Hosting my own party please give me advice!

[Freespirit24]

Hello all, happy Sundays.

I am booking a fancy lodge for my husbands Birthday for his low key party. The place allows events so I am going to invite around 40 people for the party and there's some bedrooms for some people to stay over.

I have a few things to consider and I was wanting advice on that.

1. Is it okay doing his party a month early? The lodge does not have availability during his actual birthday weekend or any other weekends around the same time. I could do it a month later but the price hikes up big time then £££!!

1. How many bottles of wine and bottles of beer do I need for 40 people for a four- hour function? A website I found said 20 bottles and like 60 bottles of beer but is this accurate?

Thanks so much in advance!

Low key party

Maybe say you'll provide X drinks but then they'd have to pay?

@IHaveBrilloHair

Originally I was going to have around 100 people so this is low key for me!

@KatherineJaneway

I do not mind providing drinks, I would not want my guests to pay unless it was a function with a bar but I just genuinely do not know how many bottles I need as I do not drink
personally!

I assume people will be bringing a bottle? Is this a significant birthday? Id’ probably get 3 cases of white, one of red and one of fizz plus three slabs of lager. Plenty of soft drinks. Is there a shop onsite in case anyone needs to buy anything?

Are you doing food ? I think an early party is fine. It sounds fun. Plenty of tea and coffee if people are staying over too.

Depending on budget, you could also do a gin station or big glass dispensers with a couple of cocktail/punch options. They look lovely with water in with some fruit too.

In terms of drinks person, I’d allow at least one bottle of wine per person and 4/5 beers each for the people who you think are likely to drink them. As long you can store the wine afterwards and use it then it’s worth over estimating I think.

Pinterest is great for getting some presentation ideas.

I think having it a month early is fine. What time of year is it?

Last night we had friends over 10 people altogether, arrived at 6 till 2am

I put out in the recycling

35 beer bottles
6 bottles of wine
1 bottle of vodka
1 bottle of whisky
DH wants to know why I'm counting bottles in the garden😂😂😂

Majestic wines do sale or return (you can return up to 40%) so I would always overestimate and return any extras.

That's not enough drink. It's only half a bottle of wine and 1.5 bottles of beer per person. You need more wine and beer and maybe some gin/vodka etc with mixers. Use Majestic to over cater on sale or return.

You need booze on sale or return if you can. What you have suggested is not nearly enough.

Going on @ParkheadParadise's ratios, you'd need:
140 beers
24 wine
8 spirits

You've got to then take into account drivers (so plenty of soft drinks too) vs those staying over, and the fact that people will probably bring some themselves.

I'd do 30 wine,10 Prosecco/champagne and 100 beers. You can always take leftovers home. I wouldn't do spirits.
Maybe a few bottles of port and Baileys for the end of the evening. Put it into glasses and serve on trays.
There's nothing worse than running out of drink or food.

I'd go to Aldi (their wine and gin is brilliant, wins awards!) and buy more than I think I need. The thought of running out of alcohol at a party gives me the horror.

I'd go with a 3-4 bottles of spirits (gin, dark rum, tequila for margs, and a whiskey is always popular later on); probably about 20 bottles of wine (I feel like over 4 hours an adult could easily drink 4 glasses) and 60 cans/bottles of beers and ciders.

Most people will also bring something, and don't feel cheeky if your friends ask you what they can bring to tell them to bring a bottle.

You'll probably have at least some left over but it lasts and you can use it up at Xmas.

Oh and get lots of food to go with all this! People always get hungry when they drink, and it will also help out the few people that see all the booze as a personal pick-and-mix challenge!

Oh gosh just seen people suggest way more. Am getting the fear- do what they say! Ha!

@TimeIhadaNameChange

Probably best to forget my ratio's unless the op wants a hangover from hell😣😣

I would over buy, wine doesnt go off so any left can be used as gifts or personal stash. I always take a bottle with me to parties, dinner invites and bbqs. I would have at least 40 bottles of wine and 100 beers maybe some ciders too. Plus some soft drinks. You could always look into a few kegs.

If it’s 4 hours you absolutely need more than 1/2 a bottle per person. That’s only 2 small glasses. You’ll know how many of the 40 will be drinking though, and how many will be on soft drinks. Def over cater. People will hopefully bring stiff but you really don’t want to be running out of drink at 9pm

Buy double what you politely expect to need.

We’ve used majestic sale or return and their wine glass hire. They are £1 deposit each, so you only pay for breakages. As long as your rental has a dishwasher you’ll be fine.

Think about everything else too:

where will people park, is there a theme, what is the dress code, how will people know when to leave, where can they stay, what music will you have, have you catered for vegetarians, when will you send invitations, how do people RSVP, what about decorations, do you need a cake, are children invited or not, what about cutlery and plates and glasses and napkins, who will clear up at the end.