what would you expect if the invitation said "come for ^refreshments^

[June2009]

hi there,

We're having a christening party at home and the invitations go something like:
"Please join us for the christening at the church at 3:30 pm and afterwards at home for refreshments".
I've left it purposefully vague enough as we haven't really decided for sure yet what we mean by "refreshments".

This is on 27/12 (between xmas and new years where people eat/have eaten loads) so we decided to prepare a cold buffet (30/40 people).

I've realised that we're going to be back from church at around 5pm, and wondering what people will actually want at that sort of time.
Im thinking maybe just tea/coffee & cakes but DH thinks that we should do a cold buffet (that was the original plan until I questionned it).

What do mn think?

Church in December- instantly thinking I will be cold!!!

I would do soup with some nice rolls or jacket potatoes with a variety of fillings to choose from...

if it is dinner time then a cold buffet might be best

To me this would mean tea/juice and crisps etc. But I would think "refreshments? This is tea time. We will have to leave early to go and get some grub or we will starve"

I would imagine a snack type thing but given it's tea time something more substantial than cake.

ermm you know that churches (and their halls although irrelevant as OP doesn't say she's using the hall ) do actually (mostly) have heating these days.

I think cold buffet sounds good.

I'd expect drinks and nibbles if 'refreshments' was the word used - so either tea/cakes or cold drinks with crisps/olives etc. So I wouldn't be disappointed with no buffet. However, you could consider doing some finger food if you wanted to go a bit further. As you say, though, people will be eating loads.

Actually, soup might be a good way to go. Can be done in advance and just heated, plus a vegetarian one works for everyone. But cold buffet would also be fine, and might be easier in terms of just buying stuff in. Nigella Christmas has some good ideas in if you decided to go seasonal.

Refreshments = home made lemonade and lots of gin and tonic. However, bearing in mind you will all be there with a lovely but tired baby and I'm assuming you don't want everyone to stay, put a couple of bottles on ice, have a cake ready, offer a drink or two and send them on their way...

In general I would expect either drinks (alcoholic of some kind) and nibbles OR tea and sandwiches or cake, depending on the occassion.
BUT, given that its the holiday period, and will be teatime, I probably wouldn't be impressed if I didn't get something to eat, buffet stylee. Not fancy, but enough so you wouldn't be thinking "we have to get home/find a restaurant as we're starving"

That said, I'm in Ireland, and if you invited people for drinks at 4-5pm, you would prob expect to still have a few left at midnight!!

yeah now I realise that I wouldnt want to have to find a restaurant on a sunday evening at the best of time, let alone between xmas and new year so buffet it is then.

Soup sounds lovely, we could also make some croutons.

I'd think drinska dn some little nibbly things. I wouldn't expect it to be a full meal

Also, depend how far your guests are coming...the further away, the more they would expect! If you had driven more than an hour, you would expect more than a slice of cake I think.

I don't think anyone would think of a full on meal, but soup and a sandwich would suit anyone I would imagine?

I reckon you should provide something foodwise but it doesn't need to be a full on spread...
Love the idea of soup - maybe 2 flavours and a range of different rolls to go with it. And maybe a cake/biscuits/something sweet...

soup? I just wouldn't think of soup at all for a christening. Will everyone slurp out of mugs?

won't it be a bit messy?

sorry for sounding a bit ?? but wouldn't expect this at all if I was expecting refreshments after a christening. but that's just me. I'd be thinking nice sandwiches and posh mince pies (those little fiddly ones with star lids) little slices of xmas cake and fancies (whatever they may be).

Soup is pretty impossible to eat unless sitting at a table so I wouldn't to be honest.

I would like smoked salmon sandwiches, fruit cake, shortbread and gallons of tea please if I were coming!

How about hot mince pies and maybe a hot savoury option (?quiche) alongside a cold buffet?

Personally I would let guests know (by word of mouth if official invites have already gone out) what you mean by refreshments, then there will be no confusion.

As others have said, it depends on distances being travelled and other factors. It wouldn't worry me or dh, we would just enjoy whatever you had provided and then go to the chip shop later!

5pm i would expect to eat full buffet with warm sausage rolls etc. plus booze and tea so all covered. bowl of crisps won't do for 40, that many guests means it is a big event and so must be catered accordingly.

I agree with tea/coffee and cakes (glass of champagne hopefully, but only because I am suffering withdrawal symptoms due to preg).

If I had lots of little children coming I might do a little party tea for them, as they will be starving at that time of day!

"Refreshments" I would expect a snack (and I would definitely like there to be smething savoury) but I wouldn't be expecting a full meal.

Or you could roast a joint of beef and do hot beef rolls? V easy, warm and filling!

I'd probably expect a festive style buffet maybe with some mulled wine (you can prepare that before the Church and heat through when you get back). If I was providing the food I would buy bulk orders of finger foods like samosas, sausage rolls, mini quiches/filo parcels etc, then maybe do mini sandwiches or crostini/bruschetta or wraps with festive fillings cut into mini bites on a stick, that sort of thing. you can get huge packets of mini nibbles around Christmas. Also a big cheese board with loads of crusty bread and cranberry chutney always goes down well. And of course not forgetting mini mince pies and cranberry cheesecakes.....

Oh goodness yes, a cheese board. That is easy to get and people will sort it out themselves. Love the ideas above for finger foods. I do still like the soup idea but see snice's point about it being hard to manage unless sat at a table.

Thank you for your suggestions so far it's really helpful.
I really want to make it nice and festive. The girl who was supposed to help me has now said that she cannot make it. I'm thinking to ask one of the staff from a local restaurant to help with the drinks and clearing up.
I have to take into account that the baby is going to take a lot of my time before and after the church.
We looked at things like "waitrose entertaining" but the date is prohibitive.
I think we could get some "party food" along some sandwiches made that morning without it looking like the Iceland table.

We're thinking champagne on arrival with some of these tortillas out of nigella's xmas book (can be made that morning and kept in the fridge before christening) and a couple of items of party food like mini-quiches maybe.
I do some cheese in puff pastry bites which are delicious hot but I don't know wether they would last in the fride before cooking.

Fresh prawns, chicken legs, maybe a whole poached salmon (cooked the day before), ham/turkey& salad sandwiches, cheese and pickle sandwiches, salmon and cream cheese tortillas made that morning.
Then cheese board with crackers and chutney/grapes/celery and shop bought cakes for dessert.

Wondering wether two kettles and a cafetiere will be enough for tea and coffee.

Ooh, June that sounds lovely now. I was going to say, I would be very disappointed if I didn't get a sandwich or something on seeing "refreshments" on an invitation. Cakes just don't cut the mustard imho. Much as I like cakes.

Ask the local village hall if you can borrow/hire an urn for water for hot drinks-easier than multiple kettles. Beware though it takes quite a long time from 'switch on' to be boiling