Christening - BIG family, small budget!

renowen

WOW!!!

Some great advice here thank you all so much!

I think I will have to go for the small hall/pub function room as none of my 'local' family have a big enough house.
I will ask the local boozer if they do have a function room and will look into tescos glasses (didnt know they did that thanks!)

The cake - I like the tesco cake idea! I did see them last year when I was originally planning my eldest daughters christening but had forgot about them thanks

and will deff rope my family (and godparents!) into bringing a plate - though really like the sunday lunch idea! Wonder if any of the pubs round here do that ...??

I will keep you posted on how its going and any money saving I make

Mummy_Jo

If you go down the Sunday Luch route try a place called 2 4 1. Its two meals for the price of one and they are huge portions. We alway go to them for Sunday lunch when we go to my parents. They are a chain. We tried them out here in Swindon for my daughters Baptism later this year and they were awful. So its worth doing some testing out before hand. In general the portions are huge so you wouldn't need any dessert and people can get their own drinks.

If you decide to do it at a venue let me know as I've loads of ideas. Did my niece's last year and got my daughters later this year too. I also make the cakes and I would def say the easiest thing is to buy a shop bought one and buy a decoration to go on the top from a sugarcraft shop.

jocymru75

Hi there!

When i had my eldest son Christened i did the whole family bring a plate thing.(families enjoy helping out)
But i had two grandmothers arguing over vol-au-vents, and who was going to make them, what they wanted to fill them with, were they the small or large size. In the end we had more vol-au-vents than sandwiches.:eek: I still have nightmares!!

When asking if they would like to help, be a little cheeky and ask if they could make certain foods or bring certain foods that are on your list to make sure you get a good choice, and hopefully less stress on you!

Good Luck in the planning!

renowen

Ok not got much further as yet as hit a brick wall

Managed to get shoes for youngest for 2 pound in primark (bargain) ands seen shoes for 10.50 for oldest but cant find any cream nylon TIGHTS! They are either ridiculously priced (6 for one pair!) or they are the wrong sort!

More importantly I am having trouble with a venue still
Apart from the scout hut which it 30 pound for the afternoon (not to bad but was hopngit for somewhere with a bar) the only other local option is the British legion but they want 170!
And there seems to be nowhere that offers sunday lunch around here

Looks like its the Scout hut after all which means i need to provide drimks
Ah well - if at first you dont succeed .....

MrsTinks

If you DO buy drinks then go through tesco and get 1000 points when you spend over £50 (see the voucher board!) on wine. Calculate no more than 1/2 a bottle per person and you will probably have some left over... If you shop carefully you should have enough wine for everyone for not much more than £50...
I wouldn't worry about providing spirits to be honest.
Softdrinks aren't too bad - buy cheapie stuff

Silverthistlebeads

I have my sons christening in April so got some great advice and ideas here.

Does the church have a hall attached? We held our daughters there and that was great and I dont think we gave a set amount it was a contribution.

Try ebay for tights.

Francesca

inkie

I would just get people to bring along their own drink - it sounds cheeky, but I would not mind if someone asked me to do this - that way they will all get their preferred drink. After all the day is mainly about the ceremony and your children's baptism rather than a party.

renowen

Me again

Well we have a date! 15th April (so I get to make the most of any easter decorations )
Had the meeting with the priest so thats the scary bit over LOL
Still have to sort the 'after party' out - though im thinking as Im having real trouble finding a venue and I am trying to save money, I might call the local pub and see if they will allow me to commondear a table to put cake, few ballons on etc then just invite people to join us for a drink and a slice of cake?
What do you think? Is that appropriate?
I just dont want to fork out for venue, food and drink when I know alot of people wont eat cause they will be having sunday lunch, and many either dont drink or wont be drinking due to driving! And this way people wont feel obliged to stay (many have a way to travel home) and I wont be wasting money and time - Opinions please?

Oh got a cardigan for elderst - brand new 4 pound off ebay, originally 8 so half price

Frugal_Fox

Hi,

Your idea sounds fine - at the end of the day its about your lovely daughters being Christened and inviting family to join in witnessing it.

Have a lovely day!
FF

heather38

it's my daughters baptism on sunday (mothering sunday!) and we're only having 12 people there, and having the party at my mums house.
people don't really expect a lot from a christening, a few butties and the like. £170 is a bit much to hire a room! i would deff ask the local landlord if you can nab a table but he might want a min spend at the bar for this.