[Malin]

Hello -

this may be a really stupid question, but I am so sure that someone here will help me ...
We moved to a new house and would like to have a housewarming party with our landlord, new neighbours and some colleagues.
Could anyone here tell me how to write an invitation which makes it clear, that
1. our guests can come whenever they like but not earlier than 3 pm and
2. that we'd like them to bring something to eat - a salad or cake or whatever they share - we'd like to have something like a buffet we can all share together. I read about this 'bring your own plate' sentence, but does it mean people bring something to share or just for themselves?
And we don't know what is common here with alcohol - when people bring something to eat we provide the drinks? Wine and beer? Help!
I would be really happy if someone could answer in full sentences :-) - as you can see I am really uncertain and I don't want to make neither grammar nor cultural mistakes ...

Thank you
Malin

[tigerlily]

I might be making some cultural mistakes, but I'd try it like this:

You're invited to a housewarming party!
Bring a plate,
we'll provide drinks.
Saturday Dec 5
3 - 8 pm
Malin's House
555 West Te Puke Street

Maybe put your phone number on there so people can call to let you know if they are coming.
I think "bring a plate" means food to share. If I was hosting, I would want to provide the drinks, it's easy and you can keep them cold! You might also consider using the BBQ to do some main dish, that leaves the salad and side dishes and appetizers for people to bring.

Is there a Martha Stewart for New Zealand!? We need her help!

Have a great party.

[sarahw]

Bring a plate means bring food & everyone will share.

If your neighbours & friends are Kiwis you'll probably find that they'll bring drinks anyway! regardless of what your invite says! We often have party nights & people bring a plate & drinks - noone is offended by that!

You might want to say 'open home 3-8pm' - means people can come & go as they like.

Have a great housewarming!!

[StevieD]

Oh I so looking forward to this part of Kiwi life :)

[Moorf]

Bring a plate means bring food & everyone will share.


If your neighbours & friends are Kiwis you'll probably find that they'll bring drinks anyway! regardless of what your invite says! We often have party nights & people bring a plate & drinks - noone is offended by that!

You might want to say 'open home 3-8pm' - means people can come & go as they like.

Have a great housewarming!!

Yep, same. They always bring booze, and we always take booze if we're invited round. I also find they're quite organised and sometimes you are asked to bring a particular food (dessert or meat or fish or salad) etc.

Anyway, you'd need to take out a small mortgage to keep a group of Kiwi's in booze :laugh

Don't forget ashtrays in the garden ;) - all the Kiwi smokers we know here don't smoke in their own houses, let alone anyone elses, but they will be hunting for a can on the deck!

[sarahw]

:) You're not wrong about kiwi drinkers - I'd never have a party & say I'd provide all the alcohol!! - I don't think Pak n' Save would have enough!!!

Second that about you being able to tell them what to bring!

Its not like UK where you cater for everything on the night - we usually have dinner parties & one person will bring the starter, maybe 2 including the host will do main course & someone else dessert! Its actually v. refreshing as parties take the minimum of organisation!

[Moorf]

Here's what I'd write - just put a red ring round the plate type you would like them to bring...


Hi,

We've just moved to the area and we'd like to get to know our new neighbours so we thought we'd have a bbq with a few beers!

Bring the drinks of your choice (we'll have some cold beers ready in the fridge!) and bring a plate (meat / fish / dessert / salad) or whatever you can manage!

We'll fire up the bbq at 3pm on (date) , hope you can make it!

names of your family members/address/telephone no./etc





:nice1

[Malin]

It is so good to have this forum for the really important questions in my life!

Can I write:

Please join us for our Housewarming Party!
Saturday, date, open home from 3 - ?
Please bring a plate (dessert / salad / cake) or whatever you can manage.
Malin
Address

And a little drawing how to find us.

Is that okay?

We are probably the only people in this country without a BBQ-grill (we simply had no money to buy one), but it sounds like a must! I saw a very cheap one in a circular, hope that will do. If I write Moorf's BBQ suggestion (We'll fire up the bbq at 3pm), do Kiwis also bring something to put on the grill?
Oh, I really like this country, after finding out how some things are so much easier than in Germany...
Malin

[Smiler]

Malin

I'd go with Moorf's suggestion, not that yours is wrong, just that it's better to say you're the newbies in the neighbourhood. :nice1

If you will have a BBQ in time then add and ' Please bring a plate (dessert / salad / cake) or something to throw on the barbie.

Have a great time!