Party Planning HELP

[carissalynp]

Guess I should post this here. We're having LO's party at a community center room, and expecting 50-55ish people. It's at 2PM, so we're only doing snack food, plus cake and ice cream. I have NO CLUE how much food we need. Help please?

I'm thinking:
-shrimp cocktail (if we do trays that have 50 small shrimp, maybe 2 of them?)
-Grandma is making meatballs, 2 crockpots worth
-Sister is bringing a tray of pinwheel sandwiches
-Fruit platter
-Veggie & dip platter
-2 kinds of chips & dip

Is that enough variety? Or what else should we have? If the fruit and veggie platters say they're for 20 people is 2 enough? 3 bags of 2 different chips? Or 3 bags of 3 chips? Any advice appreciated, I don't know what I'm doing. 

[shellbell]

I like to err on the side of too much food. I'd add either another fruit or veggie tray, another shrimp tray, and something like Chex Mix.

[carissalynp]

Thanks guys! So maybe shrimp x2, veggie x2, fruit, 3 bags of 2 types of chips, plus the stuff people bring. I was sort of trying to avoid cheese & crackers unless someone offers since they're more expensive plus more work, but would chexmix be a good alternative? I like that idea shellbell!

[shellbell]

Cheesy chex mix! The Chipotle Cheddar is also DELICIOUS

[carissalynp]

Jan 15, 2015 21:34:05 GMT -5 shellbell said:

Cheesy chex mix! The Chipotle Cheddar is also DELICIOUS

I don't think they make the big bags of the chiptole one do they? I'll have to check, I do love that one!

Oh and ice cream...3 quart size ones? 4? Maybe 3 different flavors and 2 of vanilla or chocolate? I reeeeeally don't want left over ice cream though.

[shellbell]

I want leftover ice cream.

[innanni]

On the ice cream, I do ice cream parties at school all the time, to keep the line moving relatively quickly I'd keep it down to two flavors or even just one that you think goes best with your cake flavor. Since its to go with other things I'd say your numbers are about right.

[carissalynp]

Jan 15, 2015 22:17:12 GMT -5 shellbell said:

I want leftover ice cream.

Well hey it's pretty cold out, I'll ship it to you! Seriously I just really don't like ice cream much and it's not worth the calories, and DH will be tempted to eat it even though he doesn't want to use the extra calories either. Although we have the longest drive home so I can probably pawn it off on someone. Cake too hopefully- we ended up having 3 mini baby showers for LO and had alll the leftover cake home with us, omg. 

[carissalynp]

Jan 15, 2015 22:18:33 GMT -5 innanni said:

On the ice cream, I do ice cream parties at school all the time, to keep the line moving relatively quickly I'd keep it down to two flavors or even just one that you think goes best with your cake flavor. Since its to go with other things I'd say your numbers are about right.

That's very helpful, thank you! 

[blondemum]

I like the variety! I'm having about the same amount of people and have been wondering how much food to get too.

[carissalynp]

Jan 15, 2015 22:30:41 GMT -5 blondemum said:

I like the variety! I'm having about the same amount of people and have been wondering how much food to get too.

I feel like, on one hand, it's not like people need much food that time of day, they won't starve. But it'd also be horribly embarrassing to run out! 

[jammersc]

Jan 15, 2015 22:25:29 GMT -5 carissalynp said:

Jan 15, 2015 22:17:12 GMT -5 shellbell said:

I want leftover ice cream.

Well hey it's pretty cold out, I'll ship it to you! Seriously I just really don't like ice cream much and it's not worth the calories, and DH will be tempted to eat it even though he doesn't want to use the extra calories either. Although we have the longest drive home so I can probably pawn it off on someone. Cake too hopefully- we ended up having 3 mini baby showers for LO and had alll the leftover cake home with us, omg. 

blasphemy!

[danaadell]

Saying ice cream isn't worth it hurts me. The food sounds good to me though. I'm super hungry now :-)

[ivedonethisb4]

Carissa we did something similar. My menu was crockpot meatballs, pigs in blankets, sausage cheese balls, covered pretzel rods, a fruit and a vegetable platter. Everything got ate except the meatballs...

I did 3 packs of little wieners for my piggies...and just 1lb of sausage for sausage balls. We had so much cake and meatballs left tho omg and there were around 40 people.

[ivedonethisb4]

Let me rephrase everything that didn't get eaten during the party my stepbrother took home to eat except the meatballs ...so we didn't run out. I think you're going to end up with way too much food..

[carissalynp]

Jan 16, 2015 6:30:32 GMT -5 ivedonethisb4 said:

Let me rephrase everything that didn't get eaten during the party my stepbrother took home to eat except the meatballs ...so we didn't run out. I think you're going to end up with way too much food..

That makes me feel a lot better, thank you! How much ice cream did you have? And I'm super jealous of your cake, it was so pretty but would cost me probably 2x as much.

[ivedonethisb4]

Jan 16, 2015 8:46:38 GMT -5 carissalynp said:

Jan 16, 2015 6:30:32 GMT -5 ivedonethisb4 said:

Let me rephrase everything that didn't get eaten during the party my stepbrother took home to eat except the meatballs ...so we didn't run out. I think you're going to end up with way too much food..

That makes me feel a lot better, thank you! How much ice cream did you have? And I'm super jealous of your cake, it was so pretty but would cost me probably 2x as much.

We didn't have any...my BFF was in charge of bringing it and she didn't make it but at my nephews party in dec we got just one gallon of Neapolitan and there were about the same number of people..it's cold!!!