How to host a stress free leaving party for the in laws???

[Monroe]

Answers on a postcard please ?

My in laws are retiring and moving away at the end of the month. Dh and I thought it would be nice to mark it in some way and suggested going out for a meal however due to many family members often not turning up to things due to lack of funds Dh has decided it would be better if we did something at home. So now I am left to plan prepare and host a farewell party. Dh will do what he can but is working full time. The day before we are out ourselves at a friends bbq so will have to sort everything on the day.

Also I am not a natural host and we live in an average size house so not sure where to put everyone.

So I need ideas mainly for what food to serve and how to keep everything friendly but quite informal without me having a meltdown in the kitchen.

Get a friend of yours who will help you - sort out kitchen stuff, get drinks, wash up, serve food, replenish plates and be someone you can roll your eyes at.

Food to serve - I would go buffet. Can you order from M&S, Waitrose? Or go to Costco for their platters or have a local farm shop that will sort it for you?

If not get that friend again and have sarnies, cheeses, crackers salads, cold meats, breads, melon, strawberries ( dipped in chocolate),
Cheese cake, brownies, fruit salad

Can you have a BBQ - then you just hand it over to your DH......

I think I would go with a sort of afternoon "pop round for a farewell drink" invitation, then people won't be expecting to be fed a meal, and you can have much more time to enjoy the do rather than sorting food out.
Obviously, fingers crossed for nice weather and hope people can go in the garden.
Think it's a genius idea to either ask a friend (or pay a local teen?) to be responsible for getting a few more cakes out or bunging some sausage rolls / vol-au-vents / samosas / other canapes in the oven from the freezer, or even making a few rounds of fresh sandwiches - doing a spot of washing up, etc. as the do evolves.

Thank you both. Unfortunately my non budget won't stretch to an m & s order but I like the sound of a bbq/buffet type affair. Ideally things I can unwrap and throw on a table with mimic um effort! We are out at a friends bbq the day before so I will have little time for preparation.

Dh is generally very good at wandering around and topping up drinks and being sociable and I've just spoken to do who has agreed to come and help me do pretty much everything else.

Now I just need to start on a list of things to do and buy

Flipping phone auto correct. Mimic um / minimum
Do / dm

Costco or a wholesaler is your friend here. Join up & order big multipacks of food & drink which will be cheaper than the supermarket.

www.jjfoodservice.com/sidcup/

www.costco.co.uk/view/category/uk_catalog/cos_6

Read the thread below for party ideas.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/parties_celebrations/2148710-Thoughts-on-this-plan-for-a-low-key-party-Would-it-be-odd