DIY Mustachian Entertaining

[StarBright]

Inspired by the Diner en Blanc thread on the Wall of Shame and Comedy (http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/antimustachian-wall-of-shame-and-comedy/diner-en-blanc/msg1153036/#msg1153036) - I bring you a catch all topic for mustachian entertaining and hosting.

I love hosting parties, events, receptions etc and all of the planning that goes into it. Being frugal just makes it a better (and more fun) challenge. I thought maybe we could keep a thread going for on going party planning, ideas, help, interesting articles, inspiration pictures or anything else anyone can think of.

So feel free to start posting party hounds!

[lthenderson]

We are part of a group of five couples that rotate throughout the year to host a gourmet dinner for the other four couples. When it is our turn to host, we generally cook the main dish and have our guests bring the other courses depending on the theme we select. We always do five courses over about four hours full of conversation and it is always lots of fun except for the host having to clean up afterwards but that only happens about once a year. In return, we get five different five course meals spread out through the year that don't cost much since they are made from scratch and only one dish for ten people per event.

[ohsnap]

Other than going potluck as lthenderson already suggested, my best advice is to borrow stuff you need.

We are going to have a big party next month and were worried about where to seat everyone in the backyard.  Hubby wanted to buy enough chairs...you see what I have to deal with on a regular basis; the man thinks we can't seat 9 people around our dining room table because I only have 8 matching placemats.  I promised him the universe would provide, and the next day when I was talking to a friend about the party, she asked: "Do you have enough tables and chairs?"  I was almost jumping up & down with excitement.  She has plenty, which we'll pick up the day before the party.  We have also borrowed large drink dispensers for past parties. 

[Fishindude]

We hang out pretty regular with half dozen couples (all of us empty nesters), and get together for supper and drinks as often as twice per week.   Going out to a simple restaurant like BW-3's will cost the wife and I close to $75 after dinner and drinks.   

I much prefer to have them all over for a grill out on the deck.   I can provide an awesome main course and side such as NY strip steaks, pork loin, grilled whole chickens, a fish fry, etc, alongside some grilled veggies or baked sweet potatoes, etc. for the whole group cheaper than two of us can eat out with drinks.   Guests usually bring a salad, side or desert and a cooler with their own drinks and everyone gets off much cheaper, plus the atmosphere is a lot better.

Got a text that we are going out with the group this evening to a local club for pizza and drinks.   I'm sure that will run at least $60 or so to eat average pizza in a place where they still smoke indoors :(


 

[StarBright]

Other than going potluck as lthenderson already suggested, my best advice is to borrow stuff you need.

We are going to have a big party next month and were worried about where to seat everyone in the backyard.  Hubby wanted to buy enough chairs...you see what I have to deal with on a regular basis; the man thinks we can't seat 9 people around our dining room table because I only have 8 matching placemats.  I promised him the universe would provide, and the next day when I was talking to a friend about the party, she asked: "Do you have enough tables and chairs?"  I was almost jumping up & down with excitement.  She has plenty, which we'll pick up the day before the party.  We have also borrowed large drink dispensers for past parties.

Yes! The universe and neighbors and friends always help. We used to borrow our next door neighbors' wheelbarrow, fill it with ice and use it as the beer cooler. Our neighbor in turn would call and ask to borrow any extra mason jars I might have when she had to decorate for a church event.

Mason jars are the ultimate macguyver entertaining tool in my old NC neighborhood: What to serve pre-portioned desserts in? Mason Jars! Don't have enough vases for centerpieces? Mason Jars! Extra guests showed up and we ran out of cups? Surely someone has extra Mason Jars! I always kept about a dozen extra at the ready (picked em up at end of summer sales).

[StarBright]

We are part of a group of five couples that rotate throughout the year to host a gourmet dinner for the other four couples. When it is our turn to host, we generally cook the main dish and have our guests bring the other courses depending on the theme we select. We always do five courses over about four hours full of conversation and it is always lots of fun except for the host having to clean up afterwards but that only happens about once a year. In return, we get five different five course meals spread out through the year that don't cost much since they are made from scratch and only one dish for ten people per event.

I love the idea of a rotating, multi course meal!

[StarBright]

We hang out pretty regular with half dozen couples (all of us empty nesters), and get together for supper and drinks as often as twice per week.   Going out to a simple restaurant like BW-3's will cost the wife and I close to $75 after dinner and drinks.   

I much prefer to have them all over for a grill out on the deck.   I can provide an awesome main course and side such as NY strip steaks, pork loin, grilled whole chickens, a fish fry, etc, alongside some grilled veggies or baked sweet potatoes, etc. for the whole group cheaper than two of us can eat out with drinks.   Guests usually bring a salad, side or desert and a cooler with their own drinks and everyone gets off much cheaper, plus the atmosphere is a lot better.

Got a text that we are going out with the group this evening to a local club for pizza and drinks.   I'm sure that will run at least $60 or so to eat average pizza in a place where they still smoke indoors :(

I agree Fishindude! Pitchins and cooking at home are great money savers.

One of our biggest events was a pie bake off that we held several years running. Main course pies and dessert pies were welcome and most people brought two. Our last year we had almost 40 pies. Everyone had a blast and we all voted on winners. Bragging rights were won. Pie Party picture is attached! Individual costs were super low - a little higher on our part because we also tended to provide some sort of cocktail but we generally got away with hosting 20-30 people for under a 100 bucks.

Another couple held an annual chili cook off and it was one of our favorite parties every year.

[Fishindude]

Pizza drinks and tip last night was $56 for two of us.
That would have bought an awesome meal for 8-10, prepared at home.

[MicroRN]

When I was single, a group of 4 friends and I had a monthly dinner club.  We'd pick a theme and each make 1-2 dishes to share.  The themes varied from ethnic cuisines to silly stuff.  We had a miniature night - I made a mini thanksgiving dinner with a cornish hen as the turkey, someone else made a mini steak dinner, someone made "minicotti" (manicotti with penne pasta) and we wrapped up with smores made with mini marshmallows cooked over a candle.

Our two major options now for inexpensive entertaining are grill night and burrito bowls.  Potato salad, homemade mac & cheese, corn on the cob, and various stuff on the grill can feed a lot of people for a very reasonable price.  Guests who want to bring something can work within their own budget. 

Burrito bowl bar - rice, shredded lettuce, tomato, guacamole, chicken, beef, beans, salsa, olives, cheese, chips and tortillas for the side.  I love it because everyone can find something to eat.  The vegans can have rice and beans, the paleo people can have meat and vegetables, and the really picky children can have rice with cheese.  If it's a potluck, assign people different elements to bring.     

[StarBright]

Mini dinner has gone on my list of parties to host - that sounds so fun to me!

[alme]

This blends with grocery shopping, but we buy meat at Costco, vacuum seal, and freeze it. Not only does it help with weekly meals, but it's great for entertaining. We pulled 2 lbs of ground meat out of the freezer for a cookout this weekend, spent $10 on buns and toppings (not counting condiments and stuff we had on hand), and asked friends to bring sides--and we had enough leftovers for dinner. We also buy whole NY strips and butcher them to steaks. On special occasions like birthday dinners or other milestone celebrations, we pull those out of the freezer, bake potatoes, cook a vegetable, and pull some wine. Total cost for 2 couples is probably $80--not frugal but WAY cheaper than a fancy restaurant.