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Parties/celebrations

Shirley's party advice part 6 - don't be afraid to interrupt us!

999 replies

Tinkerisdead · 09/06/2013 17:06

Okay, this is shirley's party advice part 6. Shirley ducked out a while ago and you'll notice us chatting about all kinds of stuff whilst we wait for party planners to barge in.

So, don't lurk, jump in and chat. We'll give you any advice on parties from costumes to cakes....

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FasterStronger · 09/06/2013 17:27

thank you DW46

hello party experts. i need advice for a BBQ for 50-100 people (not sure of numbers yet).

i am veggie but am ok with providing organic meat. we have a very large garden.

but i am a complete novice. please let me have the benefit of your experience. Grin

don't hold back. all info very welcome!

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Tinkerisdead · 09/06/2013 17:40

Right i've done a bbq this size before and it was surprisingly easy. Are u cooking yourselves or getting a bbq firm in?

If your doing it yourselves borrow an extra bbq from a friend as it really will make all the difference. If you can beg borrow or steal an extra fridge because for that many people you may want to chill and replenish food stocks.

Keep beers in empty bins/buckets of water and ice dont waste fridge room chilling drinks. We also borrowed two gazebos and extra garden furniture sets as you cant really expect that many people to perch here and there.

For food we bought ready marinated meats from a really good butcher, by ordering in advance we agreed a fixed price for the 100 people and he prepared marinated cuts/kebabs/chicken etc for me so that we literally put it on the barbie. I made salads, rice, rolls, quiche and bananas/corn etc too. This was for my dh's 30th.

If you tell us more about the occassion and who's doing the work i'll help more.(excuse typos im passenger in car on a 2.5hr journey and its bumpy!)

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stealthsquiggle · 09/06/2013 18:57

Marking my place cos you can't follow links within the android app Sad.

Where were we?

  • superheroes for nonsense
  • recap of dragon party and offloading of dragon supplies for Blathers
  • monster barbecues


Anything else?
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ThreeDaughtersLoveSandwiches · 09/06/2013 19:06

Hi

I am looking at doing a joint birthday party for my youngest 2 (they will be 5 and 3) but have very limited funds. Would it be acceptable to hire a room in a local pub (used to be a social club and they have a couple of function rooms) and just let the DC play in the little park with maybe a couple of party games?

As it is a joint party there will be about 20 DC invited and all organised parties are well over £100!

Thank you :)

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RhondaJean · 09/06/2013 19:16

Marking place shamelessly! Need graduation party help but can't post right now.

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stealthsquiggle · 09/06/2013 19:17

More than acceptable, threedaughters. If you want to make an "economy" party more memorable, it's often helpful to go for a theme of some sort - rainbows have been a popular option round here lately (see previous threads Smile)

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stealthsquiggle · 09/06/2013 19:23

Blathers - my phone battery is about to die, but I did dragon themed team games (dragon hoopla, dragon tail relay, dragon egg and spoon), pin the fire on the dragon, splat the knight, and 'dragon says' (DS and his bossy hand puppet dragon), dragon's footsteps (with DB2's huge cuddly dragon), and pass the parcel. Crafts were colour in flying dragons from Oriental Trading and colouring sheets.

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stealthsquiggle · 09/06/2013 19:24

I have various things left over - I will check exactly what and let you know

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Mckayz · 09/06/2013 19:28

I need some cake ideas. DD will be 1 on the 20th and just having a little tea for family. I am going for the Very Hungry Caterpillar theme.
I am not sure if I should make a normal sponge cake and make a caterpillar to put on it, to try and make a caterpillar shaped cake or make cupcakes and arrange them into a caterpillar shape?

Which would you go for?

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stealthsquiggle · 09/06/2013 19:50

Mckayz - I can't link to it right now, but I have done a VHC cake, and Blathers did an allergy friendly one. I will link later - both were caterpillar shaped, although I also found some cool 2D ones when I was looking for inspiration.

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Blatherskite · 09/06/2013 20:37

Stealth has done an amazing VHC cake too. Will post a pic of mine if I can find one on my netbook.

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Blatherskite · 09/06/2013 20:38

Sorry, for some reason I though that was DW posting. I think Juneathon is beginning to affect my brain!

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Blatherskite · 09/06/2013 20:40

effect?

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Blatherskite · 09/06/2013 20:41

I can't even find 'Mymumsnet' to upload the photo.

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RhondaJean · 09/06/2013 20:46

Right he's popped out.

Dh is graduating next month. Ie arranged a surprise party for him in a local pub.

I've been through his FB contacts to write an invite list.

Pub is doing buffet.
I've spoken to balloon people about decs.
I've got a banner.
Friend is doing cake.

What have I forgotten?
I've never done a party before and I'm stressed and scared noone turns up.

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Mckayz · 09/06/2013 20:49

Blathers, the cakes on your profile are amazing.

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Blatherskite · 09/06/2013 21:06

Wait until you see Stealth's cakes....!

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Mckayz · 09/06/2013 21:17

I'd love to be able to make good cakes. My best one was an airplane.

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Blatherskite · 09/06/2013 21:36

I found My Mumsnet so the caterpillar cake pic is up.

The aeroplane looks great Mckayz.

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stealthsquiggle · 09/06/2013 21:39

Rhondajean - music?

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Mckayz · 09/06/2013 21:45

That is really good Blathers, thank you for sharing.

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stealthsquiggle · 09/06/2013 21:48

this is a very effective 2D one.


this is mine, and if you scroll back and forth in the 'cakes' set you can see others.

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ThreeDaughtersLoveSandwiches · 09/06/2013 21:58

Right I have had an idea!

DD2 loves drawing and painting so I am going to do a craft party. DD3 will have friends there but not as many so they can join in as well.

I was thinking of something along the lines of:

Arrive and play a couple of party games
Sit at tables and paint a canvas, that they then take home with them instead of a party bag full of tat.
Party lunch
Ending with a scavenger hunt type thing. I was thinking of putting up laminated pictures everywhere and for every picture they have to write a number on a sheet. When they have it filled in they can collect a little bag of sweets
If time left they can play in the little park.

Does that sound ok? Also DD2 wants to invite a girl from her class who uses a walker, would this be suitable?

The girls don't really love the same thing at the moment (DD2 love Hello Kitty and DD3 seems to think she is George from Peppa Pig) so I was thinking a more neutral theme or is crafts enough of a theme on its own?

I was thinking of trying to make a cake (I am rubbish at cakes) in the shape of a canvas and using food colouring to paint a picture on it, does that sound ok?

I don't know why I am getting so carried away now the party isn't until August Grin

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Tinkerisdead · 09/06/2013 22:03

Lol i start a new thread and everyone comes rushing in.

threedaughters a joint party is fine. We tend to recommend themes because its far easier to piece a day together than trying to cram odd ideas in. I went to a 4/5 joint party today that was heros and princesses, rainbow theme i did and worked well, ive done a gruffalo party before but julia donaldson would be a wider idea and loads of ideas on the gruffalo website based on other books. For 100.00 you could do tons. If you do want to go with a theme come back and tell us and we'll theme your food/games/cake/decorations around it for you.

rhondajean if your at all crafty balloons are piss easy to do yourself if you wanted to save the money for drink/food. Music you'll need. You dont mention what he graduated in, however, my dh graduated yesterday. Because he did his course over years and wasnt in a class both he and his mum commented that he didnt have anyone to do that "chucking your hats in the air" photo. You return your cap/gown after the graduation ceremony so could you maybe get mortar boards for a mock photo or something with his closest peers/family if he's in the same boat?

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Tinkerisdead · 09/06/2013 22:06

Cross posts threedaughters craft party is perfect but i reckon we can get you a more impressive easy cake idea than that.

Where do you live in the country because i live near the worlds cheapest bestest craft for kids shop in the universe which will be ideal for this. Ive gotta go cos my dd is having a night terror waking the baby one but the others will be along again soon im sure.

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