Party for about 150 people on a VERY TIGHT BUDGET?

Question

We are throwing a party for about 150 people, it’s a 25th wedding anniversary party. I need frugal ways to help decorate and such on an extremely tight budget. We are doing the cooking ourselves so any good recipes that can go for that amount of people would be great/helpful as well Thank u in avance.

Answer 1

Chicken is usually a pretty affordable meat - if you do the drumsticks & thighs.   BBQ Chicken with a cold pasta salad with veggies.   Do the pasta salad with oil (instead of mayo) so it will keep longer out of the fridge.  BBQ chicken can be served hot or cold.  Can do up some cold veggie platters perhaps?    

Maybe ask some family members to help out and spread out the cost - like a pot luck..

Answer 2

We used to have huge holiday parties (400-700 people) and I just made tons of CHILI, with pans of cornbread (combine a yellow cake mix with cornbread mix & all ingredients called for on both pkgs), and a big green salad with choice of dressings.  I had some appetizers (crockpot meatballs/franks - spinach dip - fruit & veggie/dip platters)... and LOTS of cookies and cakes:)  Chili is probably the cheapest (and easiest) thing you can make:) ....If you want alcohol, it's cheaper to do a punch (anything with vodka), or a spiced cider (I put apple juice & brandy in a large coffee urn, with whole cinnamon & cloves in the grounds basket)....  For decorations, go to a dollar store (Dollar Tree is the best) or Big Lots.  Use plain white tablecloths, and get a variety of different sized clear glass vases;  fill them with iridescent pebbles (bags at the dollar store, near floral / candle supplies) and stick a silver candle into those.  Maybe put a crepe paper "runner" under them in blue or black, and scatter some silver metallic confetti along it.  You could also get some pots of rosemary (I saw them at Home Depot yesterday) and cover the pot with aluminum foil and tie a blue, silver or white ribbon around that.  (Then plant the rosemary later to use) ....  Tie some silver mylar and white/blue balloons to the corners of the table .....HAPPY ANNIVERSARY and congratulations!  (Our 25th is in Jan)

Answer 3

two words: pot luck. Just make sure that people bring enough main course-y type stuff. Then you have more time and money to spend on decorations, and you have a lot less stress.

Answer 4

Definitely check out your local dollar stores for decorations. They have tons of wedding/anniversary stuff.

As far as food, try to see if you have a local farmers market. Fruits/veggies are SOOOO much cheaper if you buy them direct. You can do a few big fruit platters with a sweet cream cheese dip (just blend cream cheese, sugar and a little vanilla extract). You could also do a vegetable tray with ranch/blue cheese dressing.

Then for fillers I definitely suggest going with pasta. It is cheap and does fill you up. Go to Costco, BJ's, Sams or another bulk store and get the pasta there.

Planning a big party on a budget isn't hard, you just have to check your local stores for sales.  

Answer 5

The dollar store has alot of decorating stuff you can use.  Depending on the theme of the party.  I would do a small simple flower arrangement using glass vases, and clear stones,(you can buy at Walmart or craft stores)  you can mix and match too, maybe friends and family have different ones.  I would use votives to go around the flower arrangements.  Use white linens that you can rent for the tables.  And get scraps of fabric and cut them in squares with the colors you are using in the flower arrangements.  Sometimes your local craft stores have good bargins.  For the couples table make a little bit larger floral  arrangement.  Dollar store has flowers too.  Look online sometimes you can get good deals online stores.

go to recipes.com for good recipes,  

Answer 6

Montreal Steak (8 serving)

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 tablespoon minced garlic

4 teaspoons McCormick® Grill Mates® Montreal Steak Seasoning

2 pounds boneless beef sirloin or New York strip steaks

Teriyaki Chicken (stips on a stick;Yoshidas marinade;just add crushed garlic)

Shrimp Scampi Bake (100 servings)

16-2/3 cups butter

2 cups and 1 tablespoon prepared Dijon-style mustard

1 cup and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 cup and 1 tablespoon chopped garlic

1 cup and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

33 pounds medium raw shrimp, shelled, deveined, with tails attached

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, and parsley. When the butter melts completely, remove from heat.

Arrange shrimp in a shallow baking dish. Pour the butter mixture over the shrimp.

Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until the shrimp are pink and opaque.

For decorations, go to the dollar tree or orientaltrading.com

Answer 7

Is it too late to make it a potluck and spend your money on decorations instead of food?  Usually with potlucks people bring so much, you hardly have to supply anything.  Then you could splurge more for decorations and entertainment.

Answer 8

this site has lots of decorations:

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/search...

More decorations:

http://www.partycheap.com/SearchResults....

Taco Dip:

2 softened cream cheese.

1 16oz sour cream

1 packet taco seasoning.

Mix with mixer. Put in bottom of a cookie sheet. Top with shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and green onions. Use the cheese but you can altered the rest to your taste, maybe add black olives. Make 2 of these. Serve with tostitos scoops.

Silver Dollar Sandwiches:

These are silver dollar rolls made by your bakery in the grocery store.  We have them in our store just ready to grab, for large orders call ahead for some.  Anyway they are perfect for parties, hand size, neat.  You buy shaved ham, beef and turkey.  You put lettuce on if you want and some cut cheese into triagles and put on. Also put real butter on on side of the bun inside of course.  And have mustard and mayo packets  on ice in case anyone wants that.  

I hope this helps you.

Answer 9

serve big salad

3 pastas liek baked ziti, angel hair primavera & penne vodka - pasta fills you up and is cheap

make a few big pork loins and maybe roast beef

have a few trays of green beans and rice pilaf on the side

Answer 10

Decorations can be easily purchased or stolen from a $2 shop.  You can definitely save on food by not providing any.  Otherwise anything from your garden is guaranteed to be a) healthy and b) will last all night cos nobody will eat it.  This way your guests will leave early without getting too drunk and head to McDonalds.  Perfect!!

Answer 11

Have everyone in your family pitch in with a side dish or something. Dollar store is a good idea for decorations.