Budgeting for 2 Parties and Food ?'s

[TwoMisfits]

Another recommendation for the 53 person party - preplan the drinks! That can be almost as expensive as the food. If it were me, I'd have bottled water and then I'd do a giant punch bowl - one type, whatever your daughter's favorite is. Anyone who doesn't like punch gets water, and it's a little "nicer" that doing a cooler of powdered lemonade or iced tea (another way to go). I'd plan 2 bottles of water/person plus the punch for 75 (or 1.5 cups/each)...so 3 35 packs of water, ice, and the punch ingredients...

 

[Owlpost23]

Roasting marshmallows? Soak the wooden sticks in water for a while so they don't burn. Have fun!

 

[Sixty-something]

One of the most fun birthday parties I went to as a teenager (early 1970's) the birthday girl had a pizza party where all the guests helped make the pizzas. We cut up what we wanted on them, baked and ate. Also made "sangria" with kool aid and slices of fruit. It was a lot of fun and I'm sure was inexpensive. I remember one of the most popular toppings for the pizza was bologna!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

For pizza I would not cook them. At best you will have 2 pizza ready every 20 minutes. You will be cooking pizza for nearly an hour and a half to feed 8 people. That is along time to wait for a hot pizza.

 

[dreamin_disney]

Another recommendation for the 53 person party - preplan the drinks! That can be almost as expensive as the food. If it were me, I'd have bottled water and then I'd do a giant punch bowl - one type, whatever your daughter's favorite is. Anyone who doesn't like punch gets water, and it's a little "nicer" that doing a cooler of powdered lemonade or iced tea (another way to go). I'd plan 2 bottles of water/person plus the punch for 75 (or 1.5 cups/each)...so 3 35 packs of water, ice, and the punch ingredients...

I'm having 3 big jugs of Mexican waters fruit waters and bottled water. My sis wanted to do this for my daughter her fruit waters are so good!

One of the most fun birthday parties I went to as a teenager (early 1970's) the birthday girl had a pizza party where all the guests helped make the pizzas. We cut up what we wanted on them, baked and ate. Also made "sangria" with kool aid and slices of fruit. It was a lot of fun and I'm sure was inexpensive. I remember one of the most popular toppings for the pizza was bologna!

lol! Sounds like you had fun but it would be to hectic-lol! Bologna was such a hot back then. I use to love it fried, with a lil bit of mustard on white bread and it was the best bologna sandwich

For pizza I would not cook them. At best you will have 2 pizza ready every 20 minutes. You will be cooking pizza for nearly an hour and a half to feed 8 people. That is along time to wait for a hot pizza.

I wouldn't cook all those pizzas-lol! I don't need anymore work that day-lol! Sam's pizzas are $8.99 I think and the pizzas are huge. Costco s are $9.99 . I don't think they give discounts for large orders..

 

[monorailsilver]

I buy a bunch of sticks at the Christmas tree shop to for marsh mellows but those are seasonal. They are just wood sticks with a dull point.

For the s'mores, besides Hershey's, I have used Reece's, rolos, and various flat chocolate. I think I even put in chocolate chip cookies and Oreos too.

Pizza, that's tough,I would rather have extra and freeze it, eat it over the next few days then not enough. Adults I'd say 4 slices, teens 6 and smaller kids 2 and then add another 2 pizzas on top of that.

Will you be able to find a watermelon this time of year? I would get a bag of apples slice them (add lemon juice so they don't brown) and get some caramel to dip. Oranges too. Heck have a chocolate fountain and oranges and chocolate yum yum! Grapes/fruit skewers.

For the teen party, lots of chips, cans of soda, bottles of juice, heck juice boxes, my kids love them!! More finger foods to nosh on-gold fish, Chex mix, pretzels, pretzel rods dipped in chocolate (I break mine in half). I'd skip the nachos for that party, it could get messy. Or this party do a chocolate fountain.

 

[JenzyHP]

I'd be impressed if someone could eat 4 or 6 pieces of costco pizza on top of any other food. haha.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd be impressed if someone could eat 4 or 6 pieces of costco pizza on top of any other food. haha.

Since each slice has about 700 calories, that would be insane!

 

[TwoMisfits]

I'd be impressed if someone could eat 4 or 6 pieces of costco pizza on top of any other food. haha.

Just had a teenage birthday party today (this afternoon) - each teen ate a whole large popcorn and a 20oz soda at the movies and then came home one hour after the movie and each ate 4 pieces of 3 topping Dominos large pizzas...and another 20oz soda. And they are both girls and boys, and skinny. Thankfully, my teen gets her 3 best friends and we have a party with just them, or I'd go broke...

 

[JenzyHP]

Just had a teenage birthday party today (this afternoon) - each teen ate a whole large popcorn and a 20oz soda at the movies and then came home one hour after the movie and each ate 4 pieces of 3 topping Dominos large pizzas...and another 20oz soda. And they are both girls and boys, and skinny. Thankfully, my teen gets her 3 best friends and we have a party with just them, or I'd go broke...

I think Costco pizza is at least double the size of the Dominos large. I think they double cut them to have more pieces than if you buy in the food court but it is still very big.

 

[dreamin_disney]

Update: The pizza for 60 was making me nervous so last minute I changed the menu and made a Mexican meat, beans and rice. Appetizers were nachos and chips and salsa. I paid about $100 or a lil less. Plus sister brought sodas and step mother n law brought a pasta salad and a potato salad. The food was plenty for 2nds and my sis, MIL and hubbys grandma took some food home and we had leftovers. I was just worried about there not being enough food but the appetizers help fill them up a lil then the main food and ending with cake. Everyone was full. BTW final count was 45 out of 60. some had to work and some had whatever cold/sore throat that's going around

I will definitely do Costco or Sam's pizza for the bonfire . 30 invites were made but DD only handed them out to the girls on Friday and will handout the boys on Monday. I think only 1/2 will show up but RSVP deadline is Thursday

Yay! I survived the first party

Went to Walmart I found the longer sticks for smores but DD said at her friend they just used the shorter ones like the size for shish kabobs. Hopefully she will setting for a middle size-lol!

Chips
dip
sodas
nachos(if a few boys come so it helps fill them up)
Pizza
medium salad(DD says they don't eat salad)

Someone mentioned popcorn and I like that idea
cake