Help- BBQ for my 40th, terrified.

[freshstart24]

I am celebrating my 40th soon. I am happy organising parties for DH or DC, but for some reason when it is for me I'm terrified. Not had any kind of celebration for myself since I was 21, but I wouldn't have got away without celebrating this one.

There will be about 30 people, including 9 children aged between 2 and 9. Thought I'd ask them to come from 2pm, eat about 4.

DH will man bbq, luckily he's pretty good at it.

I don't know where to start. I would like to keep the food fairly simple, but high quality. People have asked what they can bring but I can't seem to make any decisions.

Garden is pretty big, have been offered fairly substantial gazebo. If the weather is terrible the house could just about cope with everyone. I've considered a bouncy castle for the children.

Will people turn up? How do I keep them all entertained? What to feed everyone? What drinks to provide? Argh, have got myself into a stew!

Any top tips hugely appreciated.

It sounds lovely! You've planned a wet weather option and something to do for the children too - it's going to be fun!

Do you want people to bring stuff, or do you want to do it all yourself?

You could ask people to bring a side dish. If they ask what to bring.

It will all come together.

Thank you for the reassurance. I think I will go most of it myself, just not sure if it is rude not to ask people to bring something if they have offered.....

I like to bring things as I know how stressed out I get when organising parties. If people ask just suggest something that can't really go wrong like a Greek salad, pasta salad etc. Or a pudding. In the past i've suggested they bring dessert for the kids or fruit.

I think when it comes to bbqs you just need to keep the food simple to burgers and sausages. If you go for chicken drumsticks bake them in the oven first and finish then off on the grill. Kebabs are so time consuming to prepare. Our local butcher is amazing and makes Mexican burgers and pork and apple burgers which go down well too.

If people offer to bring something then ask them to bring a pudding.

Drinks - keep it simple wine and beer and a small selection of soft drinks

You don't need to entertain guests they will chat to each other and make their own entertainment. Bouncy castle good idea.

I ask people to bring a bottle, then even if you don't drink it then, it won't be wasted.

I'd get a bouncy castle, it'll entertain the kids and it's always fun to be a drunk adult on a bouncy castle

I do summer BBQ party most years and it's great fun. Don't panic. Ask guests that want to bring stuff to bring desserts. Most will bring a bottle, especially if they have preference for certain beers or wines. A bucket of cold water outside for cooling drinks.
Bouncy castle will keep the kids busy (and the adults later).
You could spend a fiver in a pound shop on some plastic shit toys like sponge balls, bubbles, dominoes for kids to play with if you think they might want that.
Classic FM on quietly in the background to create a relaxing mood.
Enjoy.