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  1.  
    • Kelly-LouiseJ
      CommentAuthorKelly-LouiseJ
     
    Hi,

    I'm having an engagement party in August at a local village hall and at the moment it looks like we're going to have to cater for around 90 people. My fiance and I don't have much money between us so are trying to look at all the options possible. Unfortunately, caterers and hog roasts (which we thought would be easier) are coming out at around £350.

    I'm quite happy to make the food myself as I absolutely love cooking but I've never catered for that many before and I'm a bit stumped as to what to make/buy - especially as we have several vegetarians coming and a lady who is highly allergic to nuts (in their whole form - we believe she's OK with 'may contain traces'). I don't want it to look cheap as we have some pretty snobby friends but we simply can't afford it.

    Does anyone have any advice, suggestions or tips/tricks?
  2.  
    • Velcro
      CommentAuthorVelcro
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    for one thing, do not care what your 'snobby friends' think, unless they are happy to contribute?

    can you make a few big vats of hot food, or are you after more of a finger buffet? you could get a vat of chilli/spag bol/curry on the go. (five bean chilli for the veggies?)

    just go for the standard sausage rolls, butties, crisps bread sticks, dips etc you can get loads of stuff from iceland. you don't have to break your bank or your back over it

    id wonder if the hog roast or whatever might not actually work out much more than doing it yourself, as even getting everything cheap, for 90 people I can imagine buying that much scran is gunna rock up a bit a of bill?

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    Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey
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  3.  
    • AprilS61
      CommentAuthorAprilS61
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    I love party sausage rolls, they are a must for me haha! Can you get a few others to help out? For my nieces christening last year my sister had nearly each member of the family bring something for the buffet. They were lots of cakes, crisps, few sweets, plenty of quiches and sausage rolls and sandwiches. What about hedgehogs? Some of her Jamaican side brought their specialty rice, biti can't remember what was in it, and spicy chicken etc.

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    Mr & Mrs Swan 04/04/15


  4.  
    • *KelBel*
      CommentAuthor*KelBel*
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    We did tapas for ours so literally had a big pot of meatballs, a tray of garlic prawns, potato croquettes, peppers in a cream sauce, bread baskets, a tray of paprika rice and a tray of tomato chorizo .... What about something similar, buying the ingredients in bulk like us helped and if all looked and smelled and tasted great and was pretty inexpensive x

    Members signature icon
    Velcro...my wedding day twinny! The Two Kel's!
    Got engaged 14/10/12 in Central Park NYC!
    Became Mrs Macdonald 13th September 2014
    Mummy to 4 girlies and baby blue boy Due 10/05/2016
  5.  
    • almost a year wife!!
      CommentAuthoralmost a year wife!!
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      edited
     
    Hi, we just had a meal out which was a total disaster lol... Hubs parents were late by 40 mins so we missed our sitting, I was say half cut in the corner cz I hadn't eaten all day in anticipation, the meal wasn't nice then the woman on the next table had a Heart attack and my dad had to give first aid until the paramedics arrived. She moaned cz she didn't like the menu, they didn't wanna split the bill with everyone else even though it would have been cheaper for them! Tried to explain but they wouldn't have it! When we were leaving hubs parents and family ignored mine when they were trying to say goodbye, then my parents were Already pulled up at a red light with No other cars around them and hubs family stopped two car Lengths back so they didn't have to wave at my parents! On the wedding day his mother sat with a face like dog chewing a wasp all day and all night! Yeah our family's don't get on! Then his mum turned around and goes "well you should've had a party! Could have got them frozen sandwiches from !c€l@nd!" Erm NO!


    W@!tr@$€ do lovely food to order and do u have a co$tco near you? XxxxX

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    Ill marry my hero


  6.  
    • RachelE118
      CommentAuthorRachelE118
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    Hi Kelly-Louise. What you don't say is what facilities you have available to you in terms of fridges and cooking/keeping hot. Cooking for 90 is do-able but you really need to plan ahead, and not give any of your guests food poisoning!!! I'm an ex army chef so have cooked everything from Regimental dinners to cooked breakfasts in the field (I once fried 900 eggs lol!!).
    You also don't want to stress yourself out too much so that you'll be knackered on the night. If you find out what facilities you have available to you I could help a bit more. I was wondering about a large chilli with jackets, plus some salads then a veggie chilli but cooking 90 spuds and everything else might be complicated!!!
    Let me know though xx
  7.  
    • Velcro
      CommentAuthorVelcro
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    get a bonty on the go and throw all the spuds on that lol

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    Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey
    *Kelbel* is my wedding twinny!
  8.  
    • KayleighS46
      CommentAuthorKayleighS46
      Just marriedBadgeBadge
     
    Its my engagement party next Saturday (woop woop!!) lol, we were going to hire a hall but as you were pretty much saving for the wedding so as cheap and cheerful is fab! Luckily my parents are allowing me to have it at my house - not a big house btw - we have approx 45 people coming. Were having a BBQ between 8-9pm - burgers and sausages only with some veg burgers ALL from Iceland (£2/£4 it works out for packs of them) - we've then got some 'party food' in the kitchen - sausage rolls, quiche, pizza, dips, crisps etc etc again ALL from Iceland - its costing us roughly £65/£75 for the food and some of my friends ovens but its worked out for the best.

    The night is going to be able you and your Fiance - not the food anyway and if your so called 'friends' get that snobby then you dont really need them. :) Good Luck!! xx

    Met 2013
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    Will Be Mrs Brookes 2016
    always & forever xxx
 

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