Party Help!

I can't add anything of value. I just want to tell you that it sounds wonderful. I may find mrslarkin and crash with her. And I agree with having more food than you think you need. Have fun!

You have a lovely combination of finger foods and more substantial dishes. As well, the pastas that you've chosen are easy to prepare in bulk, hold well, and make great leftovers for feeding out-of-town guests the next day with some breads and a big green salad. You also have some good vegetarian offerings, though you might consider one more; the green salad suggestion is wonderful. Your guests will be able to graze, visit, graze some more, and leave happily well fed and having visited with all. I don't know how you plan to present everything, but you might consider renting maybe 4 tall cocktail tables. They will elevate platters above the seating level, and encourage grazing which incorporates moving about the room(s) so you don't have traffic bottlenecks. Also consider renting 120" round tablecloths to drape them (white is always the most available and economical) because they will reach to the floor, and then tie them loosely around the base with wide ribbons in the couple's colors so that your guests don't trip over them. My son is getting married next summer, and I am looking forward to similar events myself, and I called dibs on the wedding cake months ago. Your party will be different and distinct from the all-white event, and I imagine you will all have a wonderful time!

I would say you are on the money. A cocktail hour typically requires 3-4 apps per person. You are serving for 4 hours, so 12-ish is a good gauge, not to mention all your other offerings. I had a great app this past weekend - one chunk each of watermelon, cucumber, and feta on a toothpick - super easy and filling. I am in the camp of more food as well. The pastas, especially, will be welcomed for their reheating efficiency with all this exhausting partying going on!

Interesting. Good luck with that!!!

The decorations, guests and groom(s) attire and food is all white...

What is an "all white" engagement party? I hope I'm not demonstrating my ignorance :)

Thanks so much all!

Sounds like a helluva great spread. I agree with Mrs. Larkin that it's best to have more than less.

MrsLarkin - you're a doll. I've been asked at the last minute to help out with the coordinating caterers & renting a tent, chairs, etc. They're having another "all white" engagement party the following week at another house. My main concern was enough food because of the time, as you noted.
Pastor Paul - no, but I will now.

Have you ever looked at http://www.ellenskitchen.com/bigpots/plan/appetizer.html
That site has recommended serving portions for large gatherings.

whoa, that's some party! I might have to crash. They should just get married while they're at it and call it a wedding.

That's smack-dab in the middle of dinner, and people are going to be hungry. If i did my math right, that comes to about 12ish pieces of food per person. Plus crudite, cheese, pastitsio, breadsticks, and pasta, and your salad (I would do a salad), and desserts. I'm guessing there's also going to be a cake at this shindig. Maybe have a backup pasta dish, like penne ala vodka or something super simple, in case you start to run low. What I learned from my catering days, (and from being Italian in general) it's always better to have leftovers, than to run out of food. But I am certainly no expert, so would like to hear thoughts from others who do this for a living.

Good luck with the party planning!

The host will be making an elaborate crudite and cheese platter. In addition, his future MIL will be making her family eggplant dish. The host will be making pastitso - all to be portined by servers via appetizer sized plates. I suggested parmesean cups with mixed salad to be offrered by the pasta stations. Dessers will include 7 different pastry minature cups fruit.