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I agree with your DH.

Lots of tupperware for the cupcakes. I would get some foam blocks from Michael's and stick the cake pops in those.

What time is the party? Since you requested finger foods I would provide something more substantial like your DH suggested. It's better to have too much than too little food when hosting a party.

I usually just pack the un-iced cupcakes in ziplocks or plastic containers and use a piece of wax paper between the layers. I agree with PP about the foam blocks for the cake pops.

I think you should provide enough drinks for everyone, but wouldn't worry about more substantial food. You can buy gallon jugs of tea at almost any BBQ joint around where I live. Or serve lemonade.

I feel like if you host a party at a typical meal time, you're on the hook for providing a meal. Feeding 50-60 people can be expensive, but usually that's a consideration when composing the guest list.

You may want to consider at trip to Sams Club! Cupcakes are 30 for $15, grab a few bags of their huge tortilla chips and salsa and some frozen hamburger patties and hot dogs. Icing cupcakes that day sounds like a frantic mess. You could still do cake pops and stick them in styrofoam and cookies are easy to do the day before.

The biggest thing with parties like this is to remember your sanity comes first over saving a few dollars. Nothing is worse than guests showing up and your aren't ready for them.

my friend transported my DD's first birthday cupcakes in bankers boxes we had about 50 cupcakes. they came unscathed. they were decorated and bagged before hand and they placed them into the boxes and transported them over an hour away to the location of the party.

I think I'm with your husband, on this one. It sounds like you're making a lot of sweets; perhaps you can nix a few dessert options and transfer those costs to supplying burgers/dogs/soda? Cookies stack and transport well, and the rest of the lunch grub can be simply transferred in a cooler.

Another option is to ask immediate family and very close friends to contribute a dish, to share. They may very well be willing to help. This way your distant relatives and more casual friends are off the hook and can just focus on traveling and celebrating.

@Torchwood: Ah, gotcha. I think I missed the theme. I think the perception and need for "real" food depends on the time of your party. If it's clearly between meals, perhaps your guests will come fed and ready for dessert, not expecting a huge spread.

You should provide real food...I wouldn't feel comfortable asking people to bring food to a party that *I* was hosting, though. But you need more than junk food if the party will encroach on the dinner hour

Guests bringing food to any celebration (going away parties, graduation, baby showers, church gatherings) is standard in my family and friend group. I always get just the basics and trust that the guests will being something because it's always stated on the invite to bring a snack to share. It's also very common in my family/friend group to ask what to bring, if the invite doesn't say anything.

So I would provide the sweets, drinks, and paper goods, but ask family to help with the food.

I wouldn't expect any out of town guests to bring potluck dishes.. regardless of whether they "get" that its a potluck party that just doesn't seem fair or logical. I'm with your DH, just get the hamburgers.