to ask for party planning tips?

[Diel]

I am planning a birthday party for myself but haven't ever had a party so looking for tips! Have invited 105 including a few children and thinking of doing my own buffet. I am panicking though, what if only a few come? What if too many come? How much food should I make? I have booked venue, band and balloons...what else? Talented friend is making decorations. Thanks!

[Allthebestnamesareused]

When you send out invitations make sure you put an RSVP by (date) on it. Also sending proper paper invitations in the post do generate more rsvps even if you say to rsvp by email or text because if you just invite over social media people don't treat it as a personal invitation as such.

Once you know the numbers then you'll have a better idea of what to cook. Perhaps a few good friends would be prepared to help out by making sausage rolls, quiches etc? Waitrose entertaining is also your friend - even if its to nick ideas rather than for them to provide. Certain items are really cheap. Always check the weight and number each serves. That gives you a good idea eg. if making your own coleslaw or potato salad.

Alternatively if there is somewhere to "cook" or "Warm" food at the venue then sometimes doing a few big curries/chilis/lasagnes can be easier than a full buffet.

[RiversrunWoodville]

I'm highly impressed you know and like 105 people enough to want to invite them!
I would go with lots of casseroles and curries too, that way plenty of warm food and easy to batch cook and keep warm, cocktail sausages and sausage rolls for the kids (or my DH) and a few potato salad/ coleslaws and breads and you are sorted. Often friends and family will ask what they can bring too.
For dessert ideas I tend to go things like cheesecakes and brownies that are easy and quick and go a long way and can be put either in a big tin and cut or individual cardboard loaf tins and go further

[Diel]

Ha! 105 includes a really big family and dc have invited some friends Thanks for the advice, already learned my lesson with invites so now following up with paper invites