Christening on a budget - ideas please :)

Miss_Penny_Pincher_2

We are wanting to hold a cheap yet cheerful christening for our little boy. We are thinking that there might be around 50 guests (majority adults e.g. approx 45 adults / 5 children). Problem is we don't know anything about christenings...

My ideas so far are:

Hold homemade buffet in free function room in nice pub. Problem is pub is nearly a mile from the church as couldn't find anywhere closer that didn't either charge for the room or for buffet.

Food - this would have to be cheap and easy and probably cold? Want it to be a bit classy though. Any ideas for food that's easy to prepare and store before hand? The pub said they'd set it out and provide tablecloths but I don't think they could heat it. A couple of family members have said they'd do a dish and wondered if I could ask people if they'd be happy to provide food instead of a gift?

Entertainment - the pub has a trampoline for kids and bowling green, darts, pool table for adults.

Drinks - plan is for guests to buy their own from the bar. Is this OK?

Planned on inviting most people informally perhaps in person / phone / email. Would this breach etiquette though? I've bought a pack of 10 christening invites from a charity shop - originally cost £4.75 but paid 50p for them and thought I'd just use these for people I feel should be invited formally.

Cake - one of the godmothers has kindly offered to make this.

Godparents -was thinking of making them each a little keepsake of a photo of them with their godson and a bit of wording of their duties in a frame. The other godmother suggested this, saying she loved receiving it for her other godchild.

Baby's outfit - these seem a fortune! Thinking of buying a suit off ebay or maybe a unisex gown which could be used by future babies? with gown could maybe get away with not buying satin shoes?

Cutlery - white paper napkins 100 for 79p from Home Bargains; paper plates 80 for £2 from Poundland; plastic forks, knives, spoons = £6 from pound shops?

Platters - looking today they were 3 for £1 i think for medium size silver food platters so was thinking of maybe buying 9?

Is there anything I've missed do you think? Would you decorate?

zppp

This sounds brilliant! We had a christening in the family recently, and we did a buffet and that was it! I think it is fine to ask that people bring a dish of food - just make sure they don't all bring the same, as you may have way too many scotch eggs!!

Hope it goes well for you!

Miss_Penny_Pincher_2

zppp wrote: »

This sounds brilliant! We had a christening in the family recently, and we did a buffet and that was it! I think it is fine to ask that people bring a dish of food - just make sure they don't all bring the same, as you may have way too many scotch eggs!!

Hope it goes well for you!

Thanks zppp! Did they hold the buffet at their house? What kind of dishes did they have? I'm thinking of doing a rice dish? pasta salad maybe? mini quiches? cold meats? We've only been to one christening and it was held in a plush venue with the most expensive buffet option but my mother says we should just hold it in our house so we feel a bit confused!

We'd prefer pub though cos would be easier as more tables, chairs and room and we save on not buying drinks and less tidying up after lol

zppp

The one we had for my cousin was a bit awkward as we have a weird family! I won't go down that one lol!

We did mini quiches, salad, cheeses, crackers, pates and cold meats, did some boiled eggs with mayonaise, cocktail sausages, gateau (4!) etc. I would make a suggestion on the gateaus - try and get them from either Lidl or Iceland. Both sell brilliant desserts!

You could ask to hire out a room in the pub and cater yourself? It may be cheaper than getting them to do the catering for you. We didn't bother with a pub - just told people to bring a bottle of alcohol, that worked out fine! And there were christening presents too.

I do agree with the tidying up though, but I take it you could get some help with that?

esmf73

Hi - I have two kids. For the first we hired the local village hall, provided hot buffet (lasagne & shepherds pie that sort of thing) all made before hand. Drinks were tea & coffee with very small amount of alcohol (most were driving!) and grandmothers both made a cake. About 50 - 60 people as we invited the world & his wife.

For the second we had sarnies & soup at home for about 40 - all made in advance and the cake I got from costco (£10 for a huge one). Again drinks were tea & coffee and a bit of alcohol. This one was held the week before Christmas, so I just put all my decorations up early to decorate the house and had some photos of the boys to hand out. I put everything away that I didn't want little or bigger fingers to touch. Not enough seats for everyone, but most people stood or chatted in groups. All wanted to hold the babies though!

Gingerbiscuit_2

Sounds good to me, if you want to decorate simply you could get a few balloons, the helium ones will cost a bit more but having some will make a good centre peice and the kids can take them home after!

Miss_Penny_Pincher_2

zppp wrote: »

We did mini quiches, salad, cheeses, crackers, pates and cold meats, did some boiled eggs with mayonaise, cocktail sausages, gateau (4!) etc.

Thanks for all the buffet ideas zppp. They will be easy to buy / prep and drop off at the pub before setting off to church!

esmf73 wrote: »

Hi - I have two kids. For the first we hired the local village hall, provided hot buffet (lasagne & shepherds pie that sort of thing) all made before hand... For the second we had sarnies & soup at home for about 40 - all made in advance and the cake I got from costco (£10 for a huge one). Again drinks were tea & coffee and a bit of alcohol. This one was held the week before Christmas, so I just put all my decorations up early to decorate the house and had some photos of the boys to hand out.

That's a nice idea having photos to hand out... maybe I could incorporate them as decorations somehow? lol With the first buffet keeping the lasagna etc hot how did you do that? Did somebody warm it up at home and miss the service to take it to the hall?

Gingerbiscuit wrote: »

Sounds good to me, if you want to decorate simply you could get a few balloons, the helium ones will cost a bit more but having some will make a good centre peice and the kids can take them home after!

Nice idea with the balloons for kids to hand out. The cheapest canister of helium I've seen was around £30 - is that the going price?

Does anybody know of any free patterns for christening gowns? My mother said she has some fabric she has saved specially but it would have to be a fairly simple pattern as she was daunted by buttonholes lol

goggle

Miss_Penny_Pincher wrote: »

Problem is we don't know anything about christenings...

Then maybe what you are really looking for is a Baby "Welcoming Party" or "Naming Ceremony" ...

Seriously though, if the point of the Christening is to have the baby brought into the church family, there's no need to go overboard with details - a simple cake and some coffee/squash after the church cervice will be fine. If you really wnat to go overboard with it and make it a family event, then the buffet you have described sounds fine Baby won't remember it, and you'll have fun with friends & family whatever. Don't worry about the outfit for baby unless you want to make it into a family heirloom. White gowns are not required - a cute romper or little dungaree set will be fine too
What about a summer christening & a picnic in a local park/nature reserve type place afterwards?

Tired_Mom

Hi

You seem to be getting a lot of good advice re food etc. With regards to the outfit unless you specifically want an heirloom I wouldn't bother with a gown. For my DS we got little jersey legging type things in White from Mothercare, they had the feet in so no shoes needed. We got him a lovely pale blue top and then a nice pale blue posh cardi from M&S. He looked gorgeous, got wear out of the clothes after and they are now in my specials box. For my DD we got a gorgeous pale pink dress, spent on it more than I normally would a dress but she had loads of wear out of it after, again now in my specials box.

Hope this helps and enjoy your day. Make sure you go with what you and your OH are comfy with rather than doing what you think others feel you ought. For DS we just had family back to the house aftewards and had sausage casserole. For DD we had a cold buffet in the church hall and had friends as well as family as we had it as a joint party for her brothers 4th birthday.

X

hellyboo_2

I think you have some great ideas.

The cheapest Helium I bought was at Costco which was about £20 with I think 20 balloons. That was a few years ago though (about 5) so things may have changed.

If you only wanted 5 balloons for the kids going, then the cheapest I have seen them are about £1.50 each from Asda Living store and that is blown up for you with the weight included.

AnnaLicious_2

I bought a lush dress this wek from ebay for £15 that was traditional gown with a bonnet.
Booked a local hall for £25 - they have a open bar of our own in the room they staff. have a look around for small places they rent out halls with a bar.
Decorations from an ebay party shop - £18 (table cloths, invites, etc)
Church is free (C of E)
They only splurge is a local caterer - £130 for food for 30, including cutlery and plates and setting up while we're at the church.