Entertaining Ideas
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
clambake - $ question
we want to host a clambake at our house this fall and we're going to order the dinners from a fish place by us. each dinner is $17.95. it is okay to expect those who come to pay for their meal, right? i wouldn't have an issue with paying for my dinner, but i'm not sure how other people feel. would you expect to pay for your own meal at a clambake?
Re: clambake - $ question
My Pinterest
The Googlesites Paint Bio
Thinking of doing cosmetic updates to a dated home? These were our costs.
Ditto.
There are ways you can make it cheaper.
- Don't have it catered and do it all yourself.
- Don't do clams in Ohio in November - I'm not certain, but I'm preeeetty sure there aren't clams in Ohio and that November isn't their season
- Have it partially catered (say, just the clams) and do the sides yourself.
I just fed 50 people dinner, making all the food myself, and did it for $350. It's all in my bio.
My Pinterest
The Googlesites Paint Bio
Thinking of doing cosmetic updates to a dated home? These were our costs.
Tarheels is spot on with everything. Fall in NE Ohio is soup weather.
This doesn't even sound like a clambake anyway. And no, I would never expect to pay for my meal at a clambake. A clambake is a beach party where you are celebrating all the yumminess of the sea, not going to someone's house and paying for takeout from a restaurant in late fall in a landlocked state. It may not always be at a beach, but its definitely about a bunch of seafood in a pot, not takeout dinners.
And as pp's said, that's not hosting.
First of all, I'm shocked that you can have a place cater a clambake for that price. I live in New England not far from the coast, where we are known for our seafood and clambakes cost minimum of about $35 a person (at least from the places I've checked out).
Secondly, if you are hosting the party, as a guest I wouldn't expect to pay.
However, I hosted a luau and actually asked people to help out with the costs. Now before everyone jumps down my throat, let me explain.
All of our friends and family had been begging us to throw a big party because we have a great yard for entertaining. I frequently throw smaller parties, but I had never hosted something for 50+. The idea of a luau was thrown around and I looked into the cost of catering and it was $25 a person.
Because we had been asked to host the party, I asked my guests if they would mind contributing towards the cost of catering. Every guest was more than fine with this. We in turn covered the tip and any additional costs, as well as alcohol, prizes for the hula contest and limbo, and leis and whatnot. The party still ended up costing us a pretty penny (about $1200) even with the help from our friends.
I was really hesitant to ask them to pitch in, but it ended up being fine. I know if the roles were reversed I would have no problem with this.
So I guess the point of my story is, you can't expect your guests to pay. But depending on the circumstances it may be ok they they help out; it might not be taboo.
If this is not an option, then I like the ideas that the other posters have suggested.
I am even more in awe of you now, Tarheel! I can't believe you pulled off that whole spread for $350!
No - the only party I would ever consider paying a "cover" fee for as a guest would be a fundraiser. If you do use that fish restaurant - see if they can do better than 17.95 per person - based on your guest count - they may be willing to negotiate - otherwise you'll have to cook!
When you host a party (especially a large or elaborate one) you give of yourself. My good friend has a saying "typical party - everyone has fun but the hostess" - I always think of it when I am in over my head (like right now) because she is right - it is a lot of work and/or expense to entertain - but very worth it if you want to take care of your guests.
There are also lots of different ways to entertain. Keep reading these boards for recipes and ideas and you will be able to put something great together you can afford.
Cheers!