The Great ‘how to host a big party on the cheap' Hunt

sarahemmm

This seems to be mostly about weddings, but I am now in final planning for an 80th birthday celebration in September. We have enough space for the guests (about 40) and its both cheaper and nicer to be at home (well, I'm lucky, we've got a great house).

Marquee/gazebo thing on the patio as insurance against rain. If it doesn't rain we'll leave the sides off. This is one my brother bought for £60 for his daughter's 21st earlier in the year. If we look after it, it should do several more parties.

Decorations: I've bought a huge quantity of different coloured florists' ribbon and a special cutter/curler thingy. Will make a number of large multi-loop bows with streamers and hang them around the marquee, over some 'silk' saris. I've used red/purple/orange/gold/copper because those are mother's favourite colours. Tables will have some fabric and ribbons draped over them.

Food: the comments above about not serving trays and trays of hot food is very sensible. However, it may be cool, so I'm aiming for a buffet with some hot items. I want the food to be special and memorable, not the stuff you find on every catered buffet. We will start with blinis and 'caviar' and champagne cocktails (sounds posh, but you can use cava and nobody will know). Soup will be one that can be hot or cold - probably courgette, which is delicious and suits the vegtarians. Then a salmon terrine, a chicken dish (haven't finalised that one yet, may be hot or cold) and a (hot) baked brie in phyllo pastry. Several salads which can be made ahead, variety of bread (will order this from our local bakery). Pudding will be chestnut icecream (served in shot glasses if I can get them) with mini brownies.

Drinks: champagne cocktails (cava, orange liqueur, raspberries, orange zest), Pimm's made with ginger beer, lavender lemonade, usual fruit juices and water (all from Lidl - they are pretty nice).

China and glass: I was resigning myself to paper plates, but I've just bought 65 glass plates on ebay, which I can use and then resell. Found a place selling cheap cutlery, so will be able to sell that too. Hoping to find glasses, but may have to go with plastic for them. I went to the 99p shop and QD and bought a number of large salad bowls, oval servers, baskets for bread, fancy straws and such - spent about £25.

If you have a party at home, don't forget to lay in pleny of toilet paper!

Gangstabird

You can make 30 bottles of wine from wilkinsons using a kit for £15. Even if you purchase the stuff needed to make it, you will still save loads.

Buy tableclothes from ebay or hem old sheets from charity shops and use them.

Get the tableware from poundland, if it's a kids party, put a load of felts on the table and get them to decorate.

Charity shops for glasses, you can pick up champagne glasses extremely cheaply. Ours sell them for 10p. You can do place settings by writing on them in gold/silver glass paint.

Cake, make it yourself and use cake pens to decorate. I made a 40th cake and very simply bought a fresh flower from the florists - everyone loved it and it cost a fraction of what it would in the bakers. Also if you have a cake shop near you it's so worth buying their rollable icing, it's really easy just roll plonk and chop round the edges and you have a blank canvas.

NikNak_3

Hi everyone, I need some help!

I'm organising a surprise "70's themed" 30th Birthday Party for my boyfriend in November. I have already booked a room and a DJ, but I need some help/ideas/inspiration for food and decorations.

Hopefully most people will come in fancy dress, but I need ideas about how to "dress" the room up and give it a good atmosphere.

All advice will be greatly appreciated!

KLB

Perhaps get some vintage 70s psychadelic fabric off ebay to cover a wall? Or you could get old 70s style posters - charlies angels, staying alive, etc. Mirror balls are definitely 70s, better with a spotlight on to add to the disco lighting. You could make bunting quite quickly out of 70s fabric, just trianges cut out and stapled to a bit of ribbon? Incense is quite 70s, and bead curtains...

You probably won't need much in the way of 70s decor, the people in their outfits will dress the place!

NikNak_3

Thanks for that, will definately get onto ebay and look for some fabric!

bettyboo76

I am new to all this but Im getting married next september in gretna green so dont know how i can save money there but need help with food ideas and decor for the evening party when we get back from gretna.I really want black and white as a theme.