Expert: Teri Davis Newman - 6/9/2008

Question
I have googled & googled & googled many questions, pictures, answers....and I'm still a bit confused.  
Here is the plan...
I am doing the food & decorations for my in-laws 50th Anniversary Party 6/21/08. The party is from 2pm to 6pm, approx. 100 people. 90% of the people are over 65. We are only doing h'orderves, drinks, & cake. The bar will have all the alcohol needed. How much punch, soda, bottled water do you think I'll need?  Also, we're going to do fruit trays, veggie trays, shrimp and cocktail sauce, hot wings, meatballs, cocktail weenies, cheese, crackers, lunch meat, rolls, & ham/turkey wraps.  Should I do more or is this just right or too much?  How much of each do I need?  Thank you in advance for any help you can give me with this. Oh, are 7in plates big enough?  THANKS!
Carole

Answer
Dear God--you have WAY too much food!  You are having an after lunch party for people who don't eat that much, you need to cut way back on the quantity of what you are serving.  7 inch plates are fine, but you are serving enough food for starving teenagers. Lose the hot wings as older folks don't usually eat spicy food, get rid of the fruit tray as that's a brunch dish, choose either meatballs or wieners but not both, and lose either the lunch meat/rolls or the wraps.  You will need about 16 oz of beverages per person so figure about 8 gallons of punch and 4 gallons of soda and 4 gallons of bottled water. Buy them in individual cans/bottles and open them and pour over ice in small glasses to keep waste to a minimum. Nothing is more annoying that tossing half-consumed sodas!