Help Me Save This Bridal Shower Menu!

tanto1kl

I am in the process of planning my future SIL's shower scheduled for Jan First, we are planning around 150 people (yes, I know that is a ridiculous amount, but we are from a small town where everybody knows everybody and everybody gets invited so that's how it is and we just have to work with it. The bride and MOB had a meeting with all the bridesmaids and gave us a list of what they wanted for the shower (theme, menu, prizes, etc) Yes, I know that is also all kinds of wrong, but whatever, we are trying to accomodate them.

This is what they want to do for the menu since it is a winter theme (blue and white with snowflakes, crystals, etc): A buffet with 5 kinds of soup (potato, chili, chicken noodle, vegetable and broccoli) and a tossed salad. They want to serve the soup in those silver chafing dishes with the candle underneath. My concerns are a buffet with various soups isn't really a buffet, I think we should cut back and do maybe two and serve different stuff. Also concerned that the chafing dishes won't keep soup warm enough. My problem is that all the other bridemaids are young and broke so I will have to pay for all the other food. I am trying to come up with ideas that would be easy and affordable for that many people. Please help with any ideas. TIA!

SBS0628

Woah.

Okay, first -- what time of day will it be (the date worries me + menu considerations can be made based on time)?

Since it's after NYE, assuming there may be some folks who partied hard the night before, I'd make sure there's a decent amount of carbs available. Maybe some artisan breads (works with soup and salad, for sure) or even bread bowls for the soup.

I'd try to get crock pots to keep the soups warm. I don't think chafing dishes will cut it.

You could do some hot apps to balance the menu, like stuffed mushroom caps or sweedish meatballs.

lsgarver

Ditto pp--this is all kindsa wrong.  The good news is, you know that and seem to just doing the best with what you have.

I actually don't hate the soups idea with one big caveat--all the guests need to be seated at a table.  Please don't make a bunch of ladies try to balance a bowl of soup on their laps.

Again, ditto pp that you need breads.  Lots of them.  Find a local bakery and put in an order for a few loaves of a few different kinds.  Some fresh veggies and fruits would also be nice.  And desserts--showers tend to be dessert-heavy--are you having a cake?

And finally ditto pp that you need crockpots.  A little sterno will not keep a crock of chili warm and if you spread it out in a catering chafing dish, it's going to get crusty.  Now, I know my personal crockpot has some kind of pattern on it that wouldn't fit the theme but I think you can wrap them in fabric to keep with the white and sparkly theme.

Good luck!!

tanto1kl

It is going to be late luncheon starting at 2pm. It will be set up like reception, so everybody will have table/seat so we don't have to worry about ladies balancing soup on laps.

We were planning on doing bread bowls-do you think we need other types of breads/rolls?

We are doing blue/white dessert bar with cake and various small desserts

SBS0628

tanto1kl:

We were planning on doing bread bowls-do you think we need other types of breads/rolls?

I'd say yes -- and have regular bowls as an option for people who don't want a full on bread bowl.

6fsn

I don't see too much wrong with the menu- just get some different way to keep the soup warm.  Add different types of bread and offer more than just the bread bowl.  If you want to do something add some sort of half sandwiches or wraps.  I'm quite content to eat soup and salad for lunch.

wejustwant2:)

All pp... especially re: soup temps - check them once or twice to make sure they are over 141 degrees.

Good Luck!

cg-pm52111

I actually like the soup idea in the sense that it would be a cost effective way to serve a lot of people.  But I will agree with the PPs about adding some breads and other apps and using crock pots.

kimnelson09

Ditto pps and I just wanted to throw this out there, too.  I'm sure that you're going to have at least 1 vegetarian in 150 people.  Make sure that one of the soups is truly vegetarian (i.e. not made with chicken/beef stock), not just meatless.   

TupeloChick

If it were me, I'd do exactly what the bride and MOB ask, make sure all BMs contribute and not worry about it. If anyone has a negative comment about it, just say "it's what the bride wanted". The only thing I'd do to change it is point out that one little sterno flame won't keep a huge pot of soup hot and offer to help figure out a better way.  

lindyanne

I'd add a few nice croissant sandwiches as well. You can make a gourmet chicken salad very cheap. I think small ones of those, soup, and salad is plenty with some cake. If the bm's aren't footing the bill and the MOB is demanding all this I think she should be helping to foot the bill. I also want to add that we have served soup before and it has been kept plenty hot enough assuming it went in hot. I used to coordinate conferences at my old job and we always had soup in the winter bc there were a lot of people from warmer climates coming in.

kcpokergal

I agree that crackpots are the way to go. I'm sure you can borrow what you don't have personally. I am worried as to how much space any food for 150 people would take up. Everyone will need to help out. As for wrapping the crocks, I don't think that will work as soup will be dripping and such and that will get gross really fast! I assume no one has enough chafing dishes anyway, so that would be a huge expense. I think some sandwiches additionally would be good. You can usually order a few trays of those from the grocery store to make your life easier. Good luck!

PinkBackPack

You might want to do a pasta salad or something.  That's an inexpensive dish that's easy for a large amount of people.  I would maybe do just two or three soups.