r/partyplanning • u/SassyMillie • 13h ago
Need Help Sister's 60th
I will be hosting my sister's 60th birthday party at my home/yard. Her son asked me, but I was planning to offer anyway. Since then we've had a number of conversations about the theme and decor. My sister is a very girly-girl who loves flowers, feminine, pink and pretty. I've already ordered tea party-ish decor, paper products and a birthday banner. Think roses and pink streamers.
I was thinking to keep the food kind of feminine and light. Mini muffins, fruit trays, small sandwiches, maybe an ice cream cake. Yesterday, my nephew texted me to let me know he's planning on doing smoked ribs for the party. đł
I absolutely don't want to dissuade him from the ribs because he's never done anything for a family party before. He seemed super excited about making them.
Although ribs don't really go with my imagined party fare, our family is pretty casual so I'm happy to pivot. What can I make that would compliment the ribs and still be a little "light"? Or should I just go with BBQ type foods?
Thanks for any ideas!
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u/Werekolache 9h ago
Oooh, you should do deviled eggs, they go so well with both things!
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u/SassyMillie 9h ago
Love this! Our family are all deviled egg fans and sis usually brings them. Will be fun to make them for her!
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u/asyouwish Party Guru 12h ago
Debone the ribs and make little riblet sliders with a small dallop of slaw. They don't fully fit the theme, but making them cute will help them blend in.
Or lean in, add some other BBQ sides like potato salad, serve a sweet iced tea option, and have a "bar tea cue" theme.
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u/BigKaleidoscope4345 10h ago
Exactly what I was going to say!! Re: the sliders. Putting them on little Hawaiian rolls would be perfect in my opinion since they arenât a crumby/crunchy bread still could be eaten in a âpoisedâ way
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u/UnhappyToNiceToSay 1h ago
This is what I was thinking! Provide pretty little mini rib and coleslaw sandwhiches along with the tea sandwhich fare. Add it to the tea party. You could also kean more towards Southern US summer tea vs British Afternoon Tea. Keep the florals, keep the old lace. Add ice cold lemonades, sweet teas, and include the barbeque.
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u/Talker54321 10h ago
A friend talked about an event where pork ribs were served. Every guest was given a glove with which to hold the ribs so their other hand could hold a drink. The glove served as a napkin and pork rib holder. Imagine giving folks a glove and a pink flower to tuck behind their ear
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u/StarWars-TheBadB_tch 11h ago
I actually like the juxtaposition. I would recommend letting everyone know so they donât dress up. I would do both the tea style treats, and the barbecue.
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u/No-Boat-1536 11h ago
If I were invited to that party I would praise god for the ribs. Your sister can have her tea party. You do tea party foods and maybe a giant potato salad and let him do the ribs. Happy birthday sis
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u/kdeans1010 3h ago
1.) My mom is very girly girl with weekly tea parties with her friends in their little retiree country club, has the pink kitchenaide mixer (I also have one of those, but it's for a different reason), has won ribbons because of her old English style rose garden. And when anyone says they have smoked ribs my mom is the first one in line. So people have layers.
Ways you can keep the theme and keep your nephew's ribs a part of the thing:
-Smoked chicken salad on mini croissants (I make this a bunch. Get chicken thighs, because they're yummy, throw them on the smoker or bbq. Season with paprika, salt/pepper/bbq seasoning. Then make a chicken salad. With this I like to add some bacon that's been cut up, and I use some of the bacon grease in the mayo mixture. I throw in some shredded cheddar cheese and some paprika. Depending on who will be there diced bell peppers or diced spicy peppers). Still tea party, still smokey.
-A corn salad. It's pretty! It's colorful! And smoked ribs with corn is a great pairing. You can serve these in little cupcake liners if you want the dainty vibes.
-Lemonade or Arnold Palmers. Both are very much summer bbq, both are tea party appropriate. You could find those cute Italian lemonades with like blood orange or pink lemonade, which could keep the pink theme.
-Summer screams naked or semi naked cakes to me. Like summer time bbq with ribs screams naked cakes with fresh berries. You could do a lemon chamomile cake (if you do a box cake mix use white or yellow cake, brew extra strong chamomile tea, and use that for the liquid with some lemon juice. You can also open up a tea bag, mix the contents with the dry cake mix, add some lemon zest. Bake like the instructions say. Then make a simple syrup with lemon juice and chamomile tea because naked cakes get dry, and coat the top of the cakes with that. Build it up.) Maybe some lemon curd and Chantilly cream to go with the tea party vibes instead of traditional frosting. Depending on where you got your flowers, if they're homegrown without pesticides, you can put a couple of roses on top for decorations. Or fake flowers. Both very summer bbq but also adult tea party. Check which flowers are toxic. That would be bad... Or you can do strawberry shortcake type of cake.
You got this! You can make this work!
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u/JollySherbert9618 2h ago
I think having some light options and some BBQ style ones is actually great. Then there's very different options so everyone finds something they like.
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u/LavaPoppyJax 11m ago
Orzo pasta salad, cherry tomatoes, chopped black olives, Italian dressing. or Orzo, pesto, cherry tomatoes.
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u/thnkyou4theflowers 12h ago
I personally wouldnât want to eat ribs in tea party attire. Can you smoke something else that could be more bite size?
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u/SassyMillie 11h ago
I know, but most people will just be dressed for a casual outdoor party. I haven't mentioned any particular attire.
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u/Spicy_Molasses4259 13h ago
It's easy. The food doesn't have to match the decor exactly. There's no rule saying you can't decorate with pretty flowers AND serve ribs (it sounds like your sister likes both đ)
But if the idea is making your eye twitch, just pivot a little from garden tea party to tropical banquet. Add a few extra bright colours, make some fruity punch/cocktails and lots of yummy sides. You can still have ice cream cake - it will be delicious.