Alcohol at a shower

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one has a house or large apartment to lend? Are there private rooms with bars that offer a deal on alcohol? I suppose no one wants a shower in a regional park where you could just rent a pavilion, decorate it and bring your own stuff? Are there museums or other spaces that you could rent and bring your own food and drink?

Op here. I have a large home. I can’t fit that many women or tables in my home.

What on earth are you imagining goes on at showers? They're not weddings, OP. You don't need a sit-down meal. I have a 1200 sq ft house and hosted dozens of people for casual parties, buffet style.

If you have a large home, great. Cater the food, maybe rent extra chairs so people can sit, but you don't need tables for everyone. You need enough surfaces to place the food and drinks, that's all. Decorate. Activities? Bar with server?

Point is, you don't need a restaurant.

[Anonymous]

if you have a large house, so it there. you don't need tables and chairs for everyone.

host it at a tearoom type place that doesn't serve alcohol. problem solved. i hosted one (less people) and the bill was 600.

nobody will die if there is no alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Cut the guest list or find more hosts to split costs.

[Anonymous]

You're paying for it? Dang.

[Anonymous]

You seem very inflexible, OP. Must have alcohol, must have room to sit everyone down at a table, etc. That's why you're running into cost problems. There are many ways to host showers, and the immense majority of them are casual affairs at people's homes, with people snacking and standing, or resting on a couch arm, or whatever. If you're moving in a rarified atmosphere where you MUST have elegance, place cards and sit-downs... you should also be able to put up the money.

[Anonymous]

For so many people, can you check with the restaurant if you can bring the wine and they do corkage only?

For 50 people are booking the whole place? lol, that’s more people than at many weddings!

And sorry, why are you the only one hosting for 50 people!!!

[Anonymous]

In what world is hosting 40-50 people for a shower (any party bot for yourself) at a restaurant is expected or normal????

[Anonymous]

OP, I would have no desire whatsoever to sit through a seated dinner for a bridal shower. Change these plans.

[Anonymous]

Curious, how old are you, OP? American? Don't you know what showers are supposed to look like here, or are you organizing for a different sort of culture?

Because you're doing it all wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would have no desire whatsoever to sit through a seated dinner for a bridal shower. Change these plans.

I would 100% show up for seated brunch lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You seem very inflexible, OP. Must have alcohol, must have room to sit everyone down at a table, etc. That's why you're running into cost problems. There are many ways to host showers, and the immense majority of them are casual affairs at people's homes, with people snacking and standing, or resting on a couch arm, or whatever. If you're moving in a rarified atmosphere where you MUST have elegance, place cards and sit-downs... you should also be able to put up the money.

Op here. I’m actually a flexible person. I’ve never been to a shower that didn’t serve a brunch or lunch. Buffet a lot of times. I’ve never seen just appetizers. And I’ve probably been to 15-20. I am not trying to make it super formal. Normally there’s like 4-5 round tables and guests sit there while they eat. Then they open presents in the living area room or sometimes watch from the tables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You seem very inflexible, OP. Must have alcohol, must have room to sit everyone down at a table, etc. That's why you're running into cost problems. There are many ways to host showers, and the immense majority of them are casual affairs at people's homes, with people snacking and standing, or resting on a couch arm, or whatever. If you're moving in a rarified atmosphere where you MUST have elegance, place cards and sit-downs... you should also be able to put up the money.

Op here. I’m actually a flexible person. I’ve never been to a shower that didn’t serve a brunch or lunch. Buffet a lot of times. I’ve never seen just appetizers. And I’ve probably been to 15-20. I am not trying to make it super formal. Normally there’s like 4-5 round tables and guests sit there while they eat. Then they open presents in the living area room or sometimes watch from the tables.

Buffet of finger foods. No tables. Get extra chairs. Music. Alcohol. Decor.

Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You seem very inflexible, OP. Must have alcohol, must have room to sit everyone down at a table, etc. That's why you're running into cost problems. There are many ways to host showers, and the immense majority of them are casual affairs at people's homes, with people snacking and standing, or resting on a couch arm, or whatever. If you're moving in a rarified atmosphere where you MUST have elegance, place cards and sit-downs... you should also be able to put up the money.

Op here. I’m actually a flexible person. I’ve never been to a shower that didn’t serve a brunch or lunch. Buffet a lot of times. I’ve never seen just appetizers. And I’ve probably been to 15-20. I am not trying to make it super formal. Normally there’s like 4-5 round tables and guests sit there while they eat. Then they open presents in the living area room or sometimes watch from the tables.

You're not planning to open presents in a restaurant are you? This is nuts.

Brunch is fine. Buffet for sure. And keep it to finger foods -- mini quiches, mini croissants, prosciutto wrapped melon -- because most of the people should be standing!

My sister's shower was a brunch held in a very modest house. You didn't get to sit unless you were over 70. And it was FINE. We had mimosas and a punch of some kind (I think it had vodka in it) but no one drank that much because it was 11am. I would never have two glasses of wine at 11am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You seem very inflexible, OP. Must have alcohol, must have room to sit everyone down at a table, etc. That's why you're running into cost problems. There are many ways to host showers, and the immense majority of them are casual affairs at people's homes, with people snacking and standing, or resting on a couch arm, or whatever. If you're moving in a rarified atmosphere where you MUST have elegance, place cards and sit-downs... you should also be able to put up the money.

Op here. I’m actually a flexible person. I’ve never been to a shower that didn’t serve a brunch or lunch. Buffet a lot of times. I’ve never seen just appetizers. And I’ve probably been to 15-20. I am not trying to make it super formal. Normally there’s like 4-5 round tables and guests sit there while they eat. Then they open presents in the living area room or sometimes watch from the tables.

You're not planning to open presents in a restaurant are you? This is nuts.

Brunch is fine. Buffet for sure. And keep it to finger foods -- mini quiches, mini croissants, prosciutto wrapped melon -- because most of the people should be standing!

My sister's shower was a brunch held in a very modest house. You didn't get to sit unless you were over 70. And it was FINE. We had mimosas and a punch of some kind (I think it had vodka in it) but no one drank that much because it was 11am. I would never have two glasses of wine at 11am.

I had both my baby and bridal shower in a private room at a restaurant (brunch) and we opened presents after. There were like 10 people though so most of the presents were personal and sweet. I’ve never not seen presents opened at a shower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:if you have a large house, so it there. you don't need tables and chairs for everyone.

host it at a tearoom type place that doesn't serve alcohol. problem solved. i hosted one (less people) and the bill was 600.

nobody will die if there is no alcohol.

Don't invited 40-50 people to your home expecting them to stand around and balance a lunch plate and drink without enough seating. Come on, just invite fewer people or break the shower up into 2 smaller parties.