AboutPatty Sachs Expertise Anything about planning parties for weddings, showers, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations,retirements, bar/bat mitzvahs, business promotions, fund raisers, and civic events. If I cannot answer I will direct you to the answer.
I am not an expert in children or teen parties. There are hundreds of sites that specialize in that information if you google "kids parties" you will find an amazing amount of bright ideas. We do have a page on our site that leads to al the different kid's party themes, however. http://www.partyplansplus.com/themes.htm
Not for those seeking information about party/event planning as a career. That information is found on the internet under "event planning careers" or at our site www.partyplansplus.com/started.htm
Experience My complete bio is at http://www.pattysachs.com/bio.html
Question Hi
We have organized a 21st dinner party type of celebration at our local surf club for our eldest daughter. Although it is not a private room as such, the three tables for thirty guests will be relatively private. We are giving our daughter a plane ticket overseas and she does not want us to go overboard in cost, so we have issued invitations stating in small print, dinner and wine provided. We will also be offering a beer tab at the bar and some champagne and will just inform guests of that fact when they arrive. The Surf Club said this is all very normal i.e. how we have arranged it and these days its okay to pay everything for your guests or nothing. Would you agree? I don't want to be hit with huge bills but on the other hand we want our guests to enjoy themselves. We have a cut off amount for the wine, beer and champers.
Thank you
Gay
Answer Dear Gay:
As your caterer advises, almost any type of hosting plan is acceptable, as long as it does not appear as an invitation to come and pay one's own way. That is called an announcement, but that is not what you have in mind.
If your guests are expecting dinner and wine, you can just leave it at that and have a cash bar for any other alcoholic beverages--offer soft drinks, coffee or water, complimentary.
If you wanted to offer beer or wine complimentary had you thought of carafes of wine and pitchers of beer at each table to be flowing until you decide to cut off. Those who want either can just help themselves and no need to go to the bar. You might be able to get a better rate on them as well. Does that sound viable? It could make things a lot easiery for you.
It sounds like a wonderful party for a mighty lucky young woman.
Best of luck to you and your daughter.
