I love hosting parties but they can get expensive very quickly if you are providing a meal for everyone. My younger sister just had a baby and I threw a baby shower for her. We invited close friends and family for lunch, cake, and plenty of baby cuddles.
I use to stress out getting ready for parties and was too tired to actually enjoy parties. Now, I go to BJ’s to make parties easy, affordable, delicious, and fun for all – including the host.
This is a sponsored post for BJ’s. I received a gift card and information to facilitate. All opinions are 100% my own.
How to Throw a Party or Shower on a Budget with BJ’s Wholesale Club
BJ’s has everything under one roof for a perfect party. This is how I threw a baby shower on a budget. The main food items for 25 guests was just over $100!
Affordable Cakes for Parties at BJ’s
I use to make all the cakes for parties at my house. I’d literally spend 1-2 days shopping for, designing, baking, and decorating. No less than 6 hours of my time was spent on the cake alone for large parties. Now, I’m smarter and go to BJ’s. They have gorgeous two-tier cakes for only $29.99! It is perfect for any special occasion like baby showers, bridal showers, anniversaries, graduation, weddings, and birthdays.
Customizing the cake is no additional charge – choose the theme, icing design, cake flavor, or even put a picture of the special guest. If you are shopping for birthday cakes, at BJ’s, you can choose from over 16 of today’s most popular licensed kid themes including Finding Dory, Angry Birds, Darth Vader, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Paw Patrol, Hello Kitty, Sesame Street, as well as a selection of Disney princesses and superhero classics, and more.
My sister and I visited our local Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio BJ’s to select the food and cake. The ladies at the bakery were so helpful and friendly as we customized our cake.
We were so picky too, neither of us like the traditional looking cakes, including flowers, so they helped us design a modern cake.
We couldn’t wait to see the cake – isn’t it gorgeous?!
It even came with blue baby booties keepsake that my sister can include her baby’s name and birthday on. Everyone went on and on about how gorgeous our Wellsley Farms two-tiered cake was. We couldn’t have been more pleased with how perfect it turned out. Plus, it was so, so delicious too! We choose a golden top 5″ round cake and a marble 10″ base. It provided good variety for our party – although many people asked for both kinds because it was so yummy.
BJ’s two tier cake is large enough for 40 guests. If you aren’t sure how to cute round cakes into equal slices, check out this helpful video.
I never knew the proper way until watching this video, it came in very handy for the baby shower!
Another great bakery item for parties is their Cookie Platter. You can choose from Wellsley Farms cookies including chocolate chip, white chocolate, oatmeal and chocolate brownie. We kept our focus on the cake for this shower but I’ve used their cookie platters for other parties and dinners and they were very, very well received.
Party Food from BJ’s
Another key item for parties is some form of meat, sandwiches are always a good option for parties.
With both kids and adults attending the party, we knew we needed variety. We ordered the Wellsley Farms Entertainment Platter because it had the largest variety including: Honey Ham, roast beef, oven-roasted turkey breast, oven-roasted chicken breast, provolone cheese and Land O’ Lakes® cheese. It cost $39.99 and serves 20-25 easily.
They also have a Sandwich Ring which is bread shaped in a circle filled with Honey Ham, Smoked Turkey Breast, Swiss Cheese, sliced tomatoes, and lettuce. It looked fun! The Three-Foot Italian Hero Sub looked like a lot of fun too. It has Imported Ham, Pepperoni, Capicola, Mortadella, Genoa Salami, Provolone Cheese, shredded lettuce, and sliced tomato. It would be perfect for a birthday party. If you aren’t sure which would be best, just ask someone in the deli department, they are always so helpful.
I also per-ordered submarine buns, sandwich buns, and croissants. I picked the breads, cake, and deli tray on the day of the party so it would all be fresh on party day.
Of course any party needs plenty of snacks like Frito Lay potato chips and dips. Who doesn’t love dips?! Parties are really the only time I purchase dips so my kids love checking all all of the varieties. We had Wholly Guacamole and Wellsley Farms Organic Salsa with tortilla chips and Wellsley Farms Hummus and ranch dip for the potato chips.
Don’t forget fresh veggies and fruit. BJ’s has prepared veggie and fruit trays that make parties super easy. I like to have tons of fresh fruit and veggies, so I opted to make my own trays. I love how many options I have at BJ’s!
In addition to the above, I also cooked up a large crock-pot of homemade mac n cheese, an affordable and tasty side dish that both kids and adults like. All in all, I spent just $120 to feed 25 people and we had plenty of leftovers to send home with everyone.
What I like most about shopping at BJ’s for parties is the stress and time it takes off of me, the party host. I actually had time to cuddle with the guest of honor, my baby nephew, Ethan.
I can have a few people over or a house full and still have time to enjoy the party. Spending time with your guests and not being worn out is so important. Visit your local BJ’s Wholesale Club to make your next party affordable and fun. Not a member yet? Get a FREE 90 Day BJ’s Wholesale Club Membership now through December 31, 2016.
