<p>Thank you everyone. As usual CC is helping me relax! After reading your posts I am thinking of having the party the day before. It is a Saturday early in June. How far in advance should I send out the invitations? Have any of you rented a party tent? Again, when should I do that?</p>
<p>make tent reservations NOW - June is popular for all kinds of party tent uses - get your name on the list - you can add or subtract things from your order as you get closer to your date. We also ordered some tables and chairs - get the sides of the tent, too - if you have a choice - good for unexpected rain, keeping broiling sun out of 1 or 2 sides of the tent, or even privacy if you haven’t invited the neighbors!</p>
<p>In our area the tent rental place requires you to contact the utility company to come and put temporary spray paint in small spots where the underground pipes/wires are, so they don’t hit them when they install the tent - we have to call the utility (1 call to an 800 number for all utilities) 2-10 days in advance of the tent delivery…no paint on the lawn when they arrive with the tent the day before your event…no tent is put up!</p>
<p>We had a combined open house with S’s good pal…our house is not that big, so the tent really added some covered space (luckily it was a nice day)…with 2 sets of family and friends, it worked very well. We put all food (some catered, a lot homemade) in the kitchen and dining room - all drinks in coolers out on the deck - and had folks spend most of the time outside under the trees and tent.</p>
<p>The best investment we made was to hire 2 people to handle the food (the other mom happened to know this woman, who brought her son along). She stayed in the kitchen, refilling the food as needed, keeping things hot, washing some dishes as containers were emptied, etc. The son patrolled the first floor and outside, refilling chips/pretzel baskets on the tables, removing plates and cups as people were finished. They came after I had the food all ready and had to leave before the party was over, but it was such a help - allowing both the moms to actually enjoy their time with the guests, instead of worrying about finding more of this or refilling that…we paid them each $10/hr. - both moms agreed it was the best $40 we each spent on the party! If you don’t know of someone who does this in your area, consider hiring a couple of older neighbor kids, or maybe friends of another of your children??</p>
<p>Another good place for a party is your township parks. We have some very pretty ones, with covered picnic shelters and huge grills, lots of playgrounds, tennis, frisbee golf, etc, and very inexpensive. Of course it means lugging over a lot of stuff.</p>
<p>I second the idea of paying 2 helpers. Let’s you enjoy the party, not get frazzled, and be able to give instructions, and then turn around and continue the conversation.</p>
<p>You all are awesome…this is getting me SOMEWHAT motivated to get the ball rolling for my Ds graduation party. Keep up with the great ideas!!</p>
<p>I have a suggestion which comes after witnessing my sister and everything she went through last year in organizing her son’s graduation party. She had asked me to come one day in advance in order to help her do the routine straightening and cleaning that one does before having company. She was an absolute basket case. She would start one chore and right smack in the middle of it, think of something “more important” that needed to be done, therefore abandoning the previous task. She never seemed to fully accomplish one goal as she stayed too busy ensuring everyone else was doing their jobs. She made her family, my husband, my daughter and myself absolutely miserable with all her rushing around. She and her husband do not drink liquor, but I could have used a drink (or an entire bottle!) by the time the day was over. When the ceremony was over, and numerous people came to the house for the party, she began rushing around again, waiting on people. Just thinking about the entire thing right now almost makes me nervous. </p>
<p>I strongly suggest that if you host the party at your home, hire someone to help you, especially if you’re planning to serve lots of food. Picking up the plates, cups, napkins, etc. behind lots of guests is a job in itself. I also suggest that you do not ask family members, even those who are coming from out of town, to come early and spend the night. I think it’s too stressful for everyone. If they want to come early, suggest a nice hotel. If funds allow, plan the party at a local hall or park so that you do not have to spend time cleaning and preparing for guests. The most important thing you should be concentrating on at that time is your D’s excitement at her accomplishments. Have fun together and enjoy it. My sister and I have talked a couple of times about how nervous she was and unfortunately, how miserable she made her family and us. She has apologized numerous times, and we have, of course, forgiven her, but that day cannot be recaptured. As a matter of fact, my D told me after such a fiasco, she does not want a graduation party. She said she would much rather our family and the family of her best friend (also our best friends) take a nice, relaxing cruise together and just enjoy ourselves. She has told family members (aunts, uncles, etc.) of her wishes and has invited them along, giving them plenty of time to save the money (June '06). I’ve already breathed a sigh of relief because of that! Good luck and have fun (I mean it … HAVE FUN!)</p>
<p>With luck I was able to hire someone the day before to clean. It really made a difference. I could not find help for the party but it ended up ok. We rarely entertain but it was easy and I was actually thinking of having a “he’s home from his first yr” open house. Several neighbors have watched our son grow up and have been so loving that I felt we had to have a party last yr to thank them and celebrate.<br>
Graduation was late Fri, so we had small gathering Fri and open house on Sat. Friday afternoon son, SIL from PA, and I picked up the pre ordered stuff from Costco.
Bought Costco wraps, veggie, meat, cheese, sushi trays, 2 cakes, breads. Made wings and Judy’s meatballs(I made and froze during the week). Neighbors volunteered cookies and a layered salad because they “had to help”. H grilled 2 tri tips-gave him something to do while we waited for the guests. Lots of canned sodas in plastic buckets of ice. Beer and wine in the kitchen where there was lots of traffic-no problem w/kids. Used glass wine glasses-everything else was disposable.</p>
<p>Big 5 has EZ ups for about $99 all the time, we put one up on the patio. Home Depot sells cheap plastic hose misters-used two of those. We are in hot So CA. I put lg garbage can liners in plastic clothes hampers for trash cans-lots of these all over helped. Cold food was on the kitchen island-I am a food safe freak so I had flexible ice pak sheets under the food. Extra food in refrigerator. Target sells a roaster w/warming food inserts-it was perfect.<br>
Most kids came in through the open garage-husband put foos ball and CD player. I put drinks and chips/salsa, snacks. Family room had DDR. Formal dining room and outside w/card tables is where the adults seemed to gather. For food refills I just had to open the refrigerator.</p>
<p>It was lots of fun. Lots of people got together to be happy. The kids got to be together one last time. I vote go for it.</p>
<p>I will use your trash idea - didn’t know about that one. And the ice pack under the food - very clever!!!</p>
<p>KEEP THEM COMING - need all the ideas I can get!</p>
<p>The Aries family has a traditional MORNING graduation party. Everyone congregates there, eats some brunch, drives to graduation together, and disperses. It’s great for the host/hostess, because most kids have their parties right afterwards and then they can party-hop at those.</p>
<p>If you have a Costco membership, use it. Bread, eggs, and milk for French toast; waffles; syrup; sausages; tons of fruit (Zeus makes a killer fruit tower); maybe some vegetables; and throw in orange juice and coffee for a breakfast/brunch meal.</p>
<p>Splashmom- how unfortunate that your sister ruined the event for everyone, including her own D! Some people are too intimidated, stressed, or disorganized to entertain on a large scale like that and it sounds like your sister may fit into that category. It’s a lot of work, but my mantra has always been to prepare as much in advance as you can, never leaving anything to the last minute, and getting help when you need it. The hosts set the tone, and if they are relaxed and enjoying themselves, everyone else will, too. I do love your D’s plan for a cruise! Such a special way of creating wonderful memories.</p>
<p>I love that brunch idea. Wish I had thought of it–maybe for college graduation :).</p>
<p>Sister in law, son & I stopped at the winery for lunch before we picked up the food-Son was Designated driver–probably helped a bit with the stress.</p>
<p>Here’s another question for all of you: How does one shorten (read: slash) a lengthy guest list? Someone I know is planning her graduation open house party (at her home) and has something like 60-65 people on her guest list. All of them are her friends (not Great Aunt Thelma or any of her parents’ friends she’s never met), but she can only seat ~20 people indoors at any given time.</p>
<p>Any tips for her?</p>
<p>Avalon, the guest list may not need shortening. In my experience, half the people invited to a party don’t come. And not everyone needs to sit down.</p>
<p>Avalon - if s/he has the stamina and it is an Open House, I have been invited to and given “staggered” Open Houses. In her case, if she doesn’t insist on everyone sitting (which they don’t need to and probably won’t) half of the invites can say 1:00-3:00 and half 2:00-4:00. Sometimes the different times are just random; sometimes purposeful - eg, invite families with small kids for one time frame, etc.</p>
<p>S’s graduation is Saturday morning and the sober grad night party is that night. S will return Sunday morning around 6 a.m. </p>
<p>I am planning an open house that afternoon from 2 to 6 in our backyard, 60-75 people. S will be awake by noon— or else! I am hiring a caterer to do Mediterranean salads, falafel, savory pastries, and dessert. He suggested two servers for up to 50 people, and three servers for more than 50 guests. I will rent tables and chairs for our 2 acre backyard.</p>
<p>Sunday afternoon is great. It’s Memorial Day weekend, so guests who have a bit of a drive don’t have to worry about getting home for work the next day. I guarantee that this will be the only Jesuit high school graduation party with a kosher caterer! All the food will be vegetarian because we are veg. </p>
<p>I haven’t given too much thought to decorations. Maybe I’ll check out Wishing Well for banners. The backyard is so beautiful, I don’t think I need too much. Maybe colorful plastic tablecloths and a 4" potted flower on each table as a centerpiece.</p>
<p>I like the idea of the Saturday night before Sunday grad party. Wondering, though, if the kids tend to have their own plans for that night before! Any experiences with that? I am beginning to think that the next weekend might be best but seems so anticlimatic!</p>
<p>Lol, lamom! Love your “relaxation techniques.”</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, I’ve got a list going that I add to every time I check this thread.
Tabby</p>
<p>Had a couple requests for “Judy’s meatball recipe”. Found it in the archives, so thought I’d post it for anyone who’s interested:</p>
<p>Sure Kissy - the recipe has ben passed down to me from my mother in law. They definitely taste better if you make them ahead of time and reheat them. They freeze great. If I am making them as part of a buffet or as hors dourves I usually make the meatballs on the small side. If it’s for dinner they are larger. If you like a lot of sauce for over rice I would double the sauce. I think for the graduation party I multiplied the recipe six times for the 9 lbs of meat I used. I’ve tried various recipes like those made with cranberry sauce and sauerkraut, grape jelly and cocktail sauce and others but like these the best. </p>
<p>1 can tomato sauce (8 oz.)
1 can water
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 lemon (juice of)
2 lbs. hamburg </p>
<p>Fry the meatballs and add to sauce. Cook on low light(not a boil) for however long you like. The longer they cook, the richer and darker the sauce becomes. I think I cook them about 2 hrs. I try to use fresh lemons but have at times used the Minute Maid frozen lemon juice. I would never use the reconstituted lemon juice. The fresh tastes the best.I hope you enjoy them!</p>
<p>Just a quick meatball question. Which ingredients go into the sauce, and which go into the hamburger meat??? I am guessing that the 1st 4 ingredients make the sauce, and just make meatballs out of the plain meat. ??
Thanks!</p>
<p>I don’t usually eat ground meat- but I recently found that buffalo meat tastes much better than beef even when the beef is high grade organic etc.</p>