Christening party catering fallen through - HELP!

[IHateToCashew]

Long story short, our fantastically priced caterer can no longer do our event. Basically we cancelled, expecting only 35 people which I thought I could easily do myself. Now all of DH's invitees that haven't responded are attending, bumping it up to 100. Caterer has fair enough taken on another job. Really can't afford another so it looks like I'm catering for 100+ people

The invitations said 'afternoon tea'. Do you think I could get away with making a dozen or so cakes and doing simple canapés? I really don't want to get into sandwich making!

Does anyone have some really quick, easy, tasty and cheap recipes? We'll be traveling four hours to our hometown the day before, so it doesn't leave me with much time to sort out the hall and prep food.

[IHateToCashew]

Oh. And I'll have one person helping me the morning of the party other than that it's just me and my incredibly helpful then 5 month year old.

[Emma198]

Morrison's do big sandwich platters really affordable x

[Emma198]

PS I'd be so posses at those 65 attendees!

[Emma198]

Haha *pissed bloody autocorrect.

[IHateToCashew]

Oh! I'll have a look online I'd never have thought of Morrison's.

I just want to make it as simple as possible. If I can fob sandwich making on someone else I'll happily do it.

And incredibly pissed at them all. But not overly surprised!

[PurpleDaisies]

I agree that supermarket sandwich platters are the best way forward here.

Call in the godparents to help in the morning.

Who is coming? If there are close friends, could you ask five people to each bring a cake/plate of biscuits etc? I’ve done that for friends’ christening parties. Otherwise, Lidl/Aldi do nice, cheap cakes.

How on earth did your numbers go so wrong?

[PurpleDaisies]

What’s your budget?

[PandaPieForTea]

I’ve seen recommendations on MN for services.costco.co.uk/deli/

Not tried myself.

[Emma198]

Oh yeah Costco sandwiches are amazing if you're a member and there's one nearby.

[IHateToCashew]

Our numbers went wrong because they didn't reply to the invites, and when directly asked said they couldn't make it! So bring me I spent the extra £150 I'd set aside to feed them all They basically changed their minds and I can hardly say none of DH's family can come

I was looking at £100 for the original 35 guests. This now needs to stretch to 100. Somehow.

My mums just volunteered some mini apple tarts and babysitting services the morning off my nan's agreed to bake two cakes, my aunts going to do some macaroons and my cousin has volunteered her help and a cupcake making machine. So this doesn't seem so dire after all!

[mummabeargrr]

Sainsbury's do brilliant platters of sandwiches/ cakes /fruit / pies etc. You pick up the morning of the do and sorted.

[IHateToCashew]

I think we'd have to collect the day before the Sainsbury's closest to the church opens at 10:30 ... the same time the christening starts.

This could work I can beg and borrow peoples fridges for chilled bits and run it all in first thing in the morning.

[2cats2many]

Costco food is very nice, fresh and good value. You could put some post bits in from. m&S end Waitrose entertaining too.

[GreenTulips]

Grab some bags of crisps and nuts
Say yes to anyone who can bring a cake
Buy squash for the kids or those small juice cartons/bottled water and tea coffee for adults lay it out as help yourself (there's always some old aunts that like to help)
Buy some cheaper biscuits to add some colour.

It's doable!!!

Good luck

[AdaColeman]

Scones would fit the afternoon tea theme and are quick and cheap to make.
Make small ones, to serve cut in half and dollop with cream & jam, serve the halves separately don't sandwich together.

Ready made frittata and cocktail sausages would be other quick things, Sainsbury's would be somewhere to get them.

[AdaColeman]

Another quick idea, slices of malt loaf or fruit bread (Ian Rankin does some nice ones, Sainsbury's again) just quickly buttered.

[sashh]

Subway also do party platters, and a pizza delivery might work out well.

Some local sandwich shops will also do catering packs, on and Greggs do platters too www.greggs.co.uk/platters/classic-sandwich-platter

[IHateToCashew]

DH has pointed out that his lot may just do what they did at the wedding and bring a packed lunch with wotsits and Capri suns ...

I think you're all right though. Supermarket bits are the way forward.

[Ariela]

I'd make scones in advance( you can freeze them).
Buy big jars of jam in the supermarket, and ask on Freegle/local FB groups for Gu dessert jars / similar small jars - divvy up to jars to go on tables.
Go to Macro (it was cheapest when we did this last summer) and buy clotted cream to divvy up in remainder of jars.
Costco for a platter of sandwiches. (Or Morrisons as suggested above)
Iceland for sausage rolls - cook these the day before.
Make cakes in rectangular shape during the days before, cut into rectangles/squares.
Buy or make flapjack - dip corners in chocolate = florentines.
Job done!

[AdaColeman]

Oh! That baker is Paul Rankin not Ian!!

[BreakfastAtSquiffanys]

Ask those who changed their mind to bring something to afternoon tea buffet!

[Emma198]

Ian Rankin 😂🤣

[Sprinklesinmyelbow]

Christ you wanted £100 for 35 guests and now need £100? I have just catered for 20 children and 20 adults with M&S platters and pate, cheese etc and it was over £300

[annandale]

I'd go for a bring and share setup, except that this lot don't sound too reliable! Hope you get lots of offers though.

[kateandme]

make big quiches ut into slices
same with frittata
big sheets of ready rolled puff pastry.lay all sorts of combinations on top.cheese tomato,pesto chicken.pepper and salmi.bacon and egg.cook.slice.so like puff pastry slices.