Mixer/Social for 70. Refreshments Ideas Needed.

aluminium

I'm hosting a mid-afternoon mixer for about 70 people or so. It will be on a weekday from 3-5pm.  The point of the party is to socialize, and the invitation was very vague - only mentioning light refreshments - because I wasn't sure at the time what I would be offering.  So anyone who comes isn't expecting a full meal (and it doesn't fall during a meal time anyway). So I'm looking to keep it light, but due to the number of people I also need it to be really easy. Most of the people attending are between the ages of 18 and 21. I'm thinking maybe cookies and hot cocoa. Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance!

GatorWedsNole

I like the cookies and cocoa idea.  That makes sense for 3-5pm "refreshments"

If you want to add some salty, you can do little bags of pretzels and chips with bottles of water and cans of soda. 

Note: little bags like the kind you get from a vending machine.  Bowls of chips for 70 people seems messy too me and too many hands going into one place.

And since it's young adults, maybe some bowls of candy.

HTH!

6fsn

Cookies would be very good, but you need to have something salty as well.  I like the ideas of bags of chips/pretzels.  I'd add veggie trays and cheese and crackers to round things out.  You never know people's dietary needs, but I'd venture there is at least one diabetic in the group.

Cocoa is okay, but I'd be more likely to just put out the little cans of soda na bottles of water.  I'd also do coffee instead of cocoa.  Especially if there are men, I just don't see them going for it.

LisaMinFL

Oooh you could make a "hot cocoa bar" and have a kettle or urn of hot water, and diff types of hot choc, like dark or milk or low sugar, and then have different stir-ins. I know kraft has french vanilla marshmellows shaped liek snow men, and you could do the little ones, and the chocolate ones, and then you could have different types of choc chps to throw in, like white choc and milk choc, butterscotch chips, andes mints, and peppermint, or peppermint pieces. Depending on the crowd, you could have baily's to mix in too...oh and cans of whipped cream.

Basically just have little dishes of diff things, and people can make their own...

cookies/brownies, mini-cupcakes

I agree on have a salty snack too...maybe some type of chips and dip? nuts?

6fsn

18-21: no Bailey's. 

I guess this is a know your audience.  18-21 girls would love hot cocoa, boys not so much.

Adjudi-Kate

You really can't go wrong with kids that age if you order a bunch of pizzas to be delivered.  No need to go crazy with toppings, just do mostly pepperoni, and get a couple plain cheese for vegetarians.  Having a few two liters of pop is probably going to be easier to make and transport than hot cocoa.

 

If you want to go more upscale, I like the cheese and crackers idea.  Or maybe a veggie tray.

 

aluminium

Thanks for your input, ladies! It is an all-girls mixer, so sounds like most of you would agree on hot cocoa for this audience. And I love the idea of offering a variety of hot chocolates and toppings. I'll definitely add something salty - maybe soft pretzels and a variety of dips/mustards - and bottles of water.  Thanks again, everybody!