I need some help with party planning, if anybody cares to offer some advice.
I've never really done anything like this before, so I'm a real newbie.

My sister and I are having a party for my dad's 80th birthday. It's going
to be a potluck dinner, because we plan to invite 100 or more folks. The
invitations will specify that it is to be potluck style. My parents live in
a small community where potlucks are perfectly acceptable and fun.

1. There are around 300 people in the small town where my parents live.
Probably 1/3 to 1/2 of them know my dad, and a lot of them would probably
like to come to such an event. (Most of them will know about it afterwards,
and I hate to have any hurt feelings). Should I post an "open" invitation
at the bank or the grocery store or something? Lots of people do that. But
we'd still like to know how many are going to show up. Can you post an
"open" invitation with an RSVP number to call??

2. A lot of the guests would be coming from out-of-town. It obviously
isn't feasible that they bring a casserole or whatever--- I mean, what would
you do, drive 100 miles with a steaming casserole dish in your lap? How
would you handle something like that?

3. My sister has proposed that we supply the meat. Do people have dinners
like that, potluck things where all the brought-in items are salads and side
dishes and desserts? How would you say that on the invitation? And what is
an inexpensive way to go about this?

4. What about alcohol? The party will be at the local community center
near where my parents live, and alcohol is permitted to be served there.
But how do you actually handle the logistics of it? I mean, should we
supply beer or---??? And what about cocktail-type drinks? See, I told you
I'm a newbie.

I guess my basic questions a

Is it okay to have a potluck, but we supply the meat?

Is it risky or reasonable to expect there will be a variety of food? What
if 3/4 of the people bring a pie?

What would be the best way to handle everything else? Any suggestions
and/or advice would be *really* cool. Thanks!

David




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