I'm going back and forth on whether we need to serve a full meal at the Hoglets first birthday. Itsa 1:30 pm start time which puts it in that gray zone for me. I would rather not ( budget wise) if we don't have to but absolutely will if it is going to be expected. We plan on having snacks and treats out either way.
Would you expect to be feed a meal at that time?
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts
I would not expect a meal...I think snacks/treats are fine!
cherry / 150 posts
No, definitely treats/snacks all the way! By that time most people have had eaten lunch, so they shouldn't be terribly hungry.
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
My family would come hungry lol. Can you maybe move it further away from a meal time, at like maybe 3?
coconut / 8498 posts
Snacks! I would expect everyone with kids to have eaten closer to 11:30-12. At least that seemed to be the natural lunchtime in my circle.
pear / 1812 posts
@Boogs: invites have already been sent out so it's a little late now.
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
@Mrs Hedgehog: Oh darn! What's the norm in your circle? Do people usually serve full lunches or are snacks more the norm. On the plus side, if people come hungry and they aren't full enough with snacks at least they won't linger too long at your party. 
nectarine / 2217 posts
I would say serve bountiful snacks... healthy, unhealthy, savory, and sweet 
pear / 1812 posts
@Boogs: There isn't one. She is the first baby in my close group of friends and I just recently became friends with a bunch of moms from a moms group and church. This will be the first party.
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
@Mrs Hedgehog: Well I'm sure they will appreciate you setting the snacks precident. Or you'll find out if this is lunch time for your guests by how quickly the food goes. I know this is in the lunch time zone for us.
persimmon / 1364 posts
Ok I guess I'm the odd one out but on the weekends 1:30 is lunch time in my mind so I would expect lunch to be served, (weekend lunches are later than weekday lunches.) I don't think it has to be anything complicated. Some deli pinwheels, a few side salads and some fruit is totally sufficient along with a few snackies and cake.
pineapple / 12053 posts
sounds like lunch time to me too. when we've done this with showers, we put "light lunch will be served." and had little sandwiches and snacks. so someone could fill up, but it wasn't a huge meal. 1:30 is definitely in the lunch zone for me.
pineapple / 12566 posts
At a birthday party I would only expect snacks unless a meal is specified on the invite.
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
I would expect lunch especially if the travel to the party puts me right smack in a regular lunch meal time.
apricot / 453 posts
Yeah, 1:30 is lunchtime. If you serve only snacks, be sure they're hearty and plentiful!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
Since you can't move it back I would at least serve something with a little substance. 1:30 is a hard time because it's right around lunch time.
But I guess it's not a huge deal because I would just have a early lunch and come to the party.
pineapple / 12793 posts
I'd expect lunch. My family usually eats on the later side and my mom is obsessed with preparing ten times the food she needs.
Could you have a platter of sandwiches out for those who didn't eat ahead?
I went to a shower once that started at 5:30 so I expected food. There was only a few crackers and some fruit out for guests. A ton of people left really early and I know it was to get food. I felt awful for the bride because the party had hardly started
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
I would expect lunch too. Can be light and simple but I'd probably come a little hungry.
grapefruit / 4923 posts
huh, i wouldn't expect lunch. i think the suggestions of hearty snacks/platter of sandwiches are good ones.
squash / 13208 posts
I would not expect lunch.
However, every birthday party we go to regardless if its at 1pm or 3pm lunch is served - usually pizza and fruit and the kids gobble it right up!!
Snacks are fine but have lots of them!
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
You can keep lunch simple and fairly cheap. Hearty pasta salad, chicken salad with rolls, green salad, sliced fruit, and two or three kid-friendly snack foods.
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
@Mrs Hedgehog: ours is at 2, and we're just doing snacks! I don't think people expect a meal unless it's RIGHT at meal time.
GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts
@Mrs. Oatmeal: Ours is at 2 as well and it never crossed my mind to serve a meal (we purposely chose that time so that we wouldn't have to serve a meal!).
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
@Mrs. Oatmeal: @lawbee11: at 2 I would think snack for sure. For some reason though 130 seems like it would be lunch. Not sure why that 30 mins makes a difference.
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts
My family expects a meal no matter what the start time is. R's 1st birthday party began at 3. Dinner was delivered early so I ended up serving at 4/4:15. People were still here after 8.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@Smurfette: haha same here. I I think because if you account for travel time it's not uncommon to think a 1:30 party wouldn't allow people enough time to eat lunch at a regular time.
@swedishfish: hehe same. Her first started at 3pm and we served a full dinner meal around 4:30. We like to feed people so accounted food for most of our budget!
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
@lawbee11: pretty sure our parties are on the same day, at the same time! Lol. And yes- planned that way so I didn't stress about a meal!
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
Maybe serve mainly snacks but with finger sandwiches as your "heartier" meal?
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
@swedishfish: @locavore_mama: DS's party starts at 4 and we're serving full on meals too.
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
i would expect lunch at that time. because you have to figure that people are getting ready about 12:30ish to come to the party so they would have to eat an early lunch.
even just bagels and cream cheese would be totally fine!
nectarine / 2152 posts
I'd expect some sort of lunch food, a platter of sandwiches or bagels/cream cheese would be totally fine!
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