Help! Bit off a little more ....

[susank]

I offhandedly suggested that my daughter could have a few friends over before they head out to their prom at the beginning of June. I now hear that there could be 40 or more kids with possible parents! Has anyone done this and do you have any advice?

We have a large property with lovely gardens so I am hoping - weather permitting - that they can all be outside (although I know there will be many inside). I need to keep it fairly simple because I will be doing this alone as my husband is unfortunately away that weekend (long story - he booked annual fishing trip with 6 guys before we actually knew the date of the prom) and most of my friends work during the day.

ALL IDEAS ARE WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From simple, not messy food and desserts to mocktails! Help, please!

[lizanne]

Do you need to feed them dinner or just a little something before the prom? I guess the "not messy" is essential, you wouldn't want to see prom photos with stains all over the dresses!!

I make mini quiche quite a lot they can be made weeks ahead and frozen until the day, they're easy to eat with one hand while holding a drink in the other and no mess to eat. They can be made in lots of different flavours - fetta & pumpkin, bacon and spinach, salmon and dill, ham & mushroom, sundried tomato and on and on. I use a basic quiche recipe and add a couple of tablespoons on flour and a teaspoon of baking powder to the mix then whatever my flavouring is and lots of shredded cheese. I use store bought pastry sheets, cut into rounds with a cookie cutter to fit my small muffin tins. Bake in a moderate oven for about 15 minutes or until golden on top. I have made these in huge quantities for parties and there are never any left over. They can be served warm or room temperature so they're not much work on the day.

Also cheese and spinach triangles (the greek ones with phyllo pastry) can also be made ahead and frozen uncooked, but they need someone to put them in the oven and turn them etc just before serving.

Will you have anyone coming to help you out in the kitchen, I have "hired" students from the local catering college to help out at parties sometimes. They are cheap and generally have a good idea of what they are doing.

I also have a recipe for chocolate walnut torte like the one Neiman Markus sells, it's easy to make, can be frozen for a month or more and you don't need a plate and spoon to eat it. Yum!!

[susank]

Lizanne - the quiche is a good idea. I've made them as well. I could start making them now ----- or I could go to my local COSTCO and buy them pre-made. I'll have to think about that one. I know the ones I make myself are better.

You know I thought about getting some help as well. My younger daughter is in grade 10 and I think I might enlist her and some of her friends - I know they would appreciate the money. The only catch is that I have to have her to the National Arts Centre right after for a performance they are in. Can't these schools plan a little better!?

[StitchinGrandma]

First I have to say this: SUSAN! YOU CAN DO THIS! When hubby asked me to marry him we began a race against the clock as my father was dying from prostate cancer. He knew the time was coming close so he chose to ask me then to marry him rather than to risk waiting one more year. It was my dream, even at the age of 40+ with three children of my own to have my father walk me down the aisle. HE was the one who married me the first two times as he was a judge so I never allowed him to have that honor before this last wedding.

Anyway, long story short to prove you CAN do this is we had six weeks to plan the wedding. And because I am a fairly good cook and the budget was very tight, *I* decided we could cater our own wedding that was planned for about 200 people. We made all the food and it was a lot of hard work with us being up at midnight the night before our wedding rolling the meat for meat trays but we did it so I KNOW you can since you have only about 40 to feed.

The one thing that we did was what has already been suggested. We hired one of the servers from a local catering company for the day/night to handle refilling the food trays and keeping things fresh on the buffet area as well as all the things related to the kitchen areas once we were at the church for the wedding. At that point she was in charge of everything but we had done all the work the day before when we spent the entire day in the kitchen of the banquet hall cooking and prepping things.

Decide what you want first - Given this is prom won't most of these kids be going out to eat with their dates? That's how it is here anyway and if so, I think you'd be fine with maybe small appetizers and fresh fruits if you really think they'll eat things. I'm guessing the girls won't want to eat too much there if they are going out to eat with their dates. I think you'd be fine with things to drink (good luck keeping the booze away with kids that age).

Does your daughter have any suggestions? What is she expecting?
Well shoot - I just re-read your post now and see that parents might come too? That kinda changes things since the parents might expect foods. Do you want to feed them with a small buffet? Appetizers? Dessert buffet maybe would be fun. Give me some idea you are thinking and I can see what I can help you with. I'm headed to bed now but I do have some great party planning sites bookmarked from when I did our wedding that will help you tremendously with the planning. If I have not posted those by tomorrow night PLEASE send me a PM to remind me because I might forget.

[susank]

I knew that you would have ideas Vicki! My daughter doesn't have many ideas about this except to say she can help. I have told her that given she has to get ready that will be impossible.

I think what is likely to happen is that the kids will come for an hour or so before the limos come to pick them up and take them to the prom which is a dinner and dance starting at 6:00. I am thinking they will likely be here from 3:00 until 5:00 at the latest - although parents may linger longer. Some of the girls may also come earlier to get ready here.

Although I have not thought it through too far yet I am thinking that I would like to keep them to our patio and pool area outside and then our sunroom, family room and kitchen inside. We have an outdoor bar so weather permitting I may set up drinks outside and in the kitchen as well. Food can go in the kitchen and sunroom.

As far as food I think I have to try and find non-messy bite size morsels. The quiches are a good idea. I am also thinking shrimp, a couple of bite size pizzas (pesto and red pepper and goat cheese and brie with caramelized onions) - all of which I can make and freeze ahead of time. A fruit assortment might also be a good idea. What I guess I need are some ideas for cold appetizers so I am not constantly at the oven.

As for drinks I think I will do mocktails. I don't really want to serve alcohol even to parents because I know it opens the door for kids to get a hold of some. The school is really strict on this and there are actually 3 police officers assigned to the prom as well as the other chaperones. I guess I could serve wine to parents who remain after the kids have gone. Not sure though.

I am also looking for decorating ideas. Typically I would do lots of flowers that relate to whatever napkins etc. I choose.

Keep the ideas coming!

[StitchinGrandma]

First you need to come up with a theme Susan. Then plan the food around that theme. Example ~ you could do a black and white event since it's prom and all the decorations would be black and white streamers, tablecloths, napkins etc. You then could plan the food around that theme with it being black and white too (Black of course would be more chocolate than actually black :) ) Or you could do a paint the town red theme with red, pink, and white decorations and the foods pointed toward those colors where it could be red fruits and white desserts like white chocolate mousse etc. OR you can figure out the foods you want to serve and then just come up with a theme to match that or just wing it all and mix/match based on what you like for food and decorations.

Second ~ the one big thing you need to decide is how to keep the foods safe. Do you want or have room to keep all the foods warm or cold? You sure don't want to serve kids foods that will make them all get sick from the lack of proper serving temps. We actually rented a tented salad bar on wheels for our wedding. It was one of those things you see in a restaurant buffet area that you can fill with ice and then place the serving bowls into the ice to keep it all cold and then the "tented" part is what is normally referred to as the 'sneeze shield' above the foods for obvoius reasons. LOL Do you have the refrigeration space ahead of time to keep tons of foods cold prior to the party? Hot foods generally are easier since you can use crock pots to keep foods warm and they can be placed anywhere prior to the party being set up and will be fine. This was one reason I suggested maybe a dessert buffet. You could then have all sorts of desserts which can be made ahead of time and frozen until the party and then cut them into smaller bite sized pieces with fresh fruits done on skewers or in small puff pastry cups that you can put a cream type something (mousse or pudding or even whipped cream) and fruits in those. Most desserts would not need to be refrigerated at the party and as long as you keep an eye on what you are serving the costs can be a lot lower doing those than what you already thought about doing. Cheesecakes are obviously one of the higher priced desserts so maybe only having 1-2 of them and cutting then into tiny pieces would be good to put with other things. Just stay away from a chocolate fountain. They are not a good mix with prom dresses because the chocolate is way too messy. This is an example of a dessert party menu here (http://www.angelfire.com/bc/incredible/menudessertprty.html).(including some recipes)

Here is the page that was invaluable for me when I was planning our wedding buffet. (http://www.angelfire.com/bc/incredible/indexnotes.html)There are tons of ideas here including how much food you need to buy for the number of people you expect to be there.

Wine etc. for parents after the kids leave? Nah, unless parents are specifically invited to stay for an 'after party' once the kids leave they will probably not expect you to have things for them and will probably leave when thier kids do. This is also a night the parents are FREE and can go out knowing their kids are safe inside the prom and they can relax as a couple. ;) I know we sure did once the kids were gone for the night. Besides, unless you send invitations to the parents to stick around after the kids leave you may spend money on the wines or things for the parents and find that you've spent money for no reason if they do leave. I'd save that money if it were me.

There's my two cents now that I'm a little more awake. Once you decide what you want to do let me/us know and I'll go through my recipes too and see what would work based on what you decide for your theme.

I did just get this punch recipe in the past couple of weeks and it looked really good so I saved it.
Fruit Punch

1 64oz bottle fruit punch
1 64oz bottle unsweetened pineapple juice
1 2 liter bottle ginger ale
½ gallon orange sherbet

Mix juice, refrigerate. Add sherbet an hour before serving and stir well.

Also, this is one I made for a family dinner and it was VERY well liked. I've made this quite a few times since then. The apricot nectar was a bit hard to locate but I did find it in the grocery store. Just not all stores carried it for some reason.


PARTY PUNCH
1 (46 ounce) can unsweetened pineapple juice
1 (46 ounce) can apricot nectar
3 (6 ounce) cans frozen lemonade, thawed and undiluted
4 (10 ounce) bottles ginger ale

[StitchinGrandma]

This is a page linked from the one I posted for you already but it was buried a few levels down so I thought I'd link you to this one too. This has some great sandwich ideas for you including the recipes. (http://www.angelfire.com/bc/incredible/sandwiches.html)

[debmac]

Susan, I would make sure that you have a place to take group pictures. All of my kids went to something kind of like this when they went to prom. They had very light snacks for just the kids. Then took tons and tons of pictures. The parents all left when the kids left. If you know what the prom theme is, you could decorate similar to it. Even as simple as the same colors that are being used for the paper goods. I would try to make it as simple for you that day as possible to make sure that you can enjoy this special time with your daughter.

[StitchinGrandma]

It's funny you mentioned that Deb because one of my thoughts was for her to do a black and white theme with Paparazzi as the theme somehow. It would be really cute to go to make "Press passes" and put them onto yarn or strings for each of the parents to wear around their neck.

Oh Susan ~ This would be such a great little snack/appetizer type dish for the party. Check these cute little goodies out (http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/11/quick-and-easy-crispy-chocolate-almond-sticks/)

[susank]

Vicki - Thanks for the recipe and other ideas - as always - lots of information.

Deb - you are right about the need for a place for pictures. I think that is what they want to do most. We actually have a 2 acre property with lovely trees and plants so the backdrop is perfect. I have attached photos of the terrace area (which has different furniture now and a lot more plants and planters) - I think they can gather there for photos given it is on several levels or go to another area to be photographed among flower beds. I'm just not sure they will want their heels digging into the grass! I also agree on keeping it simple but elegant of course. If I was on my way to prom I would not want to eat or drink anything for fear of getting something on my dress! I think these kids may be the same. I am also thinking of sticking to all white flowers in my planters this year so they don't clash with any dresses. I've done it the last couple of years and it is quite nice.

One idea I have and it is really just for my daughter's benefit is to embroider a T-shirt with something about grad and mount it on an easel for all her friends to sign.

I also may have some help now which will be good. My husband is trying to rearrange the fishing trip to leave on Saturday rather than Thursday and now my brother who is coming from England for the fishing trip is confirmed so he can help as well. Things are looking up!

[NJMo]

Another suggestion - I did this for my son and his friends. Prepare an emergency basket. Black socks for guys, extra nylons/pantyhose for girls, dark shoelaces, Tide To Go for spills, corsage pins, extra toothbrushes and dental floss (seems like something always gets stuck in their teeth), Tylenol, girl's personal hygiene items (in a fabric bag so the guys wouldn't have to touch them -- lol), double sided tape for straps that show when they shouldn't or straps that keep falling down, breath mints (big hit), gum, umbrellas, lip balm, Band-aids, plastic bags and various flip flops in case it is rainy and the girls don't want their heels sticking in the mud, safety pins, sewing thread, needles and various buttons, etc. It was amazing because so many kids counted on finding solutions in "Miss Nancy's Emergency Basket." It was hilarious. I carried that basket to all functions from middle school to high school and sent it with him to college.

[susank]

NJMo - That is a GREAT idea!! I'm printing your list now. It will be really important for some of the girls who are getting ready here.

Vicki - I've looked at your web sites and there are some good food ideas there. I think I have to put them all together and then choose once I have an idea of how many kids are coming.

[StitchinGrandma]

Another suggestion - I did this for my son and his friends. Prepare an emergency basket. Black socks for guys, extra nylons/pantyhose for girls, dark shoelaces, Tide To Go for spills, corsage pins, extra toothbrushes and dental floss (seems like something always gets stuck in their teeth), Tylenol, girl's personal hygiene items (in a fabric bag so the guys wouldn't have to touch them -- lol), double sided tape for straps that show when they shouldn't or straps that keep falling down, breath mints (big hit), gum, umbrellas, lip balm, Band-aids, plastic bags and various flip flops in case it is rainy and the girls don't want their heels sticking in the mud, safety pins, sewing thread, needles and various buttons, etc. It was amazing because so many kids counted on finding solutions in "Miss Nancy's Emergency Basket." It was hilarious. I carried that basket to all functions from middle school to high school and sent it with him to college.

Good idea but I would not put any Tylenol or anything similar to that in anything for the kids to take. Now adays, at least in our area school distrticts, ANY child/student having any medicines in their possesion will be suspended immediately for having drugs. That would not be a very fun night for them.

[NJMo]

Oh I didn't send the Tylenol with them to the party. That was just to take when they were getting ready, etc. If the parents are there, over-the-counter meds should be no problem. Most of the time, it was just nerves. :-)

[susank]

I was thinking about this as I sent my daughter of to school with Tylenol in a baggie. I asked her if it was Ok and she said tylenol was not a problem because the name is printed on it. She is in the school play and is very stressed out as the performances started Wednesday and go until Saturday night. It's terrible how nerves get the little things!

[StitchinGrandma]

They won't allow ANY 'drugs' to be in a student's possession here. They have a zero tolerance and even having Tums is given the same punishement as far as the school is concerned. Obviously illegal drugs are given a harsher penalty since that will bring the police into play.

[katiedoodles]

Susan,

I think that it is wonderful that you offered to host the pre-prom party for your daughter and her friends! I agree with alot of the suggestions already given...the quiches are always a big hit and are really good either hot or room temperature.

I recently volunteered to help a friend coordinate and cook for a black tie fundraiser for 100. It was appetizers galore, both hot and cold. Unfortunately, my girlfriend got sick three days before and I was a cooking fool for nearly 48 hours straight. The good news was that I called a local culinary arts program and got 10 people who stepped up at the last minute to help out with the plating and serving. If your area has a similar program the students were amazing to work with and (in my case) did not charge for their labor since it was a fundraiser. But I was told that normally if set up far enough in advance they can book a group for about $25 each per evening. The professor that I contacted was very excited to get his students real world experience.

[susank]

Katie - that is really interesting. We have a Cordon Bleu school and I now wonder what they could do. I think I will call tomorrow.

Really good idea. I think help would be a plus -- especially because my daughter is daily thinking about adding limo groups of 10 - 16 people.

[susank]

So Ladies - I am 2 days from the party and after 2 full days of shopping my daughter announces there may be a few more people than she thought. So 70ish becomes 120 - 130!

For desserts I have made bite size brownies and blondies (mango and white chocolate). I have 2 fruit plates with extra berries etc and chocolate dipped strawberries for the dessert trays. I have 3 kinds of sandwich rolls - salsa, cheese and cilantro; ham with basil and red peppers and mozzarella; smoked salmon with capers, cucumber and cream cheese with shallots. As well as a veggie platter with roaster pepper hummus which I just made and extra hummus with nacho chips. I have 3 pounds of shrimp with 2 dips. I also have 60 mini quiches and spanokopita. My question is - is there anything I can fill in simply for the extra people. I am desperate - if she says 120 I am thinking it could be 150 --- there are more and more limos coming here to pick up kids.

For drinks I am doing a pink lemonade with blueberry icecubes and a mango punch with the same blueberry icecubes and mango pieces. We also have bottled plain and flavoured water. We have rethought drinks and we are getting white wine for adults as the numbers mount (despite my daughters worry about kids spiking things).

I am so worried my stomach is sick (OK I have a stomach condition so that is not totally out of the ordinary) but I am panicking. Any advice on fillers or extra drinks would be welcome.

Desperately, Susan

[susank]

Oh and not to be too desperate but my brother arrives from England tomorrow for a one week visit - so my preparations stop at 3:00 p.m. when I go to the airport to pick him up, my husband is up at our cottage dealing with exterminators who did not show up to deal with an ant issue and I have teams of restoration servicemen in my house for the last 10 days cleaning up with a flood in our basement. Oh and did I forget, the party is for my daughter's prom - she is freaking out about hair, make-up etc. so that my younger daughter is staying home from school on Friday to help her out. So --- if you think your life is a pain these days --- I sympathize. The only positive thing so far is that the forecast for the garden party is sunny and 25/75 degrees - fingers crossed!

Sorry to vent - but panic is setting in ----- back to the brownies!!

[lizanne]

Susan, it sounds like you have everything under control. If you are worried about having enough food Antipasto platters are very quick to organise. You could even see if your local deli could prepare them for you to pick up. Or cheese platters - a gorgeous Brie, some sharp crumbly cheddar and maybe a creamy blue cheese. I like to add some some quince paste (do you have there?) and pistachios or roasted cashew nuts and raisins or dried apricots to the platter and load it up with crackers. Very quick and delicious.

[susank]

Lizanne - I've never heard of quince paste! I don't think I've even seen a quince here except in specialty shops. But you are on to something - I have a wheel of brie in the fridge - I wanted my husband to smoke it but he does not want a barbecue running around prom dresses. It might be nice with some caramelized onions though. Antipasto sounds good as well. If someone could prepare it even better. Thank you - good ideas.

[StitchinGrandma]

Susan the one thing that always goes over really well for anything I've mde it for is Cranberry Meatballs. SUPER fast to make and you didn't have anything warm at all so maybe that's an option. You buy the frozen meatballs, toss them into a crockpot, then mix canned cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan till combined and then pour over the meatballs (still frozen) and cook until meatballs are ready. I've got the recipe if you want that one. I may have already posted it in the recipe threads here even. If so I would have put it in the appetizer thread.

You are doing great and sound like me before a big party. You've got a few other things in the mix that aren't helping the stress but the list looks like you've gotten it all under control. Have YOU picked out a dress or something to wear that night yet? LOL

After all the planning for our wedding I'd done, 2 weeks before the big day when the rush starts at pulling everything together I had my first warning of my knee problems when I woke up one day and could not put any weight at all on my left leg without tremendous pain. I was supposed to be doing shopping and stuff and instead I was at the ortho surgeon with him telling me I had no cartilidge in one knee and only a sliver in the other so I can sympathize with you on all the other stressfull things going on. Stuff just happens and usually when we're in the middle of something big that we REALLY didn't need to deal with. GOOD LUCK! YOU CAN do this and have done a great job so far! It will be wonderful.

Also, remember many of the girls won't eat a lot because they don't want to look like a pig in front of their dates. ;) I'm sure the food you have so far is good. If you are nervous about running out of foods, go to the store and maybe also just pick up a few of those large boxes of frozen appetizers that you can pop into the oven and cook up if you see the foods are becoming dangerously low. Doing this would mean you don't need to do anything else now and if it is needed they only take 20 minutes or so depending on what they are to cook and pop onto a plate to serve.

[susank]

Thanks Vicki - I forgot to mention that I did get frozen mini quiches and spanokopita to heat up. My husband is going out to get a few things so I may see if he can find some frozen meatballs as well.

I had to laugh when I read your note about clothes - that had completely slipped my mind. I'm throwing in some laundry now!! I guess we always think of ourselves last!

[StitchinGrandma]

Thanks Vicki - I forgot to mention that I did get frozen mini quiches and spanokopita to heat up. My husband is going out to get a few things so I may see if he can find some frozen meatballs as well.
:laugh: You really will be fine I'm sure. And so what if they aren't all full when they leave your house. It was a get together to be with friends, right? Kids can always find food when they are hungry later and I suspect many will go out after anyway so stop stressing yourself Mom. Relax now and enjoy the party. (Of course I'm laughing when I type this because I know I wouldn't do it)

Am I a Mom or what? :hahaha: I had to laugh when I read your note about clothes - that had completely slipped my mind. I'm throwing in some laundry now!! I guess we always think of ourselves last!

[susank]

Thanks Mom - will check in when it's over. Pray for me!!!!!

[StitchinGrandma]

OK Susan. It's Friday so shut the computer off, get the finishing touches on the party done and then RELAX AND HAVE FUN!

[StitchinGrandma]

Well? Are you still alive Susan?

[fun2sew]

Yea, I am waiting to find out how it went too!
Maybe she is sleeping in...

[susank]

I'm tired but alive. The party was great. It was about 75 degrees and beautiful so the weather was perfect. I was right about the numbers - by the end of the party there were about 150 people here. However, very few ate so I actually had a lot of food leftover. My husband is leaving on his fishing trip today so they are taking the leftovers with them. I will post some pictures when he gets to them. The kids looked great and my daughter I am proud to say was stunning. One of the dads actually came up to me and said - no disrespect to the other girls, they are all beautiful, but your daughter and her dress are in another league! I was taken aback. Her dress really was amazing and I will definitely get a picture to you when I can.

All in all I think all the fretting was worth it - it was a nice party and all of the parents thanked us profusely for doing this for the kids. I have to say it was a little odd though - it's the first time I've had a party where I have never met 95% of the guests! Now I'm off to the hotel to pick her up and hear all the stories about the rest of the evening! I'm looking forward to a quiet day!

[susank]

So here are a couple of the photos. The first is in the limo as they left and the other is Morgan and her best friends.

[lizanne]

Susan,

I'm so pleased thast your party was such a success. Your daughter is stunning and the dress is gorgeous too! I agree with the person that said that it was great of you to host the party for the kids. It was very generous of you to open you home to so many "strangers" and I'm thrilled that it turned out so well. Just too fabulous!!

Lizanne

[susank]

Thanks Lizanne - you know you do these things and you don't think about it but when someone actually recognizes you make the effort it's nice. I hope my daughter appreciates it some day.

[lizanne]

Susan, I'm sure your daughter appreciates all the effort you went to to make the evening so special for her and her friends, it's just not really in a teenagers make-up to say it out loud.

What I thought was so nice was that you included the other parents. So often our girls went out and we knew how they looked, but it would have been really special to see all of their friends and see how they "scrubbed up". I guess as parents it's one of the last chances to see them playing "grown-ups", before they actually become grown ups.

I know you and your husband must be very proud of Morgan and she must be very proud of you both, or she wouldn't have wanted to have all her friends over to your home on such an important occasion.

Congratulations!

[susank]

Thanks again Lizanne. I really think the party was in some ways more important to the parents. You are right that is was nice to see the group all looking their best and the parents really seemed to appreciate the opportunity to be part of this.

The one sad thing is that my daughter insisted on being in charge of invitations and she did it through her facebook page - that meant I was not really sure how many parents got the invitation. The worst example of this was Morgan's boyfriends parents. They did not know they were invited until I asked the mother if she was coming a couple of days before. Her son had not told her. The poor woman was working an hour out of town but raced back just in time to see Morgan's group get into the limousine and leave. We knew when she was 10 minutes away so we held the limo and when she told me that her son had not told her she was invited to the party I was really glad we could hold the limo so she could at least see the group head off. Live and learn I guess. Although I don't think I'll have to do this again. I asked my younger daughter if she was now going to want the same kind of party and her response was a flat NO. Apparently she doesn't like the kids in her grade! You have to laugh some times!

[StitchinGrandma]

Wow Susan, your daughter is so pretty and that dress is gorgeous. I LOVE the skirt on that. I'm so glad you spoke to her dates Mom BEFORE and not after the party. Even though it was not advanced notice for her, at least she had the chance to see part of it and didn't find out the next day that she was invited.

I'm so happy it all went off for you so well. I hope you enjoyed the party and didn't run around like I woud have the entire time.

[susank]

Well Vicki - I think I enjoyed the party but I did spend a lot of time running around. It was just so nice to see all the kids so excited and full of anticipation. It sounded like the prom itself was good as well. They are still recovering however - another good nights sleep might get them back to normal.

I agree with you on the dress - the skirt is amazing. We bought the dress in Toronto at the end of a long day of shopping and an hour from the store's closing. It needed to be hemmed so they said I could either take it and have it hemmed in Ottawa or they could do it and courier it to me. My daughter said you can just do that can't you Mom! I took a close look at all those little pleats and decided to pass - would anyone want to do that?!! After some discussion and finding out that the owners were originally from Ottawa they offered to put everything else aside and hem it right then. The seamstress did it in about an hour and a half. I was more than thankful! I'm not crazy about doing those tiny rolled hems and the pleats would make it a nightmare! I may have to find a really good seamstress though because I'm thinking she might be able to wear it again if it was shortened. There are not many occasions for a dress like that but if it was short it would be nice at Christmas maybe.

[StitchinGrandma]

I like the bottom of the dress the most though Susan. It has a very slight flare to it I think.

Of course, if you had it shortened you can make her a really great pillow and embroider something on it to remind her of that night. ;) Then you can send me the rest of that fabric. HAHAHA