Pot Luck -- Help!

Bellina12200 · April 2010

I am helping my SIL with details regarding a BBQ she wants to have in early July and she wants to do pot luck. She is going to do invites. If you have done one, how do you determine who brings what? Do you ask people to let you know if they are bringing an appetizer or dessert (for example) when they RSVP? Did you tell certain people to bring certain things or randomly select a category for someone to make a dish in and let them know in their invite (whether paper or verbal)? I have heard of giving people a colored piece of paper and the invite mentions what each color means and you bring a dish in that category (i.e. purple = appetizer, green = dessert). Or any other options/methods? As you can see, I am at a loss of what to recommend and have not done one before. TIA!

Temp23782687501318 · April 2010

We just did a potluck for my son's first birthday party. When people called to RSVP and they asked what they could bring, I'd give them a category and then tell them what was already being brought in that category. We got an amazing spread of food!

katarczyna · April 2010

If it was an online invitation, you could have them pick. If it's paper invite, and it sounds like it is, I think when they RSVP they'll ask what they can bring. It'll work out.

But as a back-up, I think the host should have a reasonable option for each category just in case.

krispylove · April 2010

I think it depends on how many people you invite. If you are inviting a lot of people, you could divide the list into thirds and tell some to bring an appetizer, some a main dish, and some desserts or drinks. If it's going to be less than 20 people, you may need more planning to make sure everything gets covered. I think the RSVP idea is the best though.

TarHeels&Rebels · April 2010

I'd just assign it - I like the dividing the list into thirds idea. Write it on the envelope or the corner of the invite.

I wouldn't wait til the RSVP - 1) so many people don't RSVP and 2) it'd be awkward to say, "ok, now that you're coming, you need to bring potato salad."

6fsn · April 2010

The only problem I see with assigning on the invite is what if everyone in the salad group can't make it?

martinilove · April 2010

Well the good news is that it's not until July, so you have a couple of months to plan. I would let everyone know on the RSVP that it's a BBQ potluck. Set the RSVP date early enough ahead so that if people don't respond, you can call them to find who's coming. Once you know whether they're coming, you can remind them that it's a potluck and ask them to bring a salad, dessert, side dish, etc.

Bellina12200 · April 2010

Thanks everyone for your input!

kelly-sean · April 2010

when we do potlucks, we usually make a main heavy hors' doeuvre or main course item and dessert so we can tell the guests what we are making and to bring side items to go with . then, if people call asking what to bring, I'll tell them what others have already said they are bringing so we have a variety. I hate getting invited to a potluck and being told what catagory I have to bring something in.

Pot Luck -- Help!

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