Memorial Day cookout - charge guests for attending?

[Anonymous]

Serve less expensive meat and/or ask guests to bring either a side dish or dessert to share. Those are acceptable. Charging a fee is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can’t afford to throw a party, you don’t throw a party. End of story.

This, 💯.

Unless it is a wedding, in which case some people seem to have accepted that you absolutely should expect your guests to subsidize your party. I'm not sure why.

[Anonymous]

I did know someone who asked for contributions to a party because they were serving a high cost food. It was well-attended and I doubt that anyone dropped them as friends because of it.

You know your friends, you decide if they would be okay with this. Personally I wouldn’t care but I am in the minority here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can’t afford to throw a party, you don’t throw a party. End of story.

This, 💯.

Unless it is a wedding, in which case some people seem to have accepted that you absolutely should expect your guests to subsidize your party. I'm not sure why.

I have never been to a wedding where people charged for attendance. Yes, you're supposed to give a gift, but it's not technically mandatory and supposed to be in celebration of the marriage, not compensation for the party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inflation is through the roof. Would it be wrong these days to say charge $15 per family to attend our Memorial Day cookout. We will be serving good stuff like ribs, brisket, crab, etc. This stuff is no longer cheap. So why couldn’t you ask for something like $15 per family to help defray the cost? I mean where else could you go for $15 and feed your entire family, have to do zero food prep and cleanup, and leave zero tip? It’s a really good deal. What’s wrong asking for a little bit of help with outrageous grocery store prices these days?

I will go against the grain and say that it depends. If you are the one who hosts most of the time and these are good friends, I think it would be fine. I know my friends would be fine with it as well as offer to bring things. I would be fine if you asked me.

Oh look, OP found another tacky cheapskate. You two can "party" together.

We care more about getting together than worrying about judging our friend for how they throw a party.

[Anonymous]

Seriously?😳

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inflation is through the roof. Would it be wrong these days to say charge $15 per family to attend our Memorial Day cookout. We will be serving good stuff like ribs, brisket, crab, etc. This stuff is no longer cheap. So why couldn’t you ask for something like $15 per family to help defray the cost? I mean where else could you go for $15 and feed your entire family, have to do zero food prep and cleanup, and leave zero tip? It’s a really good deal. What’s wrong asking for a little bit of help with outrageous grocery store prices these days?

I will go against the grain and say that it depends. If you are the one who hosts most of the time and these are good friends, I think it would be fine. I know my friends would be fine with it as well as offer to bring things. I would be fine if you asked me.

Oh look, OP found another tacky cheapskate. You two can "party" together.

We care more about getting together than worrying about judging our friend for how they throw a party.

It's one thing to say "I'm thinking of hosting a get-together on May 25th. Do you guys want to chip in for food and booze?" It's entirely different to invite everyone (perhaps annually if I'm understanding OP correctly) and then at the 11th hour ask for money. One is fine, the other is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Inflation is through the roof. Would it be wrong these days to say charge $15 per family to attend our Memorial Day cookout. We will be serving good stuff like ribs, brisket, crab, etc. This stuff is no longer cheap. So why couldn’t you ask for something like $15 per family to help defray the cost? I mean where else could you go for $15 and feed your entire family, have to do zero food prep and cleanup, and leave zero tip? It’s a really good deal. What’s wrong asking for a little bit of help with outrageous grocery store prices these days?

Yes. Don't invite if you can't afford to do so. I would decline invitation and tempted to send you $15.00 in pennies in a jar of honey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inflation is through the roof. Would it be wrong these days to say charge $15 per family to attend our Memorial Day cookout. We will be serving good stuff like ribs, brisket, crab, etc. This stuff is no longer cheap. So why couldn’t you ask for something like $15 per family to help defray the cost? I mean where else could you go for $15 and feed your entire family, have to do zero food prep and cleanup, and leave zero tip? It’s a really good deal. What’s wrong asking for a little bit of help with outrageous grocery store prices these days?

Yes. Don't invite if you can't afford to do so. I would decline invitation and tempted to send you $15.00 in pennies in a jar of honey.

Bucket, water, jar of honey, then coin star.

Thanks Debbie!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can’t afford to throw a party, you don’t throw a party. End of story.

This, 💯.

Unless it is a wedding, in which case some people seem to have accepted that you absolutely should expect your guests to subsidize your party. I'm not sure why.

I have never been to a wedding where people charged for attendance. Yes, you're supposed to give a gift, but it's not technically mandatory and supposed to be in celebration of the marriage, not compensation for the party.

You are only obligated to give a gift if you are also invited to the reception. I have actually received a wedding invitation suggesting the amount of money to give!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Inflation is through the roof. Would it be wrong these days to say charge $15 per family to attend our Memorial Day cookout. We will be serving good stuff like ribs, brisket, crab, etc. This stuff is no longer cheap. So why couldn’t you ask for something like $15 per family to help defray the cost? I mean where else could you go for $15 and feed your entire family, have to do zero food prep and cleanup, and leave zero tip? It’s a really good deal. What’s wrong asking for a little bit of help with outrageous grocery store prices these days?

Yes. Don't invite if you can't afford to do so. I would decline invitation and tempted to send you $15.00 in pennies in a jar of honey.

Bucket, water, jar of honey, then coin star.

Thanks Debbie!

My pleasure!

[Anonymous]

This is the most Dutch thing I've ever read. Germans would likely think this wasn't a bad idea either.

[Anonymous]

Appreciate this thread -- even if it's a troll I think it raises a worthwhile discussion. I wasn't immediately offended by the idea but I think it's because I've been brainwashed to expect less. I work at a federal agency where we are asked to either bring a dish or contribute $ every December to cover the cost of our holiday party which usually consistent of cold cuts and veggie trays from costco. I also remember selling tickets to parties in college to cover the cost of pizza and beer and an offsite rental fee to some farmer's warehouse. My wife would never let us collect money for a party, but I understand the inclination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you can’t afford to throw a party, you don’t throw a party. End of story.

This, 💯.

Unless it is a wedding, in which case some people seem to have accepted that you absolutely should expect your guests to subsidize your party. I'm not sure why.

I have never been to a wedding where people charged for attendance. Yes, you're supposed to give a gift, but it's not technically mandatory and supposed to be in celebration of the marriage, not compensation for the party.

You are only obligated to give a gift if you are also invited to the reception. I have actually received a wedding invitation suggesting the amount of money to give!

According to DCUM, if I attend a wedding (no matter how lavish) and my gift amount does not cover the entire cost for my family to attend the wedding and reception, then I am a cheapskate. Sounds like an admission fee to me.

[Anonymous]

OP. Hot dogs, burgers, potato salad, chips, simple desserts. This is the Memorial Day menu.