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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Quick Buffet Poll (Help please!)

135 replies

Buffetornot · 22/05/2024 19:33

OK everyone, quick poll here.

Hosting a party for about 50 people next week. It's at a venue and the time is from 7-9pm so not over a meal time.

Not many drinkers, so providing tea and coffee, cash bar if anyone wants a drink.

I have a large cake, brownies, selection of crisps, a sweet station so everyone can make a pic n mix. Is this enough, would you expect a full buffet?

YABU- Yes, provide some sandwiches and sausage rolls you miserable git.

YANBU- Everyone will have eaten already, snacks are fine.

OP posts:
ThinWomansBrain · 22/05/2024 20:27

Hummus, tatziki, pita bread and dips - & some crudité?

I wouldn't have eaten by 7pm - I don't think you need to provide a meal equivalent, but avoid it being all sweet stuff.
Let people know it's a light buffet/few nibbles, then they can grab a sandwich en route, or eat lunch later.

WitchWithoutChips · 22/05/2024 20:28

Are guests aware of the 9pm hard stop?

OutOfTheHouse · 22/05/2024 20:29

GrumpyPanda · 22/05/2024 20:26

All that bready stuff is essentially just more sugars. Personally I'd prefer sales, soups, something warm. Big pot of chili would be great. Lentil salad. Beetroot salad.

Show quote history

The problem with soup or chilli is that you will need cutlery. If you stick to sandwiches, bread, quiche, cherry tomatoes etc then you don’t.

Sleepismyfavourite · 22/05/2024 20:29

What soft drinks are you providing OP? I know you said no alcohol.

WitchWithoutChips · 22/05/2024 20:32

BTW OP I can see where this thread is going and shortly posters will start haranguing you to put on an Ottolenghi-esque feast. You don’t need to do this. It’s ok for the buffet to be fairly beige - just have some more savoury stuff and maybe some fruit or crudités. The platters of sandwiches and wraps that you can order from supermarkets or buy in Costco are fine.

PerfectTravelTote · 22/05/2024 20:32

You might be as well off to just tell people that it's just snacks. A cup of tea and a sandwich won't cut it for those who haven't had dinner.

olympicsrock · 22/05/2024 20:32

If I am driving I would always have an alcoholic drink at a party. 1 glass of wine, a single gin and tonic , half a lager etc.

I would also rather have a cold drink than tea or coffee at a party.

OP who are your guests? . You seem to have a very odd idea about catering …

PerfectTravelTote · 22/05/2024 20:34

Also, it might be worth telling people that it's just teas and coffees so they know what to expect.

Edited - sorry, I forgot about the paid bar. You're fine on the drinks front then.

catlady7 · 22/05/2024 20:34

Yabu

olympicsrock · 22/05/2024 20:34

@EmpressaurusOfCats depends on who the guests are. In my family the vege options would be left in favour of meat options.

Original poster
Buffetornot · 22/05/2024 20:38

Sandwiches
Wraps
Sausage rolls (and veggie alternative)
Some sort of other savoury.
Crisps
Fruit platter

Tea/coffee
Cake
Sweets

Surely now OK for 2 hours?

OP posts:
Bbq1 · 22/05/2024 20:38

Op, what's the occasion?

GoodAfternoonGoodEveningAndGoodnight · 22/05/2024 20:40

Bbq1 · 22/05/2024 20:38

Op, what's the occasion?

Yeah I was wondering that too

CrushingOnRubies · 22/05/2024 20:40

7pm-9pm is prime time to eat in the evening. Even if they had a large lunch they might be feeling a bit peckish and want to nibble on some savoury bits by then

Maybe get some olives and a small selection of cheese too and some fruit

As for drinks I'd at least offer something non alcoholic like squash. Some people dont want caffeine in the evening.

Interested to know what sort of event this is

PotatoPudding · 22/05/2024 20:43

If people are being invited somewhere with a buffet at 7pm, it’s unlikely they will have had an evening meal. They’ll definitely be expecting things like sandwiches, quiche, sausage rolls, crisps, etc. They won’t be expecting just dessert.

Vettrianofan · 22/05/2024 20:44

Haha, that's my porridge time 🤣 so YABU provide some sausage rolls. Savoury stuff please!

BigPandaTinyDragon · 22/05/2024 20:45

I’m intrigued about the occasion too - it sounds like it would have been better as an afternoon thing rather than a half-hearted evening do.

Original poster
Buffetornot · 22/05/2024 20:49

BigPandaTinyDragon · 22/05/2024 20:45

I’m intrigued about the occasion too - it sounds like it would have been better as an afternoon thing rather than a half-hearted evening do.

Yes, it would have been better as an afternoon do but can't facilitate that.

A 9pm finish is fine for the people going and a couple of hours is manageable for them.

OP posts:
boyohboys · 22/05/2024 20:50

That sounds great OP. Still intrigued by your insistence that everyone will have eaten - what time do you eat in the evening?! We usually eat around 7:30/8 sometimes nearer 9 at the weekend so if I was invited to a 7-9pm party I'd assume this was for dinner.

Bbq1 · 22/05/2024 20:51

Buffetornot · 22/05/2024 20:49

Yes, it would have been better as an afternoon do but can't facilitate that.

A 9pm finish is fine for the people going and a couple of hours is manageable for them.

Show quote history

Is there a reason we can't know the occasion? People might be able to offer better advice if we knew why you are having the party.

Original poster
Buffetornot · 22/05/2024 20:55

A lot of the guests have additional needs and will be supported to attend. They will have eaten their evening meal by this time. Not late bedders.

Some of the other adults may not have eaten though so I take on board everyone's comments re providing a proper buffet.

Costco order it is! 😊

OP posts:
Vettrianofan · 22/05/2024 20:58

HoldingTheDoor · 22/05/2024 20:18

Even my primary school children haven't had diner by 7pm. Unless they are in hospital, I don't know any adult who has diner by then either. So a group of 50 people?

Plenty of adults, including me, eat before 7. I don’t know why so many people on MN are puzzled by the fact that so many people eat at a different time from them. I know that many people eat later than I do but it doesn’t perplex me.

Though to me you feed people at a party regardless of what time it is as it’s just a basic part of hosting so yes I’d definitely include savoury options.

I eat dinner at 4/4.30pm. Sup around 7.30/8pm. So I would be ravenous and be expecting sausage rolls at the very least at this buffet.

MsLuxLisbon · 22/05/2024 21:02

OP, why won't you specify what the occasion is!? So annoying when posters leave out details like that, you've been asked loads of times.

pinkspeakers · 22/05/2024 21:10

7-9pm is absolutely meal time. We normally eat at 8pm. If you didn't say in advance, then I'd absolutely assume we were getting a meal, not just pudding.

Provided you let me know (and you were fairly local) then obviously I would be fine to have an early light dinner first, and then come and eat a bit of cake with you. But it would all be a bit of a rush! A proper buffet tea would be much nicer.

If you're not going to do proper food then I think it would be better to start at 8pm for a drinks party. Or 3/4-5/6pm for afternoon tea.

pinkspeakers · 22/05/2024 21:13

Buffetornot · 22/05/2024 19:45

Looking to keep it simple. The guests will have eaten their main meal by this time.

I'll get some savouries too. Sandwiches, wraps, sausage rolls, small quiche or similar.
Followed by cake, coffee /tea then sweets to take away.

This is quite contradictory. If you are absolutely confident that the people you are inviting will have had their main meal by then (not people I know, other than some kids who eat before parents) then you don't need to put out substantial food and it will go to waste. Some nice puddings and cheese board will be fine.