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Menu suggestions?
Okay... we just got confirmation that DH's installation at his new church will be Sat., Oct. 1 @ 5 pm. He's been working since Aug. 1, but this will be the ceremony that officially installs him as pastor of this church. Anyway, it's a special thing and so obviously, we'll have family coming from OOT to join us for it. We're planning to host a celebration at our new house afterwards for family/friends, but I'm stuck on a menu for it.
As I said, the installation is at 5 pm, and until we get done w/ everything, we likely won't be back to the house until 7 pm. I can do plenty of prep work prior to the event, and can send my mom/SIL/MIL back to the house to get anything ready while we finish at the church, but I'd prefer if last-minute things were minimal. With the timing being at that awkward time where it'll be too early for people to eat dinner beforehand, I feel like we need to have a pretty substantial spread for guests.
So! That said, suggestions please for a menu? TIA! 
Re: Menu suggestions?
Italian is pretty easy to do, so you can do trays of baked ziti that get cooked once you get home, meatball in sauce in crockpot (can do sausage to)...a big italian salad (you can even do a pasta in the salad like tortellini or farafalle pasta into a caeser salad), garlic bread or breadsticks or just italian bread...lots of dessert and as appetizer you can have various things making up an antipasti table such as mozzarella and other cheese, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, olives, pepporoni, salami, procuitto, crackers, vegetables, fruits.
Some other ideas to work in a menu are any kind of pulled meat (pork, beef, chicken) in crockpot...macaroni and cheese in pans ready to bake...you can do a salad/bread with all that.
I like the idea of chicken pot pie, again in pans to cook. It's kind of a meal all in itself so sides is kindy of tricky but it's all doable
Crack dip
Turkey Roll ups
Swedish meatballs
spiced shrimp
mac & cheese
green/caesar salad
fruit & cheese
another carb/side maybe?
cookies or cupcakes (I'd buy cookies personally)
cake for congratulations
... every single day of forever.
I would try to stick to things that you can make ahead. Lots of salads are actually better the day after to make them because it gives the flavors time to come together.
Tuna fish, Chicken Salad, Shrip and Pasta Salad....
CROCK POTS! almost everyone has one so, if you need a few extra ask some of your relatives to loan you theiors for the evening. Bonus, they can take home the leftovers. :-)
Meatballs, Crab Dip, Hot dogs/Brats, Chili, Soup...
You might also want to do a turkey breast or a ham. They can be done ahead of time and then taken out of the oven and let to rest while you are at the ceremony.
Add Bff to that list :-) Ian can get a ride back from the church with a PGH person.
I'll shoot you an email with some ideas too.