Logistics of Hosting A Dinner at Home for 60 people in January

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doing it at a hotel is good since people are coming from out of town. You can get a room block so people can stay at the same place you are having the event. Easier than driving somewhere else (especially if people will drink and/or there's bad weather).

Plus this allows people to hang out beyond the party time. I would pick something along the silver line (so people can fly into Dulles and take metro if they want). With 10 kids, get something with an indoor pool. And ideally a place that offers breakfast so people can spend time together in the morning too.

That seems even more expensive.

I think OP can do this at home, but she needs to do her research and look online at blogs and videos.

Maybe not when factoring in equipment rental and staff. I would sooner save by hosting a brunch or lunch elsewhere than try to organize a 60 person dinner in even a large home.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you book a caterer. Talk to them about the extras. A big SFH would be just fine. You need some extra tables (both cocktail height and low with chairs) for eating. You could probably leave all your furniture, but maybe rearrange a few things to have more space.

Do you have a basement for the kids? Send them down there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doing it at a hotel is good since people are coming from out of town. You can get a room block so people can stay at the same place you are having the event. Easier than driving somewhere else (especially if people will drink and/or there's bad weather).

Plus this allows people to hang out beyond the party time. I would pick something along the silver line (so people can fly into Dulles and take metro if they want). With 10 kids, get something with an indoor pool. And ideally a place that offers breakfast so people can spend time together in the morning too.

That seems even more expensive.

I think OP can do this at home, but she needs to do her research and look online at blogs and videos.

If people are coming from out of town as op said, they will need to stay somewhere anyway. Getting a room block so they all have the option of staying in the same place is courteous. And if many of them are staying in one place, hosting there is easy. The hotel has the equipment appropriate for that size group and staff used to working there. Yes it's possible to have dinner for 60 in a 5000 square foot house. It's just not necessarily cheaper or easier than having it elsewhere.

In theory, yes, a room block should work. But you know how people are: they will have different levels of income, so some may not want that hotel (they'll want more expensive, less expensive, not that location, etc). Family is herding cats, it's not a corporate retreat where employees have to toe the line!

And I don't think renting a room in a hotel for multiple hours, with catering, is less expensive than being in someone's house. If the host is stressed out and harried, the cost of a hotel catering and dining room might be worth it. But it's also really impersonal. I'd prefer having a family gathering at an actual home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doing it at a hotel is good since people are coming from out of town. You can get a room block so people can stay at the same place you are having the event. Easier than driving somewhere else (especially if people will drink and/or there's bad weather).

Plus this allows people to hang out beyond the party time. I would pick something along the silver line (so people can fly into Dulles and take metro if they want). With 10 kids, get something with an indoor pool. And ideally a place that offers breakfast so people can spend time together in the morning too.

That seems even more expensive.

I think OP can do this at home, but she needs to do her research and look online at blogs and videos.

Maybe not when factoring in equipment rental and staff. I would sooner save by hosting a brunch or lunch elsewhere than try to organize a 60 person dinner in even a large home.

Hmm. But it's not just a dinner. It's catching up. Sitting in a hotel doesn't feel as natural and comfortable than in a 5K sq ft house.

OP will decide what she prefers. I'd rather do it at home.

[Anonymous]

Where are most of your guests staying? With you/other family members or in hotels?

[Anonymous]

It depends on your goals here. Buffet dinner, people bring plates wherever and mingle? Your house is totally fine.
Formal sit down dinner with everyone served at approximately the same time? You may be better off at a restaurant that has a large enough private room, otherwise you are renting a tent, tables, chairs and hiring wait staff in addition to the catering.

[Anonymous]

I would not do a tent. It’s just yucky. Rain mud small yard - no
Restaurant, museum, or other venue - or inside home with just apps to walk around with

[Anonymous]

I would never have 60 people at my house. Do you really want to slave away all day and night OP. Do it at a restaurant, party room or hotel. I like the recommendation s of several posters who suggest getting a block of rooms at a hotel so that kids can swim or play games. At the very least, you could rent out a church basement or something like that if you're on a tight budget.

[Anonymous]

I vote restaurant if this is not in your wheelhouse. I hosted a 40 person at home wedding but we had a huge deck and backyard available too (and it was 75 degrees outside). I can’t imagine adding 20 more. You also need at least 3-4 common use bathrooms available in guest areas, but I’m guessing that’s not the case even with 5k square feet. We did have to move furniture out, table rentals, glassware, plate ware, linens, bar area, fully catered with bartenders and servers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I vote restaurant if this is not in your wheelhouse. I hosted a 40 person at home wedding but we had a huge deck and backyard available too (and it was 75 degrees outside). I can’t imagine adding 20 more. You also need at least 3-4 common use bathrooms available in guest areas, but I’m guessing that’s not the case even with 5k square feet. We did have to move furniture out, table rentals, glassware, plate ware, linens, bar area, fully catered with bartenders and servers.

forgot we also had floral arrangements as well. It was about 12k to do it at home. And then clean up after.

[Anonymous]

If you want to do it at your house, make it casual...a buffet of things people can eat while standing or with a plate on their laps. Don't do a tent in January. You will either need to rent porta potties or people will be tracking mud into your house. If you want a seated dinner, do it somewhere used to serving these kind of meals.

[Anonymous]

The complicating factor is that it’s January and so outside space is a no go.

Given your large house, I still think you can do it at home. Absolutely hire help even if you DIY a lot of the food.

I always prefer these family events at homes, but understand sometimes restaurant space is more practical for the host.

I am sure your family will appreciate your efforts to get everyone together.

[Anonymous]

Superspreader event

[Anonymous]

If I were you, my concerns about doing it at home would be

1) whether I would have the chance to enjoy the celebration and catch up with relatives or whether I would constantly be getting pulled aside to answer questions and solve issues that come up

2) with a pretty open floor plan and January weather keeping everyone indoors, will the acoustics of my house allow people to be able to hear each other over the din of so many people so close together

3) do I have adequate bathrooms and parking for that many

4) what if I get sick; who would be able to step into my shoes and pull this off

5) what am I not thinking of because I’ve never done this kind of hosting before

I feel like using a hotel instead of your house solves most, if not all, of these issues.

[Anonymous]

I’ve done it in a 3000 sq ft home. The original plan was to do it outside but it rained. I was amazed that it worked but we have a CA open concept type house. The entry way opens into the living room, wide hallway is open to dining room, kitchen opens to a very large family room etc.

I positioned tables in the dining room and living room. Obviously seating was closer than a normal dining room table. I borrowed the table linens, dinnerware, silverware etc from DH’s grandmother who used to host huge parties. I moved coffee tables into the office. I moved some of the living room chairs into the family room. I set up serving tables against the entry wall across from the living room and put appetizers on the kitchen island counter that faces the family room. I cleaned out the guest room next to the family room, put a bunch of toys and games in there.

It actually worked really well. Everyone chatted and mingled in the family room. We had family photos running on a loop on the large flat panel TV, no access to FOX, enough booze and seating for boomers pre diner. I set up a mini bar in the corner of the family room and one of the boomers played bartender.

Total count was 67.