Engagement Party at Home Questions

For those that held one at a house I have some questions.

1. How was food served (catered w/ hired help or everyone served themselves)?
2. Did you have a bar set up with a bar tender or did people serve themselves?
3. Did you rent chairs? From where and price range.
4. Did you rent a tent? Approximately how much.
5. Recommendations on caterers you used.
6. What about plates, cups etc. Did you buy them at a store or rent them?
7. Did you rent tables? From where?

Thanks everyone for your help.

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

Hi,

I did not have an engagement party, but a friend of mine did at her house. They rented tables, chairs, & a tent, I'm not really sure how much, but I do know that it was a GOOD price... Also, at the party, she did not hire a bartender or waitresses, it was all buffet... And it was VERY nice! I don't remember where the food was catered from but it was really good and there was a lot of it... I'm not sure if they supplied the paper goods for that... But I would think that where ever you do go for food, they should supply it... Here's some ideas for you for catering... Fireside Deli and the Ground Round (believe it or not! They have a FANTASTIC menu and they are reasonable!), I'm not sure where you are located, but both are in Levittown... I believe Fireside is located in many places! I hope I helped, sorry I do not have anymore info! Good luck!

Email me at [email protected] if you want anymore info, I will ask my friend for you!

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

Hi,

We did a buffet, so we didnt hire anyone. we left the liquor out on the tables, and we bought tents from national liquidators for like 24 bucks each, 10x10. we set up tables and chairs, which we borrowed from family members (this was outside) and put white tableclothes on them with candles. we saved money on buying the tents and borrowing tables, and making our own buffet.

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

my e-party was a country/western themed bbq at my mom's house. Tents were set up along with alot of lawn chairs and picnic tables. Also borrowed a picnic table from the neighbors. Alot of people brought different dishes which was all set up buffet style as well as the liquor.

Jodi

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

We would definitely have to rent tables and chairs. I think I would need to ask my entire block for all their chairs and even then I don't think we would have enough! LOL
We would also need a bartender as my parents friends are big drinkers and I don't want one of them walking off with a bottle for themselves.
Edited to say I live in East Meadow not Levittown. I live near Levittown so I will stop by Fireside and I never thought of Ground Round.

Thanks ladies for your input.
Wanda

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

We had a 'surprise' casual BBQ in our backyard. It was basically serve yourself. We didn't need tents but we got our tables and chairs from a local firehouse (I have freinds that belong) If you know anyone affiliated with a firehouse ask them if you can borrow tables and chairs from them.

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

We had a e-party in August in our backyard. We got lots of appetizers at costco and had these amazing grilled chicken, roasted red pepper, and fresh mozzarella heros from A&S Pork Store (they have a few locations). As for drinks we went to the liqour store and got lots of bottles of liqour, wine, and a keg of beer. We hired two waitresses and 2 bartenders and let me tell you it was the best thing we could have done. We had 80 people so it was a pretty big party. Having someone else their to set up the food and serve the alcohol was so worth the extra money. I (along with my mom and fmil) were able to really enjoy ourselves and not worry about anything! ALso, we rented tables and chairs from Taylor Rentals in Hauppuage (it was about $300 for 5 tables and 60 chairs). We thought of renting a tent but it was an extra $300! So we decided to get umbrellas for the tables instead and that covered the sun. I did a lot of research on rental companies so if you have any other questions feel free to ask!

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

Oh and the umbrellas and the bar we rented were included in the $300. All our utensils and plates ect. were from Costco - I can't express how good Costco is for having a party!

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

Thanks Sandy
The $300 included a bar? OOHHHH that is not so bad!
My folks have never had such a big party at our house so we never had to rent anything, so please bear with me on these dumb questions.
1. Did the company come and drop everything off or did you do the picking up and bringing back?
2. If they did drop off, did they help set up?

My parents are members of BJ's so I guess we could go there and pick up all the utensils and stuff.
Thanks!

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

I felt the same way when trying to plan a party like that! I had never tried to coordinate something so big - and don't worry about asking the questions - that is what we are here for. Anyway, The rental company dropped everything off and picked it up. They didn't set it up because they drop it off a day before and it was supposed to rain that night so we didn;t want everything to get wet, but I am sure if you ask them to they will set it up (especially if you tip the delivery person). Good luck planning!

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

We did this, for 60 people at my sisters house in her backyard, used the deck and the driveway. It was FANTASTIC!!!

We rented tables for 8-10 people for the driveway, and cocktail size (fit 4-5) for on the deck. The tent rental was about 500 dollars, and that was for a 20 foot tent that covered the driveway, with sides that dropped down in case of rain. It was perfect..and they set it up and broke it down the next day. It was very worth it, becuase while the day was beautiful and it didn't rain, it did get cool out at night, and bringing the sides down on the tent helped enormously. I will have to ask my mom for more details about the rentals because I had nothing to do with this part.

We used a Kosher caterer (although you'd never in a million years think this was Kosher food, we had lasagne, chicken francaise, a beef dish, rice pilaf, pasta salad, fresh breads...a huge beautiful sheet enagement cake, cookies....) on Long Beach Road in Oceanside. I think it was about $18 a person. They sent 2 waiters to assist with setting up the food, and walk around with trays of appetizers. It was buffet style, and it moved very smoothly. We set up a bar ourselves on one of the cocktail tables and people really helped themselves. We didn't need a bartender at all. We set it up with everything, buckets on the floor filled with ice, beer, wine, and drink mixes....sodas in a big bucket, and all the liquor lined up on the table. It was great.

Plates, cups, everything else...we got from Party City on sale, and from Cedarhurst paper on sale. It was all so cheap, and we got really good quality heavy duty plates. The balloons also came from Party City. I would definatly recommend not wasting the money on renting real china for a house party...the risk of breaking it and having to pay for it is just not worth it. It also makes clean up much much faster (which the waiters helped with), and it was just as nice.

I really was worried it would be a big hassle, but it worked out so fabulously well that I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

Thanks Misteyed!

I remember receiving information on a catering company that does all types of food. I am looking to do more ethnic foods to please our families. And this company does that. I just can't remember the name. However I still want the regulars-ziti, pasta salad...

Misty-did you get the cake from the caterer or from a bakery? I was thinking of getting a sheet cake from BJ's.

And my other question to all of you is how was the food kept hot before it was time to eat? Where would all the additional trays of food were kept? Example you had ziti and you had 5 trays where were the other 4 while the 5th was being used?

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

We had ours in my parents backyard...

my mom bought tents from pathmark of all places...$99 for good sized tents...she has used them for my shower and my sisters e-party and shower since...and now they use them to cover their back patio

tables were from around the house as were chairs...my mom is also well known in our neighborhood, so she had many neighbors working lol

the food was catered from a local deli (don't know who) and was served buffet style, but she hired a woman from the huntington hilton to help serve and set up and clean (so that she could attend the party)

plates were disposable...you can get nice ones and it helps in clean up...

my mom made matching table cloths

the bar was set up on a table...not many big drinkers so self serve was easiest.

costco - cake...yummy (although i wanted the baker for our wedding to make uit...I was too lazy to go to sayville and get one...lol)

at my sisters eparty it rained...so the tents were a big help...but be prepared for EVERYONE to go inside...we had close to 75 people in my moms house (its big, but 75 people anywhere is a lot)

also make sure that your septic tank is cleaned/empty...we had a problem with the toilet and the dishwasher running at the same time at our eparty b/c theirs was close to full (a company ripped them off, when they said they emptied it)

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

The cake came from the caterer. It was a very yummy sheet cake with yellow cake/raspberry filling with white chocolate frosting. You can definately get the sheet cake from BJ's, and I wouldn't doubt it if the caterer got it there!

The food was in sternos, and over heat the whole time. It kept very warm. They arrived about an hour and a half before any of the guests to set up and the food was piping hot. They used my sisters oven to heat up the first round of dishes that weren't quite hot enough, and replaced them as things ran down. It worked out perfectly.

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

Thanks Misty
I hope this works out for us. It just feels overwhelming of all the little things we would have to do to pull off the party!
I am sure that night everything will fall right into place.

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

It really will, it's kind of like a dry run for the wedding! :) But it's so personal and special when it's at home. It'll be great!

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

Wanda: When are you having your e-party? How's your Dad doing? I hope everything is going well with him

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

Since we decided we should have it at my house instead of a location, we are probably doing it around April for the warmer weather.

Marcela you are so thoughtful
My dad is doing a lot better. We expect him to get back to work at the end of this month. Well depends what the doctors say in a couple of weeks. He is starting to get back into his old routine. He cannot give up being a handy man. Any minute he can do something in the house he will! Very frustrating when after he finishes doing something, he complains his back hurts or head. Yet he doesn't learn his lesson. But I have noticed the improvement in his health. So that is a good thing. Even if he shouldn't be doing those things in the first place! Thanks again Marcela.

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

Wanda: That is so GREAT!!! I'm soo happy that he's doing better. That's awesome!

Men can be soo stubborn sometimes. I have that same problem with my abuelo all the time. He does things that he is not supposed to do even though we tell him a million times not to. But hey, that's how they keep busy and that's what they enjoy. So my abuela keeps on eye on him when he's doing things around the house and doesn't leave him a lone just in case. Anyway, I'm rambling.

Good Luck with all your e-party plans and Congrats on your Dad's improvment!!

Re: Engagement Party at Home Questions

Marcela you were not rambling at all!
My mom does the same thing with my father. And he has the nerve to send my sister on errands since he can't drive and she will catch him doing things around the house! Frustrating.
Thanks again.