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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think if you have a party on New Year's Eve people will expect food?

115 replies

Iknowwhatyoumeanaboutthathat · 28/12/2016 19:05

DH wants a party on NYE. He's been pestering me for years but I've never been keen. It sounds like a lot of hassle and work and expense. We could easily end up with 30 adults and 40 kids ( children would have to be invited). I'm generally ofvthe opinion NYE is overrated.

He says we would only need to provide nibbles/ crisps. I think proper food would be expected e.g. a hot buffet or a big chilli and jacket potatoes and that alcohol would need to be provided. I have told him I'm asking for your opinion and will show him the thread.

OP posts:

PlymouthMaid1 · 28/12/2016 19:20

I would expect nibbles and maybe some cheese and French bread to soak up alcohol. I would bill it as bring a bottle or two and lay on some mixers. I might make a giant punch bowl. Any more food and I would turn it into a dinner party and have a lot less guests. I definitely would not have children there and especially not more kids than adults else you may as well have a kids party.

PenguinsandPebbles · 28/12/2016 19:22

You would 100% need food of some sort, people will bring booze and likely drink or something needs to soak it up.

Don't think you need to go mad though, say we're providing nibbles and then order pizza half way through the evening I'd be surprised if most people don't chip in for pizza

cushioncovers · 28/12/2016 19:25

yes if you are expecting guests to arrive at around 7-8pm and stay until after midnight drinking alcohol then they will need food

QueenOfTheFuckingWorld · 28/12/2016 19:27

I've provided the 'beige' food before and asked everyone to bring a dish, last time I asked everyone to bring their favourite food. It was interesting, and very tasty!

IllMetByMoonlight · 28/12/2016 19:28

Short notice bring-a-dish and a bottle for a smaller number as a practise run for next year, perhaps a handful of friends with kids of a similar age? Reserve a kids zone room with unlimited snacks and pop, places to get comfy and dvds. Have fun if you go for it :)

RainyDayBear · 28/12/2016 19:30

I'd probably expect nibbles and some buffet food, maybe some pizzas or something? I love the idea of asking people to bring their favourite food!

MrsMozart · 28/12/2016 19:30

We used to do a party when a weekend fell between Christmas and New Year.

We provided soft drinks and a few bottles of alcohol, but everyone brought at least one bottle.

Food was nibbles and a rather good onion soup with crusty bread - cheap as chips to make and very tasty.

Original poster

Iknowwhatyoumeanaboutthathat · 28/12/2016 19:30

Thanks all will show him. I'm an introvert that would prefer to be in bed at 10. DH is extrovert party animal type. I think deal will be if he wants a party he caters for it.

OP posts:

TinselTwins · 28/12/2016 19:34

"a party" = I would expect food… and would stay all evening
"come over for drinks" = I would expect drinks and a few nibbles, and would expect to stay for max 2 hours

YesThisIsMe · 28/12/2016 19:35

If you wanted to do it, and they're good friends who live nearby then you could ask them to bring a bottle and a plate. But you'd need to get in a fair amount of beer, wine and soft drinks and go to Iceland or wherever for basic party food. I think that a huge number of pizzas (even Dr Oetkers with a drizzle of garlic oil on them at a pinch) shoved into the oven three at a time and brought out in slices at thirty minute intervals would stop people from starving or collapsing with alcohol poisoning.

Bluntness100 · 28/12/2016 19:36

I honestly don't think you can have a New Year's Eve party and not be able to offer people drinks, just provide them with empty glasses and tell them to just drink their own, provide their own bottle openers, mixers, ice etc and then in addition are you asking them to provide for their own kids, and you just hand out paper cups or would you provide drinks for the kids?

Nibbles and crisps for seventy odd people is a lot of nibbles and crisps.i think your husbands not thought this through. Have you even got enough glasses/ paper cups and bottle openers to go round?

CharlieSierra · 28/12/2016 19:38

When my DCs were little we always had a NYE party for all our friends. I used to make a massive chilli and curry, rice and jackets etc. I think it's easier than doing a buffet. Everyone used to bring booze and my sister always did a brilliant playlist. Those parties were great! So much better than an overpriced night out and struggling for babysitters.

1horatio · 28/12/2016 19:41

We will be hosting a New Year's Evenlarty this year.

There'll be food, of course.

Vegan food with gluten free options (it was mentioned on the invite, don't worry). As much as possible locally sourced...

But no, crisps just aren't enough. But obvious things you can't eat standing up, walking around...

1horatio · 28/12/2016 19:41

Things you can eat standing up.

Artandco · 28/12/2016 19:41

I wouldn't expect full meal. Also never star a New Year's Eve party at 6-7pm that's mad! As that 6+ hrs of drinking and 70+ people in your house!

Nye party - start at 9pm to allow people to eat and kids and adults late nap if wanted ( write this in invite so people know main meal not happening). Get them to bring a bottle of what they like also.

You can allocate stuff to bring for next year if that many people ie: family A can they bring x2 bottles lemonade, plus 5 sharing bags crisps for the kids. Family B x2 bottles coke and some x5 bags sweets for kids. Family C no kids, bring abc..

CoffeeMad18 · 28/12/2016 19:42

Going to NYE party at SILs, there will be platter type food i.e. Pizza, sausage rolls and pringles. Almost a kid friendly type buffet.
Would be if hot food like Chilli/curry was brought out tbh.

derxa · 28/12/2016 19:43

Scottish Hogmanay
Lots of alcoholic drinks and even more mixers and ice. Sausage rolls peanuts cashew nuts crisps shortbread. Every guest brings similar.
Lots of cheesy music and terrible Hogmanay telly Sorted.

EccentricPickle · 28/12/2016 19:43

I wouldn't expect food. Just good booze and music! Maybe some nibbles at a push but I wouldn't be bothered so long as I had good company.

JustWoman · 28/12/2016 19:44

My mum puts on a big buffet, stuff that can be eaten hot but is fine if cold like. homemade pies, sandwiches, voluvonts, quiche along with nibbles and dips and some desert type shit.

Booze wise, she has lager and wine and sometimes punch but if we want anything else we bring our own. nobody expects her to buy multiply bottles of our fave spirits, she couldn't afford to. It's the same with all the family when they have a party,mouth now that I think about, I've never been to one where the expensive alcohol has provided by the host.

If it's your first party I'd make it clear that a buffet will be on but it's bring you're own booze. Plus people drink more sensibly when they are paying for it themselves rather than knocking back the free stuff :)

I'd not want to do it though as I like a quiet nye and there's always someone who pukes, or tries to smoke in the house, and then burns carpet or someone gets pissed and aggressive or winds the dog up etc. And then the DC write about in their books at school... Don't let me out you off though :)

1horatio · 28/12/2016 19:44