (see below).
</Note>

Offer each party slot as a booking or as its own program:

| | Booking | Program per slot |
| - | - | - |
| Families | Pick a date and time, then pay | Register and pay like any program |
| How you find out | No alert: watch the **Bookings** badge | A **Program Enrollment** rule you add for staff |
| Invoice refund | Not yet | Yes |

**Set up a party booking.** Families find bookings on your club website's **Programs** page, grouped by category, each with **Book Now**.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create the booking">
    Go to **Registrations > Bookings** and click **Add booking**. On the **General** step, set the name and **Price**, and turn on **Require Approval** to review each request first.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the party length">
    On the **Schedule** step, add your **Availability**, then set **Duration (minutes)** to the party length (1 to 480) and **Buffer (minutes)** for clean-up.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set capacity and create">
    On the **Requirements** step, switch on **Capacity**, which counts attendees. **Athlete Registration** counts each reservation as 1 attendee and charges the price once, so a capacity of 1 means one party per slot. **Open Registration** asks for **Number of Attendees**, multiplies the price by it and counts every attendee. Then click **Create Booking** on the last step.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**Require Approval delays confirmation, not payment.** Families see "This booking requires admin approval. Your reservation will be pending until approved." Pending requests hold no slot, so several can stack on one time. Approving one that would overflow capacity is refused. **Reject** only marks it Cancelled, with no refund or message, so contact the family yourself.

**Finding requests.** Besides the sidebar badge (Active bookings only), the Bookings list has a **Pending** column.

**A program per slot.** Create one program per party time, with one session and a **Maximum Capacity** of 1 or more. To keep slots private, [hide them from your club website](/club/programs-classes/hide-program-from-marketing-site) or [use an early-access code](/club/programs-classes/give-early-access-with-a-code).

**Alert staff about an enrollment.** In **Settings > Communication > Notifications**, click **Add notification** and choose the **Program Enrollment** trigger, leaving **Timing** on **After** (the default). Pick your party programs on the **Scope** step and **Staff & Coaches** on the **Audience** step. Save it despite the warning that this audience isn't connected; staff still get a copy.

**Want interest before you commit a slot?** There's no waitlist-only setup: capacity must be at least 1, and a waitlist opens only once a program is full. The closest fit is [an application-based program](/club/programs-classes/application-approval-program): with **Enrollment Mode** set to **Application Required**, families click **Request to Join** and aren't charged until you approve. **Enrollment Mode** appears only when Uplifter turns on **Program Applications**, a plan feature that's off by default. Without it, an Application Required program shows families no join button.

**What about an event?** Events have a **Party** type, but without Event Ticketing only staff can add attendees, so families can't book one.

**Related:** [How do I create a bookable space or lesson?](/club/events-competitions/create-a-bookable-space-or-lesson) · [How do I review and approve booking reservations?](/club/events-competitions/approve-booking-reservations) · [How do booking slots and capacity work?](/club/events-competitions/how-booking-slots-and-capacity-work) · [How do I create a notification rule?](/club/communications/how-do-i-create-a-notification-rule)