My sister goes on a reunion vacation for July 4th each year in Cape May, NJ. The thing that they do to keep the costs down more and to spend more time together and to not wait in restaurant lines is that they have theme nights. Each couple hosts one of the nights. This way, everyone only has to cook and clean up one night. They have to come up with all of the courses appropriate to the theme, themed alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, themed music, and costumes for everyone.
They start the evening on the veranda (front porch) with cocktails and appetizers. Now, understand this, please... her BIL owns a B&B there and there is alot of street traffic (walking and driving) in front of the house who can see them dressed up having their party. They think that what other people think about them is funny since they are acting pretty strangely.
Her in-laws are very competative, so after the dinner, everyone rates the hosts efforts. They actually have made up rating cards for all of the categories of the dinner. The winner gets bragging rights until the next year.
For example, she and her DH were responsible for the Italian night last year. All of the men wore wife beater tank tops and black pants and the women teased their hair up big and wore black dresses. They played the songs on the "Mob Hits" CD. I forget what all of their courses consisted of, but they served chianti and valpolicella and of course, sambuca after dinner with espresso and capucino.
They do a Mexican night, a Greek night, a Polish night, Mardi Gras, an American night, etc., and on one of the other nights, her MIL and FIL would buy lobster tails, clams, etc., for a clam bake. They have a blast doing this. It can cost each couple $400-500 for their meal, but they figure that for as well as they eat each night, they are saving money over going to restaurants for every dinner.
Just something for you to consider.
