Entertaining for 50 people. Any experience?

[Blueskythinker]

My PIL are having their 40th wedding anniversary this summer, and my SIL is keen to organise a surprise party. It would be for about 50 people.

She has looked into having it at a hotel, but it was going to cost in the region of £2000, of which she wants us to pay half . This is well in excess of what we would be willing to pay. I had thought in the region of £250 per sibling, giving a total budget of £750 was more resonable.

We have a resonably big house, and a medium garden, so I am thinking of suggesting we have a garden party at our house.

Has anyone experience of catering for these numbers? Any tips? We have 3 toilets in the house - would this be enough? Any idea of cost per head (given that approx 1/2 of the guest wouldn't really drink that much)? What else should I be thinking about?

waitrose all the way blue sky I did this for my mums 60th picked the food up the morning of the party so no storage issues and it was a sunday and was lovely and very reasonable
am doing smae for ds2 christening £750 will be more than enough
they have a website waitrose entertaining

sorry after saying all that hope you are near a waitrose

where do you live? DH is a chef so I will pick his brains later and see what he says.

You can easily do this for about £5 per head but you would need people to help.

3 toilets is fine!

I would also put in the budget something to entertain the children like an entertainer or bouncy castle or something and do boxes of food for the children.

Foodwise I would do

Plates of palma ham, salami and bresaola
2 poached salmon
Plates of sliced turkey
Homemade foccaccia and bread rolls
Mixed salad
Potato salad
Pasta salad

Pavlova
Apple Pie
Trifle

If you keep it simple with lots of a few choices then you can delegate the food out for family to make.

Get the guests to bring a bottle and then that will keep the price down.

HTH

Thanks for this. Sadly, I am in NI, and Waitrose haven't ventured across to us yet, but I will have a look at their website.

Collision, great pointers, thanks

Is it in the summer? Can you do a BBQ with lots of different salads? You obviously need a big BBQ though.

and a gazebo in case it rains!!

ask around and find a reccommended caterer if you're not sure about doing it yourself. We gota cold finger buffet for DS3's christening for about £4 per head - we did the puddings ourselves (I asked a few people to make one each). Drinks from Majestic or a supermarket on sale or return and you should be able to borrow glasses from them too. Disposble plates etc (although a caterer would bring those).

No worries about 3 toilets! My mum used to entertin regularly and she only had one.

How about getting a caterer to come to yours and do it? We had one for a similar number for dd's Christening (we catered the kids ourselves) and it was around £800 for a gorgeous 2 courses.

Quite often local cafes will do catering if you ask around ones you like. I am sure you don't need to spend £2,000! Your garden idea sounds nice.

garden idea sounds fabbo

definately some kind of gazebo in case of rain, plus some outdoor seating

3 toilets is plenty

would definately get outside caterers in as its not too expensive, and means you can really enjoy the day without having to slave over a hot stove!

You could always do some kind of finger buffet and then just get them a cake and have that for pudding

or what about hiring a fish and chip van???

They are so much fun and really cool!

We had one for my brother's wedding and everyone loved it!

would take the pressure off!

Hog roasts are fab too (as long as you're not veggie), but can be quite expensive, and ideally geared for slightly larger numbers.

get a caterer to do the food - a buffet will have something for everyone. Also have some people to clear plates & fill glasses - and clear everything up afterwards.

If it's a summer party a BBQ is a brilliant option. (with gazebo) 3 toilets is plenty LOL

try:
BBQ: sausages (2 pp)burgers (1 pp) chicken drumsticks (1 pp)then a selection of perhaps steak/boneless pork chops/ kebabs (approx 1pp)
Then set up massive table with diff types of bread rolls (inc hot dog rolls and burger buns), green salad, coleslaw, potato salad, pickles, relishes etc
try some baked potatoes aswell - can do on BBQ!
A frind did this for a 30th bday party last summer for approx 40 people and really was not loads of hassle. Set up a big ice bucket with beer/wine in and lots of glasses. This IME is a good party as people help themselves to most of it, inc drinks, so the host doesn't spend all day/eve in the kitchen!AND it is OK to ask people to bring a bottle - quite normal
Hope this helps!

How many gazebo's can you fit in your garden? We've had several (all borrowed) around the outside of the lawn with tables & chairs underneath for dining. Tables & chairs you might be able to hire from church/village hall etc. Or you could have them in a long line down one side which would be useful if it rains. (But it won't rain ).

I do similar food to MinkV but for summer parties usually put out vast bowls of strawberries with jugs of cream for pudding. Seasonal and very easy. I guess you'll need an 'anniversary' cake but I do like separate pudding for the non-cake eaters.

Most large off-licences will do wine on a sale or return basis and also glass hire.

Plenty of chairs!

Duchess, would you have seats for everyone? Or do people normally stand around and eat at these things?

No I wouldnt have chairs for everyone!

I think most would stand at a do like that but maybe have chairs for the older ones.

No to the fish and chip van then??

We didn't have chairs for everyone at the Christenings because they were 'drift around/eat when you like' sort of affairs but for more formal parties we do have enough chairs, flowers on table etc.

So it just depends what you want. Either is fine for a garden party.

Fish & chips sound like a really good idea, but not for these guests!! I don't think too many would get the irony.