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Help: Planning a NWR Event

fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
in Texas-Dallas and Ft. Worth

I am wanting to throw a graduation party for a dear friend of mine at Pappadeux.  They have a room we can rent for $150 that holds 100.  We want to just open this up to our friends and say generally "Here is where it is, this is how much it costs per person, no gifts, hope you can come, etc."  We estimate we'll have a minimum of 50 up to 75+ or so.

My question is--what is the best way to handle the payment?  The restaurant will only give us one final bill--therefore, I have to cover it and then have people pay me.  Has anyone done anything like this before or have any suggestions?  I'm starting to panic that I might be in over my head.  TIA.

Planning the Meal
With All the Trimmings
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Re: Help: Planning a NWR Event

  • ChocolateDelightChocolateDelight member
    Fourth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011

    Steph,

    For my law school graduation dinner, here is what I said and did:

    I sent an email stating the following: 

    A celebration dinner is being held on ??? at ??? (include website information so that they can get a general idea of the menu).  The estimated total is $52.00 persperson, which includes tax and gratuity.  Cash payments must be made at the door to me or my husband.  The menu includes: (Go ahead and include some of the popular selections).

    Please RSVP to me @ ????, no later than ???? (I did an RSVP date of one week before my event).  With your RSVP, please indicate your choice of entree.  If you have any questions, please let me know.   Negative responses also requested.


    Everything well went and everyone paid ahead of time or at the door. 


    Good luck

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  • emimayoremimayor
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I think to include price before hand is tacky. Unfortunately, you run the risk of paying more because you're hosting the party. I would suggest spreading the world that each person pays for their own dinner. Steph - you may want to pay for appetizers and then have everyone else do their own thing. People shouldn't surprised; its a grad party, not a wedding.
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  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    Ok, Shiri, that helps alot, thanks!  I'm posting this on Etiquette too to see if it's even a good idea or not.  The problem is, this lady is involved in so many things, and there are so many people that I know would like to come, that we didn't want to limit the guest list.  But maybe I should just host it myself and keep it smaller. 
    Planning the Meal
    With All the Trimmings
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  • shortgirltxshortgirltx
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I don't have any ideas about how to split the bill, other than asking people to pay you.

    When we held a celebration dinner, we put "Dutch Treat" or something like that, on the bottom of the invite.  Or we may have put in the text because we had some cheesy story about what we were celebrating.  It was close friends and family and they didn't mind.
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  • juliebug1997juliebug1997 member
    5000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    I agree with Emi about maybe just doing appetizers.  Also, shortgirl had a great idea too. 
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  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    Well, there's no getting around saying the price beforehand if we do it at Pappadeux because there's no way I can cover the whole thing.  I guess I could check into doing appetizers and they said I could bring in my own cake.  But I'm going to be footing the bill pretty much on my own that way.  Oh well, I guess I'll think about it some more.
    Planning the Meal
    With All the Trimmings
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  • juliebug1997juliebug1997 member
    5000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    You got some very nice responses on the Etiquette board. 
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  • MissAngelMissAngel member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I agree with one of the responses over on the Etiquette Board.  I helped plan a High School Reunion (for a small school... only about 20 students with their spouses) and we did a special menu.  We printed them out ourselves and limited the selection they can choose from.  We then collected money up front to pay for all of it. 

    Otherwise, I would just have a set amount of appetizers and more of a "meet and greet style dinner". 

    I know Maggiano's does a family style thing where you pre-select the items for xx number of people and you can keep asking for more servings of the slected dishes until you are done.  On the restaurant menu it says xx amount per person according to the menu option.

    But then again... if people just want to "stop by" they may not want to pay the $25 or sit down for the whole dinner... this is where it gets tricky.
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