Graduation party ideas: food, timeline and budget for an open house

The easiest graduation party idea is an open house built on party trays: sandwiches, a cheese tray, meatballs, vegetables and a dessert tray, set out for three hours while guests come and go. For 40 guests that menu from Upper Crust is $464 before sales tax, or $506.92 with 9.25% tax, about $12.70 a guest. Trays have no minimum, you pick up at the kitchen in Yorkville, or ask for quoted delivery when you order.

What an open house needs from the food

Most open houses run two to four hours, and people arrive at different times. That favors food that is easy to eat standing up, fine sitting out for a while, and simple to refill. Sandwiches, one hot tray, something cold and something sweet cover it.

If you would rather seat people for a real meal, a buffet is the better fit. The graduation party food guide has costs at 50, 100 and 150, and our graduation party page shows how other families set it up.

An open house menu for 40

• Pinwheel Sandwiches, $79 for 60 pieces.
• Assorted Finger Sandwiches, $89 for 60 pieces.
• Assorted Cheese Tray with Crackers, $69 for 60 pieces.
• Cocktail Meatballs, $64 for 100 pieces.
• Fresh Vegetable Crudités, $59, serves 25 to 30.
• Assorted Dessert Tray, $59 for 40 pieces.
• Assorted Home Baked Cookies, $45 for 40 count.

The math: $79 + $89 + $69 + $64 + $59 + $59 + $45 = $464. Sales tax of 9.25% adds $42.92, so $506.92 in all.

That is 280 savory pieces for 40 people, 7 each, plus vegetables and 80 sweets. We plan about 6 to 8 savory pieces a guest for a three-hour open house, so this sits in the middle. If you expect a bigger crowd than you have invited, add a second Cocktail Meatballs tray at $64 rather than doubling everything.

Three other ways to do it

• A slider table. One BBQ Pulled Pork tray and one bun tray feed about 20 guests, so 40 guests is $190 for pork and $24 for buns. The sizing is worked out in our pulled pork sliders guide.
• A hot buffet. Buffet Menu 1 is $18.99 a person with a 20-guest minimum. For 50 guests that is 50 x $18.99 = $949.50 before tax.
• A dessert-forward party. Skip the second sandwich tray and add Brownies, $59 for 35 count, or Chocolate Covered Strawberries, $69 for 35 to 40 count.

We do not sell decorations, so the banners and photo boards stay with you. The food is the part we handle.

Drinks

Iced Tea, Punch or Lemonade, $89, gives 50 six-ounce servings with cups included, which covers 40 guests with a little over. Bottled Water and Soft Drinks are $2.49 each. Coffee is $89 for 50 servings if grandparents are coming.

A timeline that works

• When the date is set: pick your headcount range and call for a quote. A staffed buffet needs 14 days of notice. Trays and standard orders need 3 days.
• At booking: a 25% deposit reserves the date and is credited to your bill.
• 7 days before: send the final count and pay the balance. Your count can go up any time before then, and can drop by no more than 10% after the deposit.
• The day of: pick up at the kitchen on Hydraulic Ave in Yorkville, or have it delivered at a time agreed when you order.

Call (630) 553-9533, or send your date and headcount through the quote form and the person who quotes your party will answer it.

Questions

How much food do I need for a graduation open house?

For a three-hour drop-in, plan about 6 to 8 savory pieces a guest plus a sweet or two. Count the people you invited, then add a few for the ones who bring a friend.

Can I get hot food, or only cold trays?

Both. Cocktail Meatballs and BBQ Pulled Pork are hot. A Chafing Dish Set is $17 per hot dish and yours to keep, or $20 for a stainless rental you return.

Do you do cake?

Cake is not on our menu. Our desserts are homemade trays like brownies, lemon bars, cookies and cream puffs.

Is there a planning checklist?

Yes, the graduation party checklist walks through dates, headcount and ordering.