Party - do I have to feed people?

[Dawevi]

I'm having a big party for an upcoming big birthday, hiring a venue and getting a band or DJ but that is quite expensive. I was looking at catering prices and realise that it will push the party into a price bracket that I'm really uncomfortable with. I was wondering if a party starts at 8:00 or 8: 30 do I really need to feed people?

If I was really clear on the invitations to eat before you come (I'm not sure how I would word this, suggestions are welcome please) then do you think people would be okay with that?

For previous big birthdays I have catered but things are different financially now.

Alternatively, I wondered about just providing bowls of nibbles on the tables.

What do you think? If you went to a party would you be cross if you had to you eat before you went?

Telling everyone to bring their own blinis is a bit much...

This has been answered

Many pubs struggle in the winter months and would be happy to host the evening if you use their bar!
then you could do some food

How about you provide the venue and suggest everyone brings a plate of whatever and bottle.
plate and bottle parties are fun.

Yes you need to offer food. How many people are you planning to invite? In the past I’ve put slow cookers out filled with chilli and others filled with wrapped jacket spuds for people to help themselves to. With salad, tortillla chips, salsa, cheese etc etc. Inexpensive and easy xx

Yes you need some canapes or party food. (But I don't get the jacket potato at a party what?!) We just had my DH 50 & we like to party ;) We paid paid for canapes type stuff most of it eaten! I presume you'll have a cake at least? It all sounds v v expensive where you are though but unfortunately wil come across mean with just a few bowls if crisps no matter how much you pay for a band etc. I find lots people do give presents even if you say not to so we were glad we'd nice canapés as well as banging music :)

Agree with this am shocked they charging that sort of price when it's dead in pubs in winter our local wouldn't dream of charging when they got 60-70 in ready to drink all night. You don't get a private room but still!

Spinach dip (images.app.goo.gl/G2ud8noBU26ZCZ2a7) hummus and vege sticks, cheese boards, crisps, etc would be my go to. Or go onto the domino's app that has half price pizzas and just order a dozen pizzas in 👍

My friend had this same dilemma and just did bowls of nibbles which everyone accepted especially as she’d specified no gifts. It was near a town centre so there were food options nearby if people wanted food.

I cook a big pot of chilli and rice and provide bowls of cheese,avocado, sour cream and baguettes. It all goes!

We had a party last year. The venue had changed and you could only use their caterers which was expensive (compared to what we had provided 5 years before when we last used the venue). We gave them £200 and asked them to provide nibbles. It wasn’t much but we warned guests that there wouldn’t be a full buffet and everyone still came.

my husband never eats a buffets and I’m vegi and often don’t get much. It doesn’t ever bother me if food isn’t provided.

I’m lucky as I don’t eat at Buffets ( I don’t trust folk have washed their hands after using the toilet) and this was a definite recently thank goodness I had eaten before I went. But I agree with many if you can’t afford food you can’t afford a party 🎉

Girl WHAT? How you gonna have people hanging out for hours, drinking and dancing, and you don't give them anything to eat but some "nibbles?" You try that trick and you will doom yourself to no guests at any future event!

I'm in the USA but we have a large warehouse store called COSTCO. Everything in the world can be purchased there except humans and pets. lol. You can get trays of cheese and crackers, sliced lunchmeats, dips and veggies, meatballs, little quiches, etc. You don't need a caterer.

I wonder if there was the ability for a food catering van to be there with subsidised prices?

Yes it is. A party is supposed to be about celebrating with friends, not how much food and drink you can score off them.

I had this dilemma for a big birthday.
Hired the venue. Opted for DJ that could provide a club like old fashioned disco.
I raided Tesco and Iceland for sausage rolls and party food. Spent well under £100. Friends and family helped me cook the pastry food and assemble the iconic pineapple and cheese, gerkins, mini onion etc on sticks. Assortments of mini puds.
Advised guests that there was a paying bar and that there would be light buffet snacks.
No presents, donation to charity if possible.
i had the best night. Packed dance floor.
Good luck!

I’ve never been to a party like yours that didn’t provide a buffet, personally if you can’t afford it I’d completely downscale the whole party.

You could ask guests to bring food and say it’s a bring and share event

I find the mumsnet view on food at parties so weird! I've been to loads of birthday parties where people have hired venues and there hasn't been food. And only very close friends give presents! I'm so baffled there are people in here that would rather have crap party food and a spotify playlist than a live band with no food! Why do you want a load of food at 8.30 when you've already eaten dinner and when you're there to dance and drink and have fun with loud music playing?!

I'm sure your friends will have a great time with a few (or no) nibbles, have fun OP!

For sure you can! I went to a 50th advertised as “no food , just dancing” and it was fine , everyone had dinner before they went. The host did actually provide some large boxes of crisps (from Costco) dotted around the venue and that was OK. If you’re allowed to bring your own food, you can provide substantial nibbles - If you can get a Costco membership you can get some large platters, sandwiches, pastries etc. quite cheap from there. Then you can advertise your party as “drinks and canapés “ which is much more appealing

Yes!

If things are different now, then don't do this

I certainly would be cross if I had to go to Mcdonalds, or the Ritz, before or after.

Perhaps op to soothe the ruffled feathers on here, maybe you could ask your guests to bring packed lunches? Just so they make it through the evening 😂😂

Agree.

It wouldn't be bother me in the slightest, as long as I knew... I would never turn up hungry anyway, but if I knew for sure, I'd make sure I wasn't going to get hungry.
I've been to 2 parties lately that just supplied nibbles... One actually did sausage rolls and pork pies (from a nice bakers) alongside crisps and donuts. That was more than enough as "nibbles" and way more than people expected.

I'd be gutted if someone didn't have a party and celebrated their birthday in a way they wanted to because they couldn't afford food.... I think it's sad that some people would rather not celebrate at all if they weren't getting fed 😫

It’s not about scoring anything. It’s about making sure your guests are catered for. Blowing the whole budget on the cheapest bar you can find and a band that you like is not considering your guests at all. OP might as well save thousands and go to a pub night with a band on if she’s not going to even buy people a drink.

Are you providing drink? You haven’t said.
would I go to a party with no food and no drink? Probably not tbh.