To not serve hot drinks...

[Ilovechocolate87]

DD2 is getting christened next month- we are doing a celebration party after at a local village hall.We were originally going to go with a caterer who would have provided staff to serve teas and coffees, but her quote proved very expensive so we have found a much cheaper but still good & reputable alternative company to do the buffet.Only thing is they won't be able to stay and do any drinks as its just a drop off service.

DH and I will have DD1 (5) and DD2 (10m) to keep an eye on and obviously also general organising to do, and also want to be able to socialise and enjoy the event, so really don't want to be stuck in the kitchen the whole time serving up constant teas & coffees for 60ish people, and would feel rude asking friends or family to do it as they are guests too and deserve to relax and enjoy the event.

Don't know of any local companies who would just come and provide/serve drinks for us.I could put a post on the town community FB page for some paid help, but it would worry if they would definitely turn up, and would likely need afew people anyway i think, as the original lady said she would have provided 3 people to staff it.

AIBU to just forget doing hot drinks and serve (possibly on a a 'help yourself' table next to the buffet) a varied selection of good quality cold ones (talking schloer, nice bottled juices etc, not just fizzy & squash) or pay the hire fee on top to be able to serve alcohol and do everyone a glass of bubbly each instead?

IMO they are getting a generous savoury buffet, a decent slice of cake and will have a varied choice of cold drinks... shouldn't that be enough? :-/
But I don't drink tea or coffee so don't get the whole 'needing a hot drink' thing anyway. DH drinks hot drinks, and he thinks people will expect them.

Opinions please?

I prefer hot drinks, but it wouldn't even cross my mind to have them at a buffet!

@PeppaPigIsBacon you clearly aren't RC then!! It would be odd to have a party without alcohol!

I don't think people are 'agonising' - just answering the OP's question with suggestions.

I would find someone to do teas and coffees, either ask at the hall if they have someone/know someone or ask around to find a competent teenager/student/neighbour wanting extra cash.

I’ve only ever been to christenings with the do at a local rugby club/Irish Nash so hot drinks haven’t been the order of the day, but agree if people need them they could self serve.

I'd be pretty annoyed if I couldn't get some tea or nice coffee after a christening! Just fill a big urn and put the teacups and accessories out next to the food. People will help themselves.

Sounds like a godparent's first duty to me. 😁

Surely your friends and family aren't that mean to help out?

I'd probably expect a big hot water catering urn, but for a party in a village hall with kids present, I wouldn't bat an eyelid at cheap squash and cheese sarnies. It sounds like you're planning on putting on a rather more posh spread, so I can't see any guests being put out. Have a great christening do!

I was abit worried about the safety aspect with 30 young children running about and all those people wandering around with steaming hot drinks, but I guess we could provide takeaway style cups with lids to get around that, rather than open cups and saucers.
90% of children's parties I've been to have been in village halls with children running around and adults with hot drinks in normal cups. You are really overthinking it.

Just make it obvious where the kettle/urn, cups, coffee and teabags and let people help themselves.

Yanbu. Much better to have time with guests than be stuck in kitchen with some stupid urn making hot drinks.

IMO people don’t care so much anout ‘hot’ but may be craving caffeine. If you have access to a fridge you mught want to consider some cans of flavoured iced tea (like Liptons lemon tea) and Starbucks cold coffee, if you have anyway to provide ice too (maybe buy a bucket on Amazon and fill with ice and leave a scoop in it for self service) that would be so much better than a crappy hot drink.

Would any of the Church members be able/willing to help with china etc. and then you could lay out hot drinks like at a meeting or something? (NB I am Jewish so don't know if this really happens, is just what the TV has taught me about churches and tea after services!)

I'd be a bit miffed if there was no tea, not because I'm precious or have outlandish caffeine needs but because I find it very difficult to eat without a hot drink. It's just not the same with a cold drink.

You can leave food out for 4 hours according to the Food Handlers course I did

I'm with everyone else. I'd be perfectly happy making my own hot drink rather than not have one at all...

Maybe get one of those large hot water flasks you see at conferences and let people make their own?

Totally fine, you can’t cater to peoples preferences

I agree with pp large flasks with spigots & maybe go to b & m/homebrands and do the un environmental thing and get individual milk pots (yeah I know but they are useful)

Ask the village hall if they have a hot water urn, and get an airpot/thermos jug from Amazon that you can fill with decent coffee in advance.

I love a cuppa, I think I’d be disappointed if there wasn’t one tbh, but I wouldn’t mind making my own if it were all there.

Sorry but this is weird... you have a hot drink with every single meal? Why? What's the point??

I just have a glass of water. The foods hot enough surely? WhT on earth would it add??

@Tubbytenbums go ahead and leave prawns out for four hours...

Most church halls double up as toddler groups during the week. They are bound to have an urn and cups etc. Just provide teabags and milk and people can make their own. In fact you're almost certain to find one person who becomes Tea maker through choice.

And absolutely don't worry about hot drinks, people are more than capable of looking after a small cup.

All christenings I have been to I’ve had a glass of wine not a cup of tea! Each to their own

Also don’t get hot drinks with dinner, would you order a cup of tea in a restaurant to go with an evening meal? It’s so odd. Only meal I have with a hot drink is breakfast and that’s because I need the coffee to wake me up!

I drink a lot of tea but would not expect it at a buffet. It's not necessary as long as there are cold drinks.
It seems very odd to me that people say they can't eat cake without a hot drink.