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Is it tacky to have a potluck party for housewarming ?

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  • Sep 18th, 2007 3:23 pm
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Jun 28, 2003
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Is it tacky to have a potluck party for housewarming ?

Hello folks, we just moved into our first house for about 1 month and friends from both sides are clamouring for a house-warming party!

We don't have a BBQ machine yet and the patio is not done either. So basically the party will have to be inside. On my wife's side, we are thinking of inviting about 7 couples so make that 14 + us 2 = 16 for one session. I guess we could break it in half but my wife prefers to bring everyone in that group in at the same time, that way we don't have to do 2 parties and they all know each other so it's easier for everyone.

I am under the impression that for a house-warming party, the host will normally supply and provide food and booze and the guests can just come in and enjoy and celebrate the occasion with the hosts. Obviously with 16 adults in one townhouse and no BBQ machine, this is a formidable task in terms of food. I don't want to go over our budget and i certainly don't want to leave the guests hanging in terms of a lack of food so I have looked at the option of calling a pot-luck party where everyone will bring in a dish and we can make some additional food on our own.

Do you guys think it's tacky to have potluck for house-warming and if so, any ideas to offer ?

Thanks
23 replies
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Nov 4, 2005
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UrbanPoet wrote: thats pretty ghetto.
"bring your own food bish!".
Cant you just go to the dollar store and buy those bags of chips, cookies, and pastries and lay them out on nice plates or something.

That's even more ghetto! :lol:

Why don't you go to like M&M's or something and get a bunch of appetizers and finger foods at least. And there are a ton of other options of things that can be done without a BBQ.

If you can't really afford a house warming though, why don't you just skip it.
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Jun 14, 2003
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Usually, people brings gift for the house warming party. Are you asking your guest to bring food and (expecting) gift to your party?

If you don't expect gift, you can just label it as a normal potluck party.
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gman wrote: Usually, people brings gift for the house warming party. Are you asking your guest to bring food and (expecting) gift to your party?

If you don't expect gift, you can just label it as a normal potluck party.
No I don't expect any gift, obviously if they bring something then we will not turn that down

Still looking over my options, maybe we will have some sort of wine and cheese and have the time around 3 or 4 p.m., that way people know they are not coming for dinner
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Aug 22, 2003
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IMO, there is nothing wrong with having a potluck for a housewarming with that many guests. If it was me, I would still be proving the main course if it was a dinner though. It could be as easy as a 2 or 3 frozen lasagnas and ask guests to bring salads and desserts...
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Jul 17, 2006
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I think anyone who's moved into a new house would not be offended by the potluck suggestion. It's almost like having a new baby... I think suggesting a potluck is reasonable. You can still provide the cheese/dips/vegs/bla/bla/bla. Your family & friends should understand
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Jul 9, 2003
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Wow small world...I just read either your or your wife's post on WB, I didn't respond there but I will respond here.

Would I do it..no, is it tacky...well kinda.

How about doing what everyone at my work is doing since we have all bought new houses within the last few months.

Have an Open House, and specify either no gifts or "your presence is your gift to us"...kinda cheesy but I have seen it used a couple of times.. You can invite many more people, since people usually only stay about an hour or so...have it on a Sat or Sunday afternoon from like 1-5. Don't worry about serving a full meals or booze just appetizers and beverages.

Meatballs in a crockpot, bakery pizza, meat tray buns, salad, pumpernickle, kielbasa cheese/cracker tray. (These can all be done frugally if you make your own) Cans of soda and bottled water.

This is what some of my co-woekers did that didn't have their backyards and bbq's set up yet.

Good Luck
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Jun 3, 2006
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IMO, it's cheesy if you make it potluck because people will give you gifts. If you do a potluck, make sure you spcify in the invite that no gifts are preferred. Some people will give you something anyways, but that's their choice.
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Oct 31, 2002
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gman wrote: Usually, people brings gift for the house warming party. Are you asking your guest to bring food and (expecting) gift to your party?

If you don't expect gift, you can just label it as a normal potluck party.
gman's right..people typically bring housewarming gifts or liquor so expecting them to bring food as well probably isn't a good idea. Save the potluck for another time.
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Jan 1, 2007
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If you can't afford to do it right then wait until you can OR raid the football pot :twisted:
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Oct 17, 2001
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It's beyond tacky. You'll offend your guests with your cheapness if you have a potluck for your own housewarming.
Dec 31, 1969
I don't really think potlucks are appropriate for parties. I think they are more appropriate for school events, street paties and fund raisers. Usually the host provides everything.
In my ethnic backround we usually take something to the house. We either take a bottle of like wine, brandy, whisky, sometimes a case of beer or some sort of dessert as like a present for visiting the house. The only time we actually bring some sort of food dish is if we were to say to the host "can i make you anything" and they either would say "sure" or "if you want".
What I suggest you do is doing it buffet style. Just put the food somewhere on a table maybe even the kitchen counter and then have the cust just serve them selves or you can do it more formal if you have a formal dinning room table.
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Diamondog wrote: If you can't afford to do it right then wait until you can OR raid the football pot :twisted:
LOl you should have partaken in that football pool man. I may have a hockey one and let's see where your expertise lies ;-)

Thanks everyone for your input, we have decided to go ahead with the party and make some dishes, it won't be fancy like in the restaurants but it will be something we can call our own and hopefully the guests will appreciate that
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Dec 4, 2003
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UrbanPoet wrote: thats pretty ghetto.
"bring your own food bish!".
Cant you just go to the dollar store and buy those bags of chips, cookies, and pastries and lay them out on nice plates or something.
funkyfr3sh_ wrote: That's even more ghetto! :lol:
+1 lol :)
Please tell me you're joking when you suggest that it's a better idea to serve "dollar store" food to close family/friends rather than requesting a potluck party? :|
Anyways, to the OP....why not just order a couple of party size pizzas and wings?
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Dec 27, 2004
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canabiz wrote: Hello folks, we just moved into our first house for about 1 month and friends from both sides are clamouring for a house-warming party!

We don't have a BBQ machine yet and the patio is not done either. So basically the party will have to be inside. On my wife's side, we are thinking of inviting about 7 couples so make that 14 + us 2 = 16 for one session. I guess we could break it in half but my wife prefers to bring everyone in that group in at the same time, that way we don't have to do 2 parties and they all know each other so it's easier for everyone.

I am under the impression that for a house-warming party, the host will normally supply and provide food and booze and the guests can just come in and enjoy and celebrate the occasion with the hosts. Obviously with 16 adults in one townhouse and no BBQ machine, this is a formidable task in terms of food. I don't want to go over our budget and i certainly don't want to leave the guests hanging in terms of a lack of food so I have looked at the option of calling a pot-luck party where everyone will bring in a dish and we can make some additional food on our own.

Do you guys think it's tacky to have potluck for house-warming and if so, any ideas to offer ?

Thanks
whats a bbq machine? do u mean bbq or a spit for roasting a pig?
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bell02fantasy wrote: whats a bbq machine? do u mean bbq or a spit for roasting a pig?
yes it's a Bar-be-cue...btw, the fee for your football pool entry never arrives :?:
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Jan 18, 2003
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you basically have a few choices:

1. to keep cost low, have a LUNCH housewarming....finger foods...pasta...that will fill everyone up...and people will bring you gifts.

2. have a potluck but specifically tell your guests to NOT bring any gifts since it's a potluck.

3. order pizza/chicken wings/etc...don't need to prep anything...and you get gifts!

it is GHETTO if:

your guests bring a potluck dish AND buy you housewarming gift.
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Oct 26, 2002
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i'm amazed at how many of you consider potluck to be 'tacky'

perhaps it depends on your group of friends. we do potlucks with our friends all the time, regardless of the occasion.
there is nothing wrong with having a potluck housewarming. and it doesnt have to be dinner, make it appy's, thats always fun.

the wine and cheese would also be nice, but for that i would supply. and i would think of it being an early evening thing over late afternoon, like 7pm'ish
That's my 2cents worth

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