surprise party in plan - help and advice please

[EmilyandLola]

DP is turning 27 next week, having a surprise part for him the Saturday after his actual birthday - so on Saturday of the 2nd June.

Holding it at PIL's in garden, thinking BBQ food, people arrive say about 3 - 3.30, get Laurence there at about 4 - so they can all jump out and should SURPRISE etc etc...

Right, help - thinking borrowing a bouncey castle from a friend, plus music is sorted, but how much food and beer is needed for 30 adults and 3 or 4 kids, plus 5 babies (all under 7 months?)

Any decent ideas for me, or advice?

plus -

what can i say to DP to get him out the way for a bit, so i can bring him to his parents house to find everyone there for the party.... hes a real nosey git im wondering if i can pull this off now

and im going to tesco soon to get the invites

and balloons, .... um, what else organisation way do i need?

Is this going to cost me a fortune?

We are doing ds's birthday bbq on the same day, fingers crossed the weather is nice.

We have averaged 1 burger and 1 hotdog per person (ish) then we have bought steak, lamb chops, chicken legs and pork ribs. Also doing new potatoes, salad, rice salad, garlic bread and some cakey bits for afters.

Tell everyone to bring a bottle, we have, but have bought a case of beers and about 6 bottles of wine and some soft drinks.

get his parents to phone and say come over for his birthday on 2nd June from 4pm. Anyone got a gazebo incase it rains?? paper plates, cutlery, cups, party bags ???

i shall need to but more beer than that wont i

I shall write "bring a bottle or 2" on the invites

but, argh i have no idea how much i shall have to buy

where can i get it cheeper?

Go to Lidl or Aldi for the beer and wine -they do the small bottles of beer and some good, yet affordable, wines.

Tesco had some offers on drinks last time I looked. Also got things like crisps on BOGOF so that should help.

With BBQ's I reckon on 2.5 pieces of meat sausage/burger/kebab etc) per person, count a child as half. 1.5 rolls per person. Some eat more, some eat less.

In terms of getting him out of the way you have to have something really plausible and get a mate of his to help. Can they take him somewhere and you say "meet me back at your folks at 4pm as I'm going to take the kids over there".

Definitely think you need contingency for rain - we too are having a party that day and currently the weather forecast is looking iffy.

Good luck, hope you pull it off!