Golden Wedding Anniversary Buffet

[cameliaheartfelt]

I'm planning a surprise gathering for my inlaws at our home for their 50th golden wedding anniversary. Probably for 25-30 people as won't be enough room to sit down and some are getting on. All food will have to be finger food as May have to stand to eat. Any ideas for food and decorations please? I've never done this before, is there anything to bear in mind with numbers ie. 2 sausages per person, 1 chicken drumstick per person etc? I'm afraid of under and over catering. And what about drink? Any tips for food that may be standing a while while people chat? Thank you!

[Samuraisan]

Very generous and brave of you. That's a lot of people to feed. Can you not get a caterer ?

[DTCwordfan]

a beautiful golden wedding anniversary cake makes for a beautiful centrepiece. My sister made the most amazing one for my grandparents - the palest cream to represent the gold, cantilever supports all linked all the way around - it took her four hours to ice it!

China plates (cheap ones) recommended as you can get those plastic devices that you clip on and can hold a wine glass in them, whilst standing, eating and chatting away.

Food wise, another centrepiece can be a poached salmon and then its scales made up of the thinnest slices (mandoline) of cucumber, a light home-made lemon mayo on the side. Things like a spicy chicken coronation always go down well.....

[AlwaysConfused]

I haven't looked in detail, but this may be handy
http://www.angelfire.com/bc/incredible/Buffetchart.html

[DTCwordfan]

http://www.theprettycakecompany.com/media/images/user-images/4366/goldenpipedflowers.jpg

or:
http://www.occasionsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/golden-wedding-cake-style-me-pretty.jpg

cupcakes can work well when space is limited.....
http://www.cakesbloomsandbling.co.uk/cakes_wedding/images/golden_wedding_cupcake.jpg

Cornish Cakeboards have a lot of accessories for baking and decorating great cakes, there is a network of shops for them across the country.....

[Barmaid]

Pointless me answering on quantities because I always over cater.

Some suggestions:-

chicken bites on sticks with dips
crudites and dips
baby tomatoes filled with pesto and mozzarella on sticks
pork pie
sausage rolls (can also do meat free)
mini spicy cheese scones with philly
smoked salmon pinwheels
bitesize quiches (or big ones cut into bitesize quiches)
scallops in bacon on sticks
pate (smoked salmon, chicken liver, smoked mackerel, mushroom and cashew nut) with a selection of biscuits and toast
tempura prawns
cheese straws
crisps
stilton and walnut palmiers
cheese and ham palmiers
mini pithviviers with a variety of fillings
samosas
onion bhajis

Desert

Mini baked new york lemon cheesecake (make a big square one and cut into bits and stick in cake cases)
scones with cream and jam
Carrot cake
Fruit kebabs
mini eclairs
chocolate tiffin
mini brownies
mini meringues (various flavours, can fill with plain cream, flavoured cream or dulce de leche)
lavendar biscuits

Thats just off the top of my head.

I would suggest you go to an online catering supplies company for any equipment you need.

Personally if you are doing food for that lot, I'd delegate EVERYTHING else. I did a wedding for 60 in the summer, I've only just recovered.

[Barmaid]

I invested in a few perspex 7 tier perspex cake stands which are great if space is at a premium.

If you need a cake recipe - I recently used this one for my grandad's 90th.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10860/easy-vanilla-cake

It was an excellent cake and covered very well.

[humbersloop]

for finger buffet portion guides, Leith's Cookery Bible gives very good advice on food and drink quantities to allow, but my copy isn't here to check. It's worth picking a copy up if you've got time, it covers all the bases

you'll also get a good idea if you start with some supermarket party platter offerings (try Waitrose, M&S and Sainsbury's brochures), they generally give you a serving number indication for each dish, though never generous, and you can work your own out from there

[MargoTester]

I used Sainsburys for my OH's 60th birthday party, have a look at their brochure. They also supplied glasses which were FOC. Takes away some of the hassle.

[AlwaysConfused]

I'm a party pig, guardian of the food table! I don't tend to eat sweet things, but I'd probably put one of everything on my plate (at least) that Barmaid has listed, along with a ham sandwich if available.

[DTCwordfan]

There's always one! ^

[B00]

I know some people sneer at Iceland (not posh enough) but it's value for money and honestly, some of it's not too shabby. Worth a look anyway.

http://groceries.iceland.co.uk/party-food

[Sycamore3House]

Make a list if all the items and portion size (2 x sausages on stick, 1 vol au vent, 1 (x4 quarters) sandwich, 2 chicken nuggets) and so on per person to end up with possibly a big plate of food. Then times two thirds of the number of people expected. If 30 people cater for 20. Remember lots of items can be cooked or prepared the previous day.

[boxtops]

Ferrero Rocher are gold, and good for a buffet pile!

[AlwaysConfused]

Iceland do some great food, they really sparked my interest lately. Their kangaroo meatballs would add interest to a buffet (and very cheap, too)

[corylus]

Isn't there a local store/patisserie/delicatessen/bakers that could prepare and deliver your chosen buffet for you? I used a local one for a 60th birthday buffet, loads of good food provided and at a reasonable cost. I only had to collect it, but they would've delivered. Ask around locally, shops often have notices up offering these services.

[daginge]

Many of the Iceland range are actually V good indeed! I did a party for my daughters 6th birthday at which there were a goodly number of adults who didn't baulk at the offerings! A 50/ 60 piece Chinese / Indian finger selection at £5 is excellent value for money as well as tasty! There were lots of others available. At that kind of price over catering shouldn't be a massive issue, also, people will always take bits and pieces home or they will be OK the next day if refrigerated at the end of the "Knees-up"!

[follyfancier]

I will not comment on the food as there are enough ideas already, it is a lovely idea but do you really think that people their age can stand all the time whilst eating and drinking ?
I expect there will be some guests around the same age as the happy couple surely they will want to sit down

[cameliaheartfelt]

I already plan to buy a special anniversary cake from M n S thank you. Did think of making it but would probably cost the same and I'm no good at icing. Some great ideas thank up you! I've been planning this for months and slowly buying things in. I don't think that amount of people is a lot so maybe I'm mad! We can seat about 18-20, myself and my hubby won't be sitting and some men tend to stand. Any ideas about decorations? I've got the usual ideas of balloons banners sprinkles gold roses, collage of pics, would like something different or unusual though.