A SHORT PLAN TOOL, NOW AT QDP
Count the people.
Then count the food.
The original Short Plan calculator for a two-hour, self-service shower. Choose the food format before making the shopping list.
Use confirmed eaters, including hosts and helpers who will eat. The calculator adds the original 8% self-service buffer. If a vendor portions the food, use its written overage or guaranteed-count rule instead.
Use totals across the menu.
If the calculator says 52 side servings, divide those servings among the side dishes you choose. It does not mean 52 servings of every side. The same principle applies to main options and savory pieces.
Choose the format that fits the time.
Use brunch or lunch when the shower overlaps a meal. A grazing table needs substantial food rather than a few decorative snacks. Cake and punch works best when guests are not expecting a full meal.
Make the numbers fit your guests.
Consider appetites, dietary needs, portion sizes and what else is being served. Do not stack a second arbitrary buffer on top of a vendor's guarantee.
Keep the rest together.
Take these quantities to your shopping list, assign one helper to each food job, and check what can be prepared before the day.
Open my free planning workspaceAdapted from The Short Plan's existing shower calculator. Its original 8% buffer, three menu formats and calculation order are preserved. Original guide and calculator →