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Party Planning To Do List
Three to Four Weeks before the big event
- Set a budget and vow to stick to it.
- Determine what type of party you will have from formal to casual.
- Select a theme, this will help determine invites, food, favors & decorations.
- Create a guest list.
- Select an event date.
- Purchase and send out the invitations (usually 4 weeks ahead of the event).
Two to three weeks before the big event
- Track your RSVP to get an idea of the head count.
- Determine a basic party flow for the event including activities, games, mingling and food. Always have a few extra ideas in your bag.
- Plan your menu.
- Purchase favors.
- Select decorations and purchase them.
One week before the big event
- Purchase all food items for the big event. Place orders as needed.
- Prep or prepare food ahead of time as allowed.
- Prepare an outline of everything that needs to be done before the party.
- Update the outline of the party flow.
- Finalize the headcount, but be flexible that it will change.
- Purchase beverages.
Two to three days before the big event
- Confirm all orders placed.
- Reconfirm the headcount, make a polite call to those you have not heard from via RSVP.
- Buy any Fresh Food required.
- Check for ample amounts of film and batteries.
- Say yes to the friends and family who are asking to help, give them a specific task from your prepared outline.
The day before the big event
- Complete food preparation and pick up of pre-ordered food items.
- Decorate for the party.
- Set table/serving table. Layout all napkins, cups, bowls, utensils, serving dishes, bottle openers, etc.
- Place a sticky pad in each bowl or counter area indicating what goes where.
- Select music to fit the theme and the desires of the guests.
The day of the big event
- Prepare foods and beverages that could not be made ahead of time.
- Put up all outdoor decorations, it is always best to do this the day of the party.
- Start the music, set the mood.
- Allow yourself plenty of time to get ready for the event, a long bath, glass of wine, quick dance, and exercise, whatever gets you in the right mood.
- Place disposable cameras around; put out your camera to capture memories.
- Enjoy!
Remember … Life should be more fun!
Entertaining a Crowd
Exactly how much food does it take to feed an army? That is a question that haunts even the most experienced dinner party entertainer! We are here to help you plan the right amount of food to serve at your next get-together, whether you are serving four people or 104.
Feeding a lot of people does not have to be hard; it only takes some planning and a little confidence! If the thought of cooking all of the food yourself is overwhelming, ask your friends to help you, or make one or two of the dishes yourself and buy the rest. Remember to relax and enjoy the process -don't stress too much - guest do not expect you to make everything like an experienced culinary professional!
Opt for a Buffet Line
The easiest and most simple way to feed guests is with a buffet line. A general rule is that everyone will not eat everything. People normally will eat more starches and meats than vegetables and anything fried will be the first to go! Going through a buffet line can make people feel the pressure of others behind them, so they move along quickly and won't take huge quantities the first time through. Remember that it is much more preferable to have leftovers than a sparse spread at your buffet table.
How Much Food?
Here is a guide to help you estimate your food quantities for either a buffet or a sit-down dinner.
For individual meats, fish, poultry:
- 5 - 6 ounces per person
- If the cuts of meat have bones in them, consider adding more weight per person
For multiple meat meals and buffets:
For pasta dishes:
- For a sit-down dinner, a pound of pasta will serve 4-6
- For a buffet, a pound will serve 8-10 people
For vegetables:
- With a premixed salad, estimate one handful per person
- One head of lettuce will feed approximately 5 people, 4 medium heads will serve 15-20 people
For appetizers:
- Estimate about 10-12 items total per person.
- Make 3-4 of each item per person, keeping in mind that everyone may not take all of the items
For desserts:
- Calculate one full portion of dessert per person
- For multiple desserts, people will taste smaller portions of each item
- A normal cake will serve approximately 10, but 15 will be fed if you are also serving pie
Doubling Recipes
Remember that doubling and tripling recipes is something of an art, so it is best to work small and work your way up. You will have a much better success rate with most recipes if you make multiple batches of a single recipe rather than trying to multiply the quantities by 3, 4, or more.
Throwing a successful dinner party does not have to throw you into a cardiac arrest! Just have fun, relax, and enjoy the time with your many guests - they will remember the fun and fellowship much longer than they will remember the menu. |
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