Money Saving Ideas For A Party Please

DUKE

I've decided to throw a bit of a garden party for my Mom's 69th birthday which will be on 26th May. There'll be about 25-30 people coming. Now all I need to do is feed them :eek: Any ideas please folks?

TheDadOfBob

Our recent parties have been what we term "cocktail" parties. They are not as high brow as they sound.
The host downloads a list of cocktails from the net (or buys a book). Then you designate each guest with a specific bottle of spirits. All you have to do is provide the glasses, fruit juice, ice and olives (you can even get out of the fruit juice).
It's not food and might end up getting a little lively for someone of your mums age but it's a cheap way to get the party giong.

Coolmum66

Hi Duke

Hope the weather will be nice for you and Happy Birthday to your Mum
Why not ask a few of your guests to bring a dish with them?? May only work on relatives - friends may be surprised!
If you want a bbq - some local butchers do bbq packs which may work out reasonable in cost??

tallullahbelle

Hope you have a lovely day...when I have a party these days I always ask people to bring a bottle and a plate of finger food. Everyone happy to bring something- A friend has since started doing this too, amd I'm always happy to help her out. Top tip though- make sure people put the food on disposable plates or put their names on plates to save confusion later.
Have fun!

DUKE

TheDadOfBob - quite a few of them are elderly and on med's so there wont be any drink for them, plus there'll be some that are travelling a fair distance and going home the same day so no drink for them either. Great idea and I'll bear it in mind for the next party.

COOLMUM66 - I did think of a BBQ and hoped that the men could take over but decided against it just in case the weather don't hold.

tallullahbelle - I shall be doing the paper plate thing, and it's a great idea to put names on plates. My sister will be bringing the more luxury items cus she's richer than me

Thank's all

LilMissEmmylou

Why not go for the BBQ and if it rains people can just eat the food indoors? Buy all the meat in bulk from a butchers and you should get a discount. Im also another for if people ask if they can bring anything - just say yes and ask them to bring something small, a cake, a few sarnies, nothing that takes too much time and effort but still adds to the pile of food for folks to eat

also iceland do great party packs pretty cheap

DUKE

Thank's LilMissEmmyLou

hardpressed

How about proper afternoon tea? Cucumber sandwiches, then scones with cream and strawberry jam, or even just a cream tea?

belfastgirl23

A couple of big lasagnas with side salads. Or a big stew or a roast with salads. The ideal is something you can prep the day before and just stick in the oven to reheat so that on the day itself you don't have to worry about it at all. I wouldn't go the cream tea route personally because it all needs prepped pretty fresh if it is going to be nice and I'd rather have it all done and dusted the day before That said if someone did it for me I'd be dead impressed.

In fact I'd say figure out your mum's fave buffet food and provide it. She is the guest of honor and that way if anyone doesn't like it they can't grumble or they look mean

beedeedee

If many of them are elderly, they'll be quite a few things they can't or won't eat. Probable no-no's for many will be : cucumbers (indigestion), salad ( "rabbit food!"), tough stuff (finest fillet steak = teeth issues!)... I'm sure there are loads more - ask anyone with elderly rellies!

I'd stick with simple buffet finger food ( though not too much pastry - indigestion, again), stuff on sticks always disappears, as do mousse and soft desserts ( not too much cream though- "ugh sickly"). Older folk tend to eat smaller portions anyway and you won't look mean or thrifty. Make a nice cake (sponge?) and they'll probably take their slice home for their grandkids or pet.... Just make sure there are more than enough chairs in the garden for them all to sit, with tables to rest their plates and glasses or cups and have tea brewing all afternoon - somebody will want one I promise.
Hope you all have a lovely day and the weather is kind to you.

DUKE

Oh I wished I'd've thought of the cream tea idea before hardpessed - never mind I can always do that another time.

I did consider a giant stew pot belfastgirl23 but my Mom would probably spend the entire afternoon shouting at me not to burn myself - you wouldn't know I was 45 :rolleyes:

beedeedee- I've settled on the finger buffet, with probably too much sweet and sickly stuff as the older people tend to enjoy that sort of thing.

Thank you everyone much appreciated