Retirement Dinner

Deciding on a Theme

Whether you’re the new retiree or the person in charge of planning, a fun theme prompts guests to get into the spirit of the festivities.

Retrospective

An individual’s multiple years of service at one company means there are numerous stories and milestones to share. Use old letterhead, pictures, and memos to make a scrapbook. Ask the retiree’s co-workers to share stories, too, and contribute items for a display table.

Industry Overview

Many retirees may have contributed a great deal to a particular industry. Put together a presentation describing the evolution of industry and detail the retiree’s involvement.

Starting a New Chapter

There’s a reason why golf clubs and travel items are popular retirement gifts. Many people look at retirement as a new start, with more time for leisure activities and creative pursuits. Plan the celebration around the hobbies and dreams of the retiree.

Simple Acknowledgment

Some people may not be comfortable with a lot of fuss, but that doesn’t meant they don’t want to be honored. Stay low-key by inviting family, friends, and a few close associations for an elegant and personal celebration. Whether you choose a theme or have a quiet dinner, don’t forget to craft a retirement dinner speech. If there are co-workers in attendance, ask them to say a few words as well.

Retirement Dinner Ideas

There are truly no boundaries to what to serve for a retirement dinner. Here are a few ideas to consider.

Formal Affair

If you or the retiree belong to a country club or business club organization, this is the perfect venue for a formal dinner. The dining service staff will be able to accommodate special requests, including cakes, and will have a wide variety of alcohol on hand if it’s preferred. Invite guests to dress in eveningwear, and consider hiring a band for background music or to provide the opportunity for dancing after dinner.

Buffet Open House

Open up your home to guests with an open house. This might be more convenient for out-of-town guests or those with prior engagements who may still want to stop by for a quick hello. Usually a three-hour timeframe works well, such as 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., or even earlier in the afternoon, such as 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

In an open house setting, you don’t need to worry about serving a plated meal, but do have a well-rounded menu, featuring both hot and cold selections such as shredded meat with buns or biscuits for sandwiches, salad items, and dessert. If you’d prefer to spend more time mingling, a caterer is a great option.

BBQ-Style

This casual affair is a good retirement dinner option, too. Guests are often more relaxed, especially if there’s a combination of food and games to enjoy. BBQ favorites vary widely, so there aren’t any "right" or "wrong" menu choices, but you’ll have to decide if you’ll provide alcoholic beverages. If so, that adds to your budget considerably, depending on the number of guests and the duration of the event.

Visit LoveToKnow Recipes for great BBQ recipes.

Dinner Out

Again, some people don’t want a lot of hoopla, but appreciate the opportunity to look across the table into the faces of special people. Rent a private room at a restaurant, or reserve an entire restaurant during its off-hours for a large group. The menu might be more restricted in this scenario, but the point is to be together.

Invitations and Decorations

Although it’s just as easy to pick up the phone and invite guests to a retirement dinner, sending an invitation conveys a different level of importance.

Office supply stores have a variety of inexpensive invitation sets, complete with envelopes, which fit in home printers. Most sets include design instructions, so you can add a personal touch easily.

There are many resources for free party invitations, too. One of the cheapest invitation options is to use Evite. As long as the recipients have e-mail, you can use this free electronic invitation method. You won’t have to worry about postage, either!

Oriental Trading is a terrific online resource for party decorations with a retirement imprint. You find other decoration ideas at party supply stores such as Party City.

For more retirement dinner and party ideas, visit LoveToKnow Party!