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Post by littlemama on Feb 4, 2016 16:42:44 GMT
So, we have rented a place for ds' graduation party and I am starting to have questions, most of them about food and quantities!
How on earth do you even begin to figure out how much food you need?! I started a list last night, and with none of ds' friends, I am at around 160 people, so I am figuring on about 300 invitees all together. Is there a percentage to figure will actually come and eat, and how do you decide how much you need per person? The party is on a Friday evening from 5-10pm is that makes a difference |
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iowgirl
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Post by iowgirl on Feb 4, 2016 17:13:41 GMT
You have to figure a lot will not come. Do you have a lot of grad parties at the same time in your area? This can factor in to how much food everyone will eat. Our parties were always on days that there were no other parties, or maybe one party...
I think we had about 150 people actually show at each of my kids' parties - but more invites were sent. It's kind of hard to count after a while. Especially all the kids that show up. So it may have been more.
I had food planned for about that many. I had it at my home and made all the food myself, so by the time the party started - I was ready for a beer, or 10, and really didn't keep an accurate count. I know all 200 cupcakes were gone - but a lot of people ate more than one! LOL
I think I smoked 9 large pork loins and had just a little leftover (I sliced it very thin with an electric slicer). I would have to look up how much pasta salad I made.. I think I had 5 big ice cream pails though. I had one large roaster of party beans, 2 roasters of cheesy potatoes, I also served chips with the meal and had bowls of snack mix on all the tables. I made 4 kinds of cupcakes and a couple different kinds of cookies. I think I had about 10 dozen cookies. They were all gone. Just chocolate chip and peanut butter. Easy ones to make ahead and freeze.
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ginacivey
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refupea #2 in southeast missouri
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Post by ginacivey on Feb 4, 2016 17:29:23 GMT
holy shit
who all are you inviting?
i know A LOT of people and i'd never come close to inviting 300 people!
good for you guys!
i plan on 25% - people coming after 7pm aren't going to expect a meal (at least they wouldn't here)
can you change it from a 'party' to and 'open house'?
gina
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Post by littlemama on Feb 4, 2016 17:38:01 GMT
holy shit who all are you inviting? i know A LOT of people and i'd never come close to inviting 300 people! good for you guys! i plan on 25% - people coming after 7pm aren't going to expect a meal (at least they wouldn't here) can you change it from a 'party' to and 'open house'? gina Trust me, I was stunned when I started writing the list! We only invited 90 to our wedding and had about 70 come! There are out of towners who we don't think will be able to come, but a lot of the people are family and close friends, dh's long time softball teammates and their families, ds' baseball teammates and some of their families, and people who have been involved in ds' life for a long time. Most of the invitees have kids, which I think is inflating the number quite a bit, too. It is an open house (they all are around here), and I would only plan to serve dinner from 5-7, then if there happens to be anything left, people can eat til it's gone. The party is July 1, so there may be some who go out of town.
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Deleted
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May 6, 2024 16:56:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2016 17:41:39 GMT
Do not serve dinner!
The cupcakes and cookies are a great idea. I did that. And a fruit veggie cheese table.
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Post by lovinlife on Feb 4, 2016 17:55:41 GMT
I say keep it simple. Like others have said people won't come and even those that do won't eat as much as you think.
The best lesson I learned a couple of years ago is to try not to stress to much over the party since I did and didn't enjoy it as much. Also, have others watch the food so you can enjoy the party that you don't end up trying to monitor food and drink etc.
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Post by cindyupnorth on Feb 4, 2016 17:59:03 GMT
I would definitely serve some food with the times you posted. People usually eat small at these things. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for both girls open houses. We also did 2 sides, a pasta or veggie cold dish, and then baked beans, chips. One dd did cake, which worked better, and other did cupcakes, which was a pain!!! Cake is just better, because you can cut the pieces bigger or smaller as the night goes on. Vs cupcakes, ya either run out, or have too much.
At that time we would have also served pop, punch, coffee and beer.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Feb 4, 2016 18:03:57 GMT
Rule of thumb is 1/3 won't come. But you might have fewer than that if there are other parties going on.
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Post by bc2ca on Feb 4, 2016 18:04:53 GMT
DD graduated last year and we had a Sunday afternoon BBQ/open house. We picked our date partly based on hearing about the number of parties planned for Fri and Sat night the weekend of graduation (ceremony was on the Thursday night) and partly based on having all weekend to prep. We invited about 150 and had about 100 come throughout the afternoon. Keeping food simple really helped (for us it was pork souvlaki, Greek salad, taztiziki & pita bread with lots of vegetables, chips, fresh fruit, cupcakes & cookies).
There are a ton of events planned that weekend and be prepared that half your kids' friends' parents will also be hosting events or entertaining their own out-of-town guests. Our experience was very few parents came and the kids were traveling in groups from one party to the next. DD and her friends did that Fri night & Sat afternoon/night, carefully plotting their path to hit as many parties as they could. The one they ended at on Friday night was the biggest party at a local hotel with a dj & dancing.
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Post by littlemama on Feb 4, 2016 18:17:58 GMT
I would definitely serve some food with the times you posted. People usually eat small at these things. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for both girls open houses. We also did 2 sides, a pasta or veggie cold dish, and then baked beans, chips. One dd did cake, which worked better, and other did cupcakes, which was a pain!!! Cake is just better, because you can cut the pieces bigger or smaller as the night goes on. Vs cupcakes, ya either run out, or have too much. At that time we would have also served pop, punch, coffee and beer. Oh, absolutely we would serve food at a party right at dinner time! NOT having food was never a consideration. We can't grill at the venue, but there is a stove and refrigerator, and lots of plugs, etc. In theory, I could make the food myself and do sloppy joes, walking tacos/nachos, pulled pork, but that seems like a TON of work, especially at those numbers. We are looking at catering - around $10-12 per person - kinda makes the total a bit scary!!
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Post by scrappersue on Feb 4, 2016 18:28:08 GMT
Our out of town family ate the food, but the kids that were going from party to party did not. I did convince a few of them to take a cupcake. We had WAY to much food in the end. I sent home food with all the out of town family.
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smalltowngirlie
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Post by smalltowngirlie on Feb 4, 2016 18:58:05 GMT
When I look at our guest list it is quite large also, big families and such. I will most likely be trimming it down as the time draws near. I have people on my list whose kids have graduated recently and we did not get an invite, so I feel comfortable not inviting them to DS's. We are having his party the day before graduation because it is the only day that works for us. I am thinking you might have a lot of people out of town for the Fourth of July weekend.
We will be doing chicken and smoked pork tacos and fixings. I will be cooking the meat ahead of time and throwing it in steamers the day of. We will do simple side dishes to go with it, mainly fresh fruit and a salad or two. I have had a lot of friends step up and say they will help me the day of and before if needed. I am doing my best to keep it simple. I want to enjoy the day.
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Post by lancermom on Feb 4, 2016 20:50:29 GMT
Keep it simple, YES!! I don't remember how many we invited, but figured 15% would not come to the party. I was right. I was wrong on the cupcakes. I should have cut those in half. We had pulled pork, a cold side, warm side and two kinds of chips. We had a variety of bars. Next party, I may skip the cupcakes.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Feb 5, 2016 14:38:50 GMT
I would definitely serve some food with the times you posted. People usually eat small at these things. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for both girls open houses. We also did 2 sides, a pasta or veggie cold dish, and then baked beans, chips. One dd did cake, which worked better, and other did cupcakes, which was a pain!!! Cake is just better, because you can cut the pieces bigger or smaller as the night goes on. Vs cupcakes, ya either run out, or have too much. At that time we would have also served pop, punch, coffee and beer. Oh, absolutely we would serve food at a party right at dinner time! NOT having food was never a consideration. We can't grill at the venue, but there is a stove and refrigerator, and lots of plugs, etc. In theory, I could make the food myself and do sloppy joes, walking tacos/nachos, pulled pork, but that seems like a TON of work, especially at those numbers. We are looking at catering - around $10-12 per person - kinda makes the total a bit scary!!
If you are wanting to save a bit of money I would do a combination of cooking/catering. I would buy a cake/veggies/chips/dips. Have the meat and sides catered. I would also do something like BBQ, or pasta, so people can take as much/little as they like. As opposed to burgers or something where there is a predetermined portion size. |
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