Nesting With Grace

by Brooke Christen

Fall Dinner Party Large Group- Sadie Hawkins High School Dance

Ella had a large group for her Sadie Hawkins dance, all her high school soccer team and their dates. 60 teenagers. I offered to host the dinner at our house, since I knew they would have a hard time fitting at a restaurant. We planned to set up tables outside, but the forecast said wind and rain. So we pivoted to setting up tables inside our gym. Cleared everything out, and moved it all to the garage. Thankfully we had a group of people who came to help because it was a big project!

This is our gym, which we turned into a great party barn!
Pumpkin Pool Floats
Cleared most of it out, we had to leave the large rig and a few other pieces of equipment. We were able to fit 6 tables and 60 chairs in here, it was very cozy!!!
Chairs // Folding Table // Stripe Plastic Tablecloth // Brown Kraft Paper
Candy Source // Everything HERE
Sources
Ella’s table, mostly all seniors, last Sadie Hawkins Dance!
We played music on our frame TV to set the mood.
The plants and mirror were great to hide the cold plunge!
It was a tight squeeze by the window, so we used outdoor stools as chairs on this side.
Packed in like sardines!
Wish I got more photos of the food! This was a busy outdoor kitchen! We served a caesar salad, cold pasta salad and the BEST homemade pizza!!! Kevin made 25 pizzas….
He cooked all the dough (ordered from Poco Bero) for the crust the day before, took about 5 min at 700° in our outdoor pizza oven (he cooked to 70% done) Then stacked the cooked crust on top of each other, covered, & left on the counter. Day of party added the sauce, cheese & toppings then cooked in pizza oven! Took 1 min to cook, in a 700° pizza oven. We made all the same pizza with sauce, mozzarella cheese, mini cup & crisp pepperoni, and Mike’s hot honey. Delicious!!!
The pizza guy! The kids were so kind and raved about the pizza. I think it was the best he has EVER made!!! (We ordered a gluten free pizza from a restaurant for the couple kids who were gluten free).
Ella and her friend India, looking darling! (Find their deer antlers HERE).
The dessert station….
My sister made the cutest sugar cookies, from our favorite recipe.
Adore the ghosts!! (Serving tray HERE).
Always a candy board, because why not! My 22″ Lazy Susan sold out, but found similar HERE. Also I get all our candy HERE.
They carved pumpkins before dinner over at our neighborhood pavilion.
Big group!!! 60 kids felt like the whole school! We loved having them over.
Started to rain right after this, you can see the clouds on the mountain, so pretty!!
Pool Info // Floating Pumpkins
Thankful for my best friend, Laila who helped all day long setting up and serving. Her son Simeon, transferred schools, and he now goes to the same school as Ella! Laila and I are thrilled they will graduate together! And we get to do a lot more fun things together.
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Comments

  1. Theresa says

    Can Kevin tell us more about cooking the dough the night before? Did he cook it through and then only needed 2 mins to melt the cheese the day of?

    • [email protected] says

      He cooked all the dough for the crust the day before, took about 5 min at 700° (he cooked to 70% done) Then stacked the cooked crust on top of each other, covered, & left on the counter.
      Day of party added the sauce, cheese & toppings then cooked in pizza oven!
      Took 1 min to cook (oven was at 700°)

  2. Joy says

    oh Brooke, this is amazing! It all looked so fun and inviting. What a gift to your children to host all of these gatherings. They will always remember how you and Kevin always made your home a soft, safe place to land and always welcome to all. You always create such a beautiful setting!

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