To not do food for party

[ttctimeforme]

If you went to an party in the evening at a venue, around 7:30pm onwards.. would you expect food to be provided?

I don't think many guests would choose to eat cold pizza

You associate with the wrong people

If it's just close family and friends who live locally could you ask them to bring something for a buffet? Make sure someone brings paper plates and napkins.
It sound like a family gathering more than a formal party where the host has to do everything, so let everyone help!

So all you are doing is asking people to meet you at the pub basically? No food or drink offered is not a party.

Personally I’d be fine paying for my own drinks, but to it even offer a sandwich is just rude.

Our neighbours had a ‘party’ like this recently except instead of spending on food, they paid for the first few drinks for everyone. So people were totally pissed by 9pm and just stood around talking shit getting more and more drunk. It was grim.

Lol, that’s a snide little dig, coming from the poster who wanted to give donuts as the food for a surprise party 😄

Morrisons platters sound good

For catering for canapes, a rule of thumb for a typical drinks party (3 hours or so) is 4 per person for the first hour, then 3 per person for each hour after that. Err on the side of being generous. It may look like a lot of food but most of it will probably get eaten. Take some ice cream containers if you might want to bring leftovers home

I'd suggest keep it simple, and order eg 3 x platter A, 3 x platter B etc, so everyone gets the same food

If you order too many different dishes, then some guests will eat too much cos they want to try everything and / or other guests will miss out eg no sausage rolls left

And remember to provide plenty of vegetarian food. Most meat eaters won't want to just eat sausage rolls / sausages / meat, but it's a common complaint on here that hosts don't normally provide enough veg food and vegetarians often lose out

Hope it goes well

OP you said that you will be there earlier in the day to decorate? what about a bunch of crockpots with pork and bbq sauce ... chili ... maybe a veggie chili also? then just plug the pots in to cook all day... pull pork into the sauce when you arrive for party.. serve with alot of fresh buns. ..just the little dinner size ones. , maybe ask a couple of the guests to bring a big coleslaw or potato salad??? Thats what I would do. OR... I just catered a 50th birthday after hours in my restaurant... we had a nacho bar.... so. Large crockpot of cheese sauce,, large crock of mince spiced up.. on ice put bowls of diced tomatoes, peppers, whatever you think people would like.. sour cream also. then put out paper plates and LOTS of napkins

OH and should say...lots of nacho type crisps

Hi op,unless stated drinks only then people would probably anticipate a buffet.
You should be able to caterers to do this for you without spoiling the surprise.
have a great time.

So if you are smugly content and ‘know what's actually important in life ☺️’ why are you listening to others? Why bother looking into Morrisons food? Why not stick to hosting at 1930 with zero food? Your friends and family will be hungry but happy basking in mutual love surely?

Has anyone suggested doing a winter pasta salad or lentil soup?

A MASSIVE winter pasta salad, obviously 😉

@WaddleAway that goes without saying, as it's PEAK dinner time ☺️

A single chicken. It will be ample and the guests can take some home for sandwiches.

Thank you for this. Truly brilliant 🤣

Today you have won Mumsnet! I commend you.

Not necessarily, but I would want to know either way so you should explain in the invite.

If people are coming from locally then there is no need to provide food, though a few nibbles are always much appreciatedl

Yes.
The last one i went to there was just crisps on the table. Left by 9. 15to get food. Always gone to parties with buffets so purposely didn't eat. Lots of. Others left early too

From the responses on this thread my family (immediate and extended) must be totally weird, since none of them would think twice about rocking up to a party in a bar, buying their own drinks and eating crisps. Granted, there usually is some form of buffet (that has been out for several hours and the kids are told not to touch).

I won't add to the chorus of of course there should be food, but OP the fact that it's a surprise party is what makes it more important to me. A generic party that starts at 7:30 that I could get to closer to 8:00 after I've eaten first, not such a deal breaker. But a party that I presumably need to be at at 7:30 to shout surprise, at a time I'd usually still be cooking tea let alone eating it, yes I would expect something to eat.

That's a get together at a bar, not a party. Hosting is what makes it a party.
Nothing weird about it.

Yep similar as an Evening guest. Puts me off attending unless it's explicit there is an evening buffet.