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the short version is that I over invited for my 7 year old's birthday thinking we'd have bad turn out for a Dec. B-day party. But so far It looks like about an 80% turn- out. I budgeted for more like a 40% turn out. Thats my experience with home parties anyways, but I guess venues get the turn- out? Lesson learned. And I have already forgone my christmas gift to pay for my mistake. Live and learn.
I am paying participant fees for invitees, siblings, and one parent. (Lots of the siblings are preschoolers, a few are older). In any case, its a 6:00 o'clock trampoline jump (at a trampoline park) and a 7 o'clock pizza and cake on a Sat. night. I know there is a rule of thumb for pizza ordering. But The question that no one answered that I really hoped to get some input on is, would you eat a light dinner before coming to a party at this time? Thats kind of what I was going for and it certainly is what I would do with my young family. I could order like this is everyones main meal, or I could order like its dessert and second dinner. I don't want tons of leftovers and with the turn- out I'm double over my budget as is. So, yes, I need to work hard to hit that just the right amount of food mark. I'm am a notorious pizza under orderer, and a notorious overdue it leftovers galore entertaining cook. So I turn to you wise woman.
thx
45 people ate 6.5 pizzas. I paid for the 8 we got into. I ordered 12. In any case, the policy was that you don't pay for what you don't eat. I Could have avoided this whole question if I had known that. It was not the "dinner hour". We ate at 7:00 and the kids were young. So about 1.5 slices per person is what it ended up being. Everyone had fun. The place recommended two slices per person (based on age group). And since they lose money when people order too much, I'm going to have to say thats probably a better formula than some I've heard.
I would ask the pizza place you will be ordering from what they would recommend, they probably get asked that question a lot and can make a good recommendation.
Color me crazy, but didn't you recently post how you were 'high income' and wanted no gifts for your child's bday?
Order a TON of pizza to cover your party...and then DONATE the leftovers to a soup kitchen.
You have time between NOW and saturday to make this happen.
Geesh.
**scratching my head here**
and, please do NOT 'flame' me for saying this. As I recall, one of your previous queries did just that, and was pulled.
Merry merry!
ETA: good Lord, you are the one claiming your remarkable income on past posts. Why are you fretting if you have extra slices of pizza or not?? Unless you were lying in your previous post? Why pinch your pennies at this point? Splurge... Have the party and make sure everyone has a nice meal.
ETA2: Now why did you completely change your question.. And to fogo your Christmas gift? Sounds like you just want to be a martyr
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Original:
I always prefer to err on having too much vs not enough.
If you do have too much, lots of people will gladly take it off your hands.
Sometimes I think I've seen it all until I have leftovers, etc and people taking everything they can. It's crazy. I've had parents take leftover sodas, water, juice boxes, fruit, you name it. I can't believe the gall of some people.
Ask the pizza place what they suggest. They do this all the time. I'd consider 2-3 pieces per person. Don't count on any of them eating early.
We've always been very generous with food and drink at parties and I still get shocked at how some of these "nice" people take everything that's not tied down.
So glad we are past that stage.
Have fun!
you plan to buy enough to cover the people you invited. if fewer show up, whoopdy-dee, you'll have leftovers.
but you don't invite a ton of people and make your financial plans based on a 40% turnout.
really?
:/
khairete
S. (who would think that a party in the evening over the dinner hour that has pizza and cake IS a 'dinner party.')
When I worked with college students we used to estimate 2 1/2 slices per person. This was based on a pizza with 8 slices, so I guess that means about 3 adults for a large pizza. You might be surprised what 6-8 year olds can eat! We had pizza at my son's birthday party last summer. I'm pretty sure that 10 kids and 4 adults ate 4 pizzas.
So I'd have to agree with about 3 adults per pizza and 4 kids per pizza.
ETA - If my child were invited to your party on a Saturday, we would probably have a late lunch (3:00 or 4:00) or a good snack just before we left. If we know a meal is included in the party, we usually plan around that meal - not to be greedy, but just because the host usually plans on it being a meal and has more than enough food. So, I would plan on enough pizza for a meal or close to a meal.
We had our kids party in July and we had a total of 60 people say they were coming...of course a few extras showed up. We got 18 pizza's...and I didn't get one slice. By the time I got a chance to grab a slice, someone was grabbing the last few pieces as they left the party. (We also get the pizza's double cut, but that didn't stop kids from eating a lot more than they did the year before.)
So next time I would do more, but no one left hungry.
I also put out chips and such before we did pizza for snacking, and of course a cake at the end.
So honestly, I would think 15 pizza's at least. Asking the pizza place wouldn't hurt either.
ADDED: Wait, what? You changed your whole question from how much pizza to order to is this a main meal. Now my answer looks silly. Sheesh.
Yes, it's a main meal. If someone invited us to a dinner time party, I would assume this is the main meal and order enough. Which makes my original answer still valid since our party was from 6-9 and I considered it a main meal for everyone.
ETA: if I got an invitation specifically stating "pizza and ice cream" for a 7:00 Saturday party-like yours did (before you changed your post) I would and would have my child eat a late lunch or light snack but would be considering this "dinner" at the party. There's nothing as embarrassing as not having enough food for the people you invite. My .02!
Original:
16 pizzas. 20 to be safe.
You don't skimp on food that was promised because you invited too many people.
Hope you got a full sheet cake.
I would wait and see how many actually show up before ordering the pizzas. On to your question I would figure 4 or 5 adults per pizza and 6 kids per pizza.
Roughly 2 slices per kid and 3 per adult. (Probably translates to roughly 4 kids per pizza and 3 adults per pizza.) So, 12-13 pizzas.
I would say much less if it didn't start at 6 pm. If this is a weekend, maybe less, because they might eat something beforehand.
I agree with others in that you should have the slices cut twice making them thinner than usual. Especially for the 7 year olds. I did this when raising my son and five nieces and nephews were little they never knew a slice at a regular size for years. It didn't stop them from eating their weight in pizza but gave me a false sense of security.
Have tons of snack foods like chips and dips available.
Being a good host or hostess means planning properly and having enough food for your guests to enjoy. Order more not less even if you have to rob Peter to pay Paul.
I would think a minimum of 2 slices per person. Some kids will only eat 1 and some might eat 2. You'll get some wash from those that eat more and those that eat less.
Their going to get picked up when mom or dad get off work and come to the park at 6 starving them work out then eat and eat and eat.
I'd get one third to half a pizza for each person. IF you're getting a variety I'd get 1/2 pepperoni, 1/4 cheese, and 1/4 something only adults will like such as veggie.
2 slices per person, and then an extra pizza or two if there will be a lot of adults.
I would cut the slices in to smaller pieces. So many kids take 2 and just eat the tips of the slice. edit: you can ask the pizza place to cut them smaller.
I am so over, over ordering food. Don't stress if a couple of kids ask "where's the cheese?" Oh to add to that, if you want to save money just order cheese pizza.
When/if the food is all gone no big deal.
