Help me with checklist for party please

[Psychgrad]

Hi,

my partner and I are having a wedding party to celebrate our elopement abroad.

I have adhd so am bad at details and tend to underestimate things. I’m also the main planner of the party so please help me with things I need for the party that are easily forgotten.

There’s 30 people coming, some family from another country, my friend is making all of the food (I’ll probably help her), we’re providing the alcohol. It’s hard to know how many drinks per head, does 30 bottles of beer and 15-20 bottles of wine sound ok? It’s going do be a week night so people probably won’t drink as much as say on a weekend.

The party is at our house.
we have enough glasses for everyone, probably 30 exact.
my friend should have enough plates but I’ll have extra.
we’re setting up drinks so people can self serve.

what else do I need to make it a smooth and easy going party?

A few things to consider:

Do you have enough cutlery/plates etc? If not and you're using paper plates, make sure you've got plenty of bin bags for clean up

What about non-alcoholic drinks for the drivers/people who don't drink. I have a big lemonade drink dispenser and you can make a non alcoholic punch with fruit juices

Alcohol-wise, I'd personally get more or tell people to bring a bottle. You've calculated approx 2 glasses of wine per person. Some might want less, some might want more. Always nice to have plenty and worst case, you've got leftovers for another time

Are you playing music? Spotify playlist?

Have you got plenty of space for parking?

If your neighbours are going to be inconvenienced in any way, send them a note and apologise in advance (or invite them!)

It's nice to do little takeaway bags. In the past I've created a pick and mix sweet station along with candy striped sweet bags. People really seemed to like that.

Hope you have fun!

I think a few more beers as some don't like wine and maybe get a few more cheap glasses.

Music is a great idea! Could be fun doing a playlist.

what kind of food is your friend making?

Things to think about with that many people:

1. Keeping drinks chilled - that lot won't fit in the fridge - so ice buckets? But they will get condensation-y which may be an issue inside. Also non-alcoholic drinks. Will most people be driving or not? If not I wouldn't assume a weeknight will stop people drinking. 1/2 a bottle of wine and a single beer per person is pretty small I think. Either buy more of stuff you like and accept you might spend the next year drinking it or purchase on a sale or return basis (but then consider that in your chilling decisions - you won't be able to return if the label has fallen off in an ice bucket).

1. That many people you need to assume glasses will get broken - so either hire them in (free from e.g. majestic with a £1 deposit per glass when you buy wine) or buy some cheap spares so you aren't using glasses you like. It's also hopeless to assume everyone will be able to keep track of their glass all evening, so again either you need spares or at least a method of identifying them.

1. Surfaces - every surface will end up with glasses on them so if you have furniture you want to preserve you need to put out table mats etc so they don't get rings on them.

1. Cutlery and plates - yes "enough" plates but e.g. if there's sweet food as well as savoury people will switch plates or lose track so you need more than you think.

1. Music - obviously you don't need anything fancy but you probably want to think about at least locating a Bluetooth speaker and deciding on some easy low key background music so things aren't too silent early in the evening.

1. Where to put coats and bags etc - 30 people will have a lot of stuff. I'd also assume it's likely people will bring you gifts so while you probably don't want a table or anything make sure you have somewhere to pop them so they won't get tripped over.

1. Places to sit - how will you provide enough places for people to sit? Recognising there might not be enough room for 30 chairs but my friends end up sitting on the floor etc if not so I usually try to make sure there are at least cushions etc to grab.

1. Are there smokers/will people also want to be outside? If so, consider lighting and seating again.

I think that's everything I would worry about for a party. Other than the horror of cleaning up afterwards...

Ooh yes tell the neighbours or invite them.

You could say we're providing food, wine and beer but feel free to bring your prefered drink?

Soft drinks and ice?

are your relatives from abroad staying with you? if they are maybe get some nice breakfast things in?

Enough soap and toilet rolls in the bathroom.

Great thank you everyone this is so helpful. We actually have a unique set up and live in a new build with a function room on our rooftop, it has two fridges, plates, glasses, a dishwasher and an outside terrace. I’m trying to avoid paper plates/ disposable cups etc but may have to give in and just get them for ease. I’ve also looked at majestic wines which allow you to rent so that could work too.

and yes good idea about people forgetting where they put their glasses. I wonder how I would help them identify them? If I did this, it would save me getting plastic ones.

and great tip about labels falling off from ice bucket incase I need to return. We should have enough space in the two
fridges and then our own fridge too.

and the only person staying with us is my friend who’s making the food so will of course offer her breakfast 😅

not looking forward to cleaning, tempted to use the in-house cleaner in our building but trying to stay to a budget so we’ll see.

alcohol free beers, amazing idea.

and we are in London so parking is pretty much a no go. I’ll make sure people know that.

I assume you have neighbours close by. A note in their letterbox explaining you are hosting a small get together of 30 people, that music will be turned off at x time would be appreciated.

Nothing worse than knowing you have to get up early and getting wound up due to a noisy party that you do t know when it will finish.

All good points above. You need plenty of serving spoons and tongs.

And here, you need loads of toilet roll. If in any doubt, buy more. Do not skimp on toilet rolls. I read this advice in an article about hosting a wedding in the backyard and think they found out the hard way. Anyway, I have always followed it.

Food hygiene is paramount. Food before drinks in the fridge. Have disposable gloves if necessary in the kitchen. Soap, towels and gel handy.