5th Birthday Party for ds - HELP - what partyware, food etc????

[looneytune]

HELP! Never done a party before

I'm just looking online at tableware and they have soooo much stuff, what is actually needed? Obviously paper plates & cups but what about:

Table cover
Napkins
Plastic Cutlery
Balloons

?????

It's being held at a gym club so the entertainment is sorted, it's just 'food time' I need to sort (decided to make it as easy as possible as I'll be nearly 30 weeks pregnant!).

And food.....

What do you think???

Little triangle sandwiches (some marmite, cheese, ham???)
Cucumber Sticks
Carrot Sticks
Cherry Tomatoes
Bowls with something like mini cheddars/pom bears??
Cocktail Sausages / Mini Sausage Rolls / Mini scotch eggs???? These suitable? If so, which would be best?
Sliced fruit?
What about for afters? I know some have loads of different biscuits, cakes etc but I don't want to overdo it on the sweet stuff. Was thinking maybe some party rings and ?????

Also, do you give the cake whilst there or in a party bag at the end? The kids will only have 30 mins to have the food at the end so I'm thinking maybe this should be put in a bag with napkin?

Party Bags ????

What do you think is best these days? Each child gets a bag with ???? in at the end or something else? I know one party ds went to, they all got a very nice cuddly at the end. They'd clearly spent more but then it was for twins so obviously thought should be from both of them. These were great but I need to keep it as reasonable as possible as dh was made redundant once we'd already booked the party so money is tight!

Right, think I've asked enough there, sorry but really want to get as much advice as possible

TIA

bump anyone?

Party bags - don't do 'em. Loads of plastic crap that ends up in landfill. At our last party we did a wooden bracelet/car (giftwrapped) and a massive punch balloon. Cost about £1 per child. Plus piece of cake in a napkin.

Food - sounds fine. grapes and strawbs always go down well. I might go for jam sarnies rather than marmite, simply cos they will be more popular. Party rings are ace, we do little bowls of haribo and marshmallows as well. Big jugs of squash - orange and ribena - or apple and orange juice to drink.

Tableware - cups/plates/napkins/tablecloths. Wouldn't do ballons - you need loads to make a big hall look decorated so best not to bother. And don't bother with party hats either.

Ooh - and my top tip - a few beers and a box of white wine for the parents!

Oh, fab idea I'm not into the tat myself, just wasn't sure of options. Soooo, where did you get this wooden stuff from? And the punch balloons?

Oh, good point, will try Jam aswell. Marmite has gone down well at other parties but you're right, not everyone likes those. Will do a mix, didn't think of jam as we don't have it here. And great about strawberries and grapes Oh and sweets instead of too much cakey stuff sounds better, thanks. Will have to get some big jugs, well done for thinking of that for me!!! Balloons I'll leave although it's only a small area upstairs from the gym so not a big area to decorate but thinking about it, it's not really worth it for 30 mins up there! We have 15 mins to clear up after and I'm pregnant and not able to rush around as much so trying to make life easier

And as for beer and wine.....don't you worry, I DID think about that one Not that I'll be able to have any

Thanks again!!

And did you put the wooden item and balloon/cake in a party bag?

Just done my first big one! Most popular food: sausages, little cakes/biscuits and crisps. Least popular: sandwiches, cubes of cheese, celery (=healthy stuff). Some children do prefer water to juice though. Do remember table cloth, cling film, tin foil (if you want to bring the sandwiches back...) lots of silver foil plates for serving, and bin bags. We cut the cake beforehand for the party bags - but giving it to them there and then would have been popular too.

Children do expect bags, sadly - lovely, crinkly, dip your hand in bags. But you can do a pen, stickers and chocolate for less than £1 per bag.

....no mention of jam sandwiches...it is not a party without them

Right, I've been round the block a few times with this party lark and I can definately say, hand on heart, that the way to go with the food for children is to give each guest a party box with a fairly limited selection inside.

The food you mention seems very good . (A petit filous little yogurt and disposable spoon makes a good dessert.)

Children never eat much at parties, I promise you they don't. I have learned this painful lesson several times.

Just done my first big one! Most popular food: sausages, little cakes/biscuits and crisps. Least popular: sandwiches, cubes of cheese, celery (=healthy stuff). Some children do prefer water to juice though. Do remember table cloth, cling film, tin foil (if you want to bring the sandwiches back...) lots of silver foil plates for serving, and bin bags. We cut the cake beforehand for the party bags - but giving it to them there and then would have been popular too.

Children do expect bags, sadly - lovely, crinkly, dip your hand in bags. But you can do a pen, stickers and chocolate for less than £1 per bag.

I did a big reply to this and if obvious never posted GRRR!

muminlondon - thanks for the tips, don't worry about water, ds will ONLY drink water and I know he's always too shy to ask when he's at a party where they don't have it so I'll make sure it's on offer Great tip about cling film etc - wouldn't have thought of that!

smurfs - oops, ds never has jam sandwiches so just didn't think - best add those then

TsarChasm - I've decided to definitely do party boxes - lots of parents say MUCH easier and we are very limited on time! Thanks for that.

Now need advice on party boxes....

What to put in them?
Do you still offer a tray of sandwiches as you never know what kids will want?

I still need to decide on what to put in party bags but definitely doing the cake in advance

you don;t need cutlery. For yoghurt get those frubes things so they are easy to eat. In the boxes just put a selection of the food, they can swap what they don't want!

It's also loads easier with boxes to clear up afterwards, everything goes in the bin!

Instead of party bags how about looking on the book people for the packs of books you can get, are v. good value and not tat!

Thanks popmum, will put that on the list for the older kiddies (babies can have little pot with spoon).

It's tomorrow now and still not sure what food to put in each box. Have started another thread about that though.