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Host a lunch or brunch party. Cook simple but crowd-pleasing dishes. Go for a potluck or recipe exchange. Stick to snacks and appetizers instead of entrees. Throw a desert party. Keep alcohol to a minimum.
Dinner or evening parties may be the first kind that everyone thinks of. But a party at another time of day can be less expensive and more memorable. For instance, you could host a lunch party that focuses on finger foods like bruschetta. A brunch party can also be fun, and it's easy to come up with inexpensive dishes like omelettes. You don't have to go all-out when it comes to feeding your guests. Pasta dishes, casseroles, and stews can all be inexpensive. It's also easy to make a large amount at one time, so everyone will have plenty to eat and you'll have more time to mingle. For an even more inexpensive option, ask each guest to bring a food or drink of their own to share. If you're wary of calling it a "potluck," refer to it as a "recipe exchange." It can be lots of fun to learn about each other's favorites! If you don't want your guests to be responsible for the whole meal, you can ask them to bring just part, like a drink or dessert, and you provide the main food. Serving finger foods and small plates gives people more opportunities to mingle, instead of being stuck at a seat with a full meal. It can also cut your party costs. Think about serving dishes like: Chips and dip Soup shooters Meat skewers Vegetable trays Fresh fruit Chocolates Everyone wants dessert, so why not cut to the chase? Host a party where you serve a few desserts. Even store-bought desserts will be a hit. You can also ask guests to bring their favorite so everyone can share and sample. These can be inexpensive crowd-pleasers like: Ice cream with a variety of toppings A simple pie, like apple or cherry A cake A trifle Pastries Cookies Chocolates or candies Brownies Custard or pudding Party costs can add up quickly when you factor in alcohol. To avoid this, you could always throw a "dry" party. Or, you could feature a "signature" drink at your party so that you only have to choose certain drinks instead of having a fully-stocked bar. For instance, you could serve a drink with sloe gin in it for Halloween, and call it a "vampire cocktail." Alternatively, you could go with one drink that you know is a favorite of your guests. If you serve alcoholic drinks, make sure to have some non-alcoholic options for those who are designated drivers or prefer to abstain.