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Baby shower at restaurant?!

LoveLee85LoveLee85 member
in September 2015 Moms
When you have a baby shower in a restaurant, is the host expected to pick up the tab? Doesn't feel right to invite someone then have them buy their own meal....but that would be crazy expensive!
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Re: Baby shower at restaurant?!

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    JenLovesDesignJenLovesDesign member
    Usually if they are at a restaurant, the host pays for the meal and non-alcoholic drinks. They are sometimes in side rooms with hors d'oerves on a table, or a buffet.
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    NehoustonNehouston member
    Yes, the host pays.
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    LoveLee85LoveLee85 member
    That's what I was thinking! I only asked because I've been to a few and I ended up picking up my own meal tab and was kind of shocked!
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    jmacd22jmacd22 member
    Host picks up the tab
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    SemattiSematti member
    Yes definitely. We're having mine in a private room at a local brewery. They offered different packages for food so I'd talk to a manager and see if you can work anything out that way!
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    chelseajeanenechelseajeanene member
    I'm doing mine at a restaurant and they have banquet size options of food so the guest won't be ordering individual meals. It's a lot cheaper so maybe look into that? But the guest shouldn't be paying either way
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    LoveLee85LoveLee85 member
    My sister would be picking up the tab since she's the host! I might ask her for a different place cause that would be really expensive! but if it is not at a breakfast lunch or dinner time we could offer nice hors d'oeuvres, appetizers, and then dessert?? Shouldn't be too expensive I'm keeping the list small.
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    momofsweetpsmomofsweetps member
    I've been to showers at a restaurant where we paid for our meals and helped pay for the meal of the Mom to be.
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    momofsweetpsmomofsweetps member
    BeachBabe22 said:
    I've been to showers at a restaurant where we paid for our meals and helped pay for the meal of the Mom to be.
    Really? Was that included on the invitation? So what exactly is the host paying for? I would be offended if I went to a baby shower and was expected to pay for my own meal. I am already spending quite a bit of money on a shower gift and think the meal should be included.
    To be honest I don't remember, it's been a few years, but I know I've been to 3 showers like that and I'm not even sure there were hosts. I've mostly been to showers in someone's home or at a church and there are several hostesses but I have been to those that were at restaurant and paid for my meal and chipped in for the mom, I know one was at an Olive Garden but I don't remember the others. Wasn't a big deal to me but I didn't have kids at the time and the whole shower thing was new to me.
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    PregNancyClarkPregNancyClark member
    Similar events I've attended have been handled like this- the hostesses choose certain menu items to be served to the guests in a side room or particular section of the venue. Example- platter of 25 muffins and a cooler of iced tea. Or a container of salad to feed 20 and each guest gets a soup of their choice etc. it usually winds up being $2-$10 per guest and no one expects a sit down meal at these events. Rather they usually expect a small party plate and a punch cup. They just want to walk around and talk anyway! Ask the restaurant for party options. They're used to it I bet.
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    baker1jm2baker1jm2 member
    I just had mine at a restaurant and the host paid the tab. .guests bought their own alcoholic drinks if they wanted some. We picked a couple items off of the menu and it was served buffet style
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    jen83mnjen83mn member
    That's why I decided to have my friend host at my house instead of going somewhere. It's a lot cheaper to buy food from the grocery store/Costco than from a restaurant. We're doing burgers and brats on the grill with all the fixins and are helping out my host by covering some of the costs of food since she has a family to support and I don't want all the cost to fall on her! My other shower will be thrown by my MIL at her house and she'll be providing all the food. I've only been to a few showers at a restaurant before; the most recent was at an Italian restaurant and salad, pasta, and bread were served buffet-style. The mom of the expectant mother covered all the costs.
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    CEB37CEB37 member
    mrscaterosales said:

    CEB37 said:

    PregNancyClark said:

    Similar events I've attended have been handled like this- the hostesses choose certain menu items to be served to the guests in a side room or particular section of the venue. Example- platter of 25 muffins and a cooler of iced tea. Or a container of salad to feed 20 and each guest gets a soup of their choice etc. it usually winds up being $2-$10 per guest and no one expects a sit down meal at these events. Rather they usually expect a small party plate and a punch cup. They just want to walk around and talk anyway! Ask the restaurant for party options. They're used to it I bet.

    A tray of muffins and a cooler of tea sounds like something served at a PTA meeting. I'd never serve something so skimpy at a baby shower.
    I just attended a very lovely baby shower that was simply coffee, tea, muffins, and fruit platters. The set up was so nice and everyone was very pleased and stayed for over 4 hours (just on muffins and coffee). It doesn't always have to be fancy. I think as long as you let your guests know what to expect, there is nothing wrong with keeping it simple. However, if you're planning the event at a fancy restaurant, muffins and tea would be extremely skimpy; it depends on the atmosphere.
    Certainly you can agree that muffins, fruit platters, tea and coffee is slightly more substantial than 25 muffins and a cooler of tea though, which is precisely what was suggested.
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    barrelocarolbarrelocarol member
    ^^ =)) =)) =)) =)) I just scream laughed!!!!! You just plain rock!!!
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    rholbrook7rholbrook7 member
    @CEB37 I'm surprised you don't know how the word "example" works.
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    CEB37CEB37 member
    rholbrook7 said:

    @CEB37 I'm surprised you don't know how the word "example" works.

    Well aware. I'm just not sure you know what you're talking about though.
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    CEB37CEB37 member
    @barrelocarol and @princesspiper Wow you guys are vicious.

    It's embarrassing when people try so hard. You might want to tuck that in a bit.
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    ktbkittenktbkitten member
    Back to the original discussion...my shower is going to be at a restaurant. We actually just changed where it was going to be. My MIL knows that I love that Tea House, this amazing little tea house that has AMAZING food and she planned it there. Well, my shower is going to be much better than I originally though, mostly because she is inviting 13 people of her own...  :-O Whatever, anyways, I did the math and it would be $650 before tax and gratuity! OH MY DEAR LORD. That is just crazy. I found another restaurant that is going to cost half as much. 

    There are plenty of place that you can go, but I don't think that it is normal for people to pay their own way, unless it's a work function and it's expected before people go. 
    <a href="http://lilypie.com/"><img src="http://lb1f.lilypie.com/08S2m4.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie First Birthday tickers" /></a>

    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

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    Ivyblue92Ivyblue92 member
    PrincessPiper said:

    :-t

    Pretty harsh isn't it to call someone a troll. Especially when you have no proof. As it happens @CEB37 belongs to this group. You would know that if you'd stop assuming all the time. There are a few of you on this board that are the worst kind of mean. You (generally speaking) portray yourselves as these lovely woman but really you (again generally speaking) you are not. Instead of jumping down people that don't agree with what's been said or is different from your own opinion just don't say nothing at all.
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    Ivyblue92Ivyblue92 member
    In regards with the OP I would say yes the host would pick up the bill.
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    LoveLee85LoveLee85 member
    Ivyblue92 said:

    In regards with the OP I would say yes the host would pick up the bill.

    Thank you! I have been to SO many where I picked up my own tab, and it never felt right! I was curious the etiquette, and experiences, of others.
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    Ivyblue92Ivyblue92 member
    LoveLee85 said:

    Ivyblue92 said:

    In regards with the OP I would say yes the host would pick up the bill.

    Thank you! I have been to SO many where I picked up my own tab, and it never felt right! I was curious the etiquette, and experiences, of others.
    It's always hard to figure out what to do for the best. But generally speaking as etiquette would go then deffo your host would fort the bill..
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    squigles28squigles28 member
    We are doing mine in a private room at a restaurant. We timed it at 2 pm, so as to imply not a substantial meal. The hostess has planned the obligatory cake and punch, and plans to do appetizer platters. We haven't specifically picked what those are yet. Basically she set a budget all involved were comfortable with and are planning food around that.
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    KYmama9286KYmama9286 member
    I've been to two "showers" at a restaurant- one bridal shower where the host paid but it was a limited menu (maybe 3 entree options, salad, dessert). The other was a baby sprinkle- so not a full on shower, but more just a get together of friends to celebrate a friend's 2nd baby. We all paid for our own meals at that but gifts were not expected, though most people brought diapers or a cute outfit since baby #2 was a different sex than #1. It was only like 10 of us and I went into expecting to pay for myself since it was so casual.
    Image and video hosting by TinyPic Lilypie Third Birthday tickers Lilypie Second Birthday tickers Lilypie Pregnancy tickers
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    mrstzouganosmrstzouganos member
    Having a shower at a restaurant can be less expensive than having it in ones home! I experienced this with my bridal shower, and I didn't want it at a restaurant but when my mom and sisters told me it would cost about $400 less to do it that way I couldn't complain! My bridal shower was wonderful! That being said my baby shower is going to be at my moms house, she said that I would be more comfortable having it there since I'll only have about 6 weeks before the baby is due.
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    PreggersinParisPreggersinParis member
    mrstzouganos said:
    Having a shower at a restaurant can be less expensive than having it in ones home!
    Really? What were you guys serving, mahi mahi?

    This is not at all meant to be inflammatory, I'm just curious since going out to eat at a restaurant is notoriously more pricey than eating in.
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    excited2bmommy09excited2bmommy09 member
    I have been to a few showers (baby and bridal) that were at restaurants. A few of us got together to host them so that the bill wouldn't hurt quite so much for just the one host, but we definitely picked up the tab and the guests did not pay for anything other than extra alcohol. 

    The majority of the showers I've been to were thrown at times like 2pm when a meal wouldn't be expected. They did serve things like muffins or cupcakes and beverages and I didn't see anything wrong with that...unless a party is thrown at dinner or lunch time I do not usually expect to be fed and think appetizers or desert is perfectly acceptable. Of course I have the biggest sweet tooth ever so sweets are always fine by me! :) 
    image
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    BlueWaffleSpeshulBlueWaffleSpeshul member
    HoneyBadgerDoesNotCare said:
    Whoa back up the bus Gus, may I inquire how @CEB37 is a troll? I didn't realize a difference in opinion was troll status. Mewow
    #areyounew


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    rholbrook7rholbrook7 member
    edited June 2015
    A troll is generally a commenter or poster who likes to start arguments, or blow things out of proportion. Certain people have been attacking others on multiple different threads, and blowing things out of proportion. Even when things are attempted to be clarified, they're still attacked. Have a difference of opinion all you like, but don't attack people when you read something wrong. Especially when 99.9 percent of us knew exactly what that person meant.
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