Need ideas from all you cooking ladies

Em&B

I'm trying to plan out what we're going to serve at our work holiday party this year and I need some ideas. Basically we're trying to feed around 80 people and trying to keep our budget within $500-600, so nothing too extravagant. One of our guys wife is trying to start a catering business so we were going to let her make the appetizers and desserts and then we'll have our main dish prepared by the restaraunt where the party is. So here is what I need ideas on:

Appetizers - since she'll be making them at home and bringing them to the party I need stuff that doesn't have to be served piping hot to taste good.

Main dish and sides - looking for something other than pasta (we had that last year). It doesn't have to be super fancy but I'd like it to be a little nicer than build your own sandwhich.

Desserts - something light and inexpensive. The party is at a bar and honestly last year by the time dessert came around most people were so full from eating and drinking (mostly drinking) that dessert wasn't a huge deal.

 THANKS!!!!!!!!!

GladToBeMrs.SRS

Appetizers:  crudites, pickled-goodies platter, olive platter, cheese platter, an assortment of amazing breads and crackers. 

Main dish:  roast beef with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies?  Some sort of chicken dish?  

Desserts:  How about s'mores?  

goinggreengirl

Appetizers:

Throw meatballs into a crockpot with a can of chile sauce and (I think) half a cup of grape jelly- amazing sweet and sour meatballs. And the crockpot will keep them warm.

Ham wrapped pickled asparagus- spread cream cheese on ham slices, wrap asparagus in ham.

Dinner: Maybe a chicken dish with rice and veggies- I guess it depends on what the restaurant offers.

Dessert: Maybe assorted cookies with brownies thrown in. Something that if it's not eaten can be taken back to the office for snacks, etc.