Birthday party cake size question

[noodleoo]

I know you guys love these!   We're doing our first big birthday party for DD1, who turns 4 on Sunday.  It's at a play place and we have 16 kids coming and I'm estimating about 20 adults, so 36 people total.  We went to order the cake from Wegman's online last night and H and I couldn't decide what size to get.  It says a half sheet cake serves 20-30 and a full sheet cake servers 60-70 (!).  H thinks the half sheet is too small, and I kind of agree, but I think a full sheet cake is enormous!!!  We ordered the full sheet since I'd be horrified to not have enough.  The price difference is only like $25 so I don't mind getting bigger, but I don't want to have more than half of it leftover.  Thoughts?  We can change it until tomorrow.

Other randoms if you want to weigh in:  Buttercream or whipped cream frosting?  We did buttercream because you have to refrigerate whipped cream and I don't think this cake will fit in our fridge, but I'm curious which is better if you know Wegman's cakes.

And how much pizza for 20 adults?  Party is 11 AM - 1 PM.  Pizza for the kids is included but we need to add on pizza for the adults.  We'll also bring a giant fruit salad and obviously a LOT of cake.

[hamster]

I would plan on 3 slices per adult, and definitely a half sheet cake. You could add cookies or something easy if you're worried.

[mrshandy]

I would do a half sheet. Cut small pieces seriously. 4 year olds really don't eat that much cake IME and a lot of parents will decline. They can handle a few bites and nothing more.

You don't want half sheet left over.

Both are delicious. I would pick the whipped if you do the half sheet. I suck at pizza estimating. But I would plan for 2 slices per adult and 1 per kid. So maybe 7 pies?

20 adults seems like a lot for a kids birthday party. Are you sure that many are coming? H and I rarely go to kids birthday parties together unless we are friends with the adults.

[minniemouse]

That’s a lot of cake! For that size party I would do a 1/2 sheet plus some lofthouse cookies that are peanut/tree nut free. For pizza, I always buy way too much and we end up with leftovers, which is better than not having enough. It’s been our experience that most of the classroom parents don’t eat at kid parties. If they eat at all, it’s one slice of pizza. Maybe a small piece of cake.

[icedcoffee]

Half sheet. Costco cakes are half sheet and they are plenty for even like 50 people! Definitely buttercream. No doubts there. I don't think you need to add any cookies. Cut the cake small for the kids for sure.

I'd get 3 pies for the adults. It's about 1 slice per person. It's plenty. People here will say 2-3 per adult, but when I've done that we've just had tons of leftovers.

[countthestars]

Half sheet.

[raangoli]

Half sheet cake. Kids don’t need big pieces and a lot of parents won’t eat cake.

As for the pizza I’d count 2 slices per adult.

[hw77]

We always do wegmans birthday cakes, they are the best! half sheet is plenty! I always go with whipped but if you are getting a picture put on the whipped doesnt hold up as well with those edible papers.... just fyi

[gastro]

Half sheet.
I’d order enough pizza for at least 1 slice per adult, but still get it double cut - makes less waste and easier for adults to walk around.

[patches31709]

Definitely half sheet for the cake.
I would get 5 pies for the adults.

[noodleoo]

May 15, 2019 9:18:54 GMT -5 hw77 said:

We always do wegmans birthday cakes, they are the best! half sheet is plenty! I always go with whipped but if you are getting a picture put on the whipped doesnt hold up as well with those edible papers.... just fyi

Oh this is good to know!  We are getting a Daniel Tiger theme which I think is a picture, so we will stick with buttercream.

Ok, I think I'll update the order to a half sheet cake.  I told H!!!  

mrshandy , yeah, we'll have at least 18 adults, 20 is my buffer in case 2 parents come.  I counted one parent per kid, plus us and my sister/BIL.  Also just realized I forgot to count DD1 in the kid count, LOL!  

I was leaning towards 5 pizza for the adults, probably 2 cheese, 2 pepperoni, and 1 veggie.  They cut them into 12 slices.  I think that might be too much, but I'm afraid we will run out with 4 and I'd rather have more than not enough.  Thanks everyone!

[HoneySpider]

I love the whipped topping on Wegmans cakes, we did it for DS's birthday cake with a photo and it held up fine.

[countthestars]

For pizza, people here typically just buy cheese and not worry about toppings. Up to you, but might just be easier than guessing what people like! If you do want variety, I would probably not buy more than 1 pepperoni.

[boiler717]

Half sheet, buttercream, 4 pizzas party cut

[bronxgirl]

May 15, 2019 9:09:27 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

Half sheet. Costco cakes are half sheet and they are plenty for even like 50 people! 

Yes, exactly this! A half sheet will be plenty.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Half sheet, and unless the parents are friends of yours, many probably won't eat pizza or cake, or will just finish what their kids don't eat if it's anything like around here. I would also stick to just cheese, or half cheese and half pepperoni.

[jennistarr1]

Omg definitely the half sheet. I remember having a full sheet only for my graduation party and we had probably close to 100 people and still cake left over

5 pizzas for the adults or 6 if you like round numbers

[whitemerlot]

1/2 sheet buttercream
5 pizzas

[hamster]

Am I the only fatty parent who loves pizza? What's all this nonsense about people not eating?

[raangoli]

May 15, 2019 17:04:09 GMT -5 hamster said:

Am I the only fatty parent who loves pizza? What's all this nonsense about people not eating?

I love pizza but it gets old when you have been to 2-3 parties a month. Plus there’s not much time for me to eat and also make sure BB has eaten and doesn’t need help. Maybe that’s just my kid though.