What do people expect Christening?

funnyfreckle

Paper and crayons sounds great. I think you are right to stick to crayons rather than felt tips in case the children come in their 'posh frocks'! You could always print out some colouring pages from CBeebies - the younger ones might enjoy colouring some pictures of their favourite TV characters.

Also stickers are always a huge hit and most importantly not messy. If you had time you might want to have a look in Poundland, the 99p store, the Works or Woolies - they normally have a good selection which are great value. Hobbycraft sell bags of foam stickers for about £1.50.

Other ideas - how about a few tubs of Playdough, although there is a risk it might stain. Something the older ones might enjoy is Crayola Colour Explosion - special black paper that you draw over with a 'magic pen' to make fun pictures. It costs just under £5 from Tescos, Woolworths and many other big shops and is lots of fun and again mess free. (Just noticed it is reduced on Woolworths website to only £3.74).

Sorry if I've got a bit carried away!

kristi

Hi, for my DD's christening last August I did all the kids a party bag which each had colouring pages, crayons, girly stuff for girls and boyish stuff for boys and a big inflatable hammer each (yes evil I know but it was funny) each bag cost me less than a quid and I took a few extra incase someone brought a grandchild or whatever.

For the decorations I bought banners for the walls and balloons (all half price in the card warehouse closing down sale) and I went to the local party shop and ordered some balloons for the tables and a big Disney Princess one with Ella on it for near the cake, they set the room up for us. This was an added expense but it was just something we wanted to do.

The cake was made for us and the buffet, both as a present from DF's parents.

We had a great day and I'm sure you will too!

Kristi

sukysue

I know you don't want to have to bother too much but the tables will look so much nicer with a bit of sparkly stuff on and a few balloons, which won't take much work either. It's up to you though of course just that it would look so much more personal and the kids can have the balloons to play with which will keep them occupied as well!!!hehe!

s23xy_c

For my godsons christening we just took down a few banners and baloons, the staff at the hall we were having thedo at after wards were more than happy to put them up for us so we could all get to chapel on time. Mind the christening piece.

VickyA_2

The christenings that I've been to recently, there have been no decorations in the church hall where the post-service "do" has been. I didn't think any less of the parents. It's a christening and a very important day for your little one, but is he going to look back at the photos and think "oh, I'm so deprived because there weren't sparkly bits on the table"?

This reminds me actually. When I was last at my parents' house, we were flicking through MY christening photos. The most important thing was that a) my grandparents were in the photos b) my godmother looked so much younger in 1979 than she does in 2008 :whistle: and c) there's a cat walking across one of them.

squashy

Eek i'm starting to feel a bit inadequate now!

Our DD is being baptised on Sunday. For me the church is the important bit and we have just said back to ours after. I have never even considered decorations!

I was going to post on here for ideas for some food etc, so may as well hijack this thread (hope you dont mind). We could have anything up to 50 people if they all come back to the house, including all the children. As baby is small 16 weeks i dont have much time to faff about with an intricate buffet. I thought maybe cook up some chicken pieces and rice, not sure what to do though as a veggie option and also the logistics of how to ensure it is warm when everyone arrives. I also want to think about drinks and deserts?

I am on a mega tight budget as the cake cost £35 (eek)

The chicken pieces I can get about 100 for £20 in sainsburys I think, they are 1.49 a pack of 8.

Not quite sure how we fit everone in either at home, but I was thinking it was a bit of a "come round for an hour or two" rather than a full blown all day-er.
HELP!

pavlovs_dog

hev wrote: »

The children's idea is brilliant - there will be about half a dozen at most of all sorts of ages.

Rough guess, there will be one or two around the three/four age and two or three around the five/six age. Instinctively I thought - paper and crayons but I will check with the venue.

Bless you - that is a real life saver, thinking of the children. Any other suggestions about entertaining them would be great.

Of course, that is if people actually turn up and/or don't bring along sundry others :eek: I feel like I'm trying to nail fog sometimes.

if any of these are likely to be going to the church service, you may want to warn the sunday school leader (if you have one) to expect more heads than usual, so they can ensure they have adequate materials

debbiedeejay

At my GD Christening last year,her Mum just did a simple buffet that was based on what kids liked - sausage rolls,little finger sandwiched,nibbles etc.Adults were happy with that.The hall had no decorations-to begin with!

She too had brought loads of kids crafty kits and pens and pencils-brilliant idea-in fact three of us adults were left at the table still cutting and sticking ages after the kids had finished and we had a fantastic time! All the models were put on tables as they were made-great talking point and I still have the girraffe I made in my car!(much to the embarassment of my teens:rotfl:)

Eveyone pitched in to serve drinks or hot drinks and to clean the hall up afterwards. All in all the reception lasted about 2hrs.

Maybe you could put small pots of flowers or early daffs on the table with a little ribbon or bow round? Then give them to the God parents afterwards as a little thank you???

floss2

squashy wrote: »

...Not quite sure how we fit everone in either at home, but I was thinking it was a bit of a "come round for an hour or two" rather than a full blown all day-er.
HELP!

It can be exactly what you want it to be - don't bow to "expectations". You have a 16w baby, for heavens sake, surely your guests will understand if you have an "open house between 12-3" type celebration?

And as for food, why not do pasta & rice salads to go with cooked chicken & sausages? (cook before you go out, leave it to cool & serve on your return). Then you can just put it onto the tabel & enjoy the party with your little one.

tpsjrm

squashy wrote: »

Eek i'm starting to feel a bit inadequate now!

Our DD is being baptised on Sunday. For me the church is the important bit and we have just said back to ours after. I have never even considered decorations!

I was going to post on here for ideas for some food etc, so may as well hijack this thread (hope you dont mind). We could have anything up to 50 people if they all come back to the house, including all the children. As baby is small 16 weeks i dont have much time to faff about with an intricate buffet. I thought maybe cook up some chicken pieces and rice, not sure what to do though as a veggie option and also the logistics of how to ensure it is warm when everyone arrives. I also want to think about drinks and deserts?

I am on a mega tight budget as the cake cost £35 (eek)

The chicken pieces I can get about 100 for £20 in sainsburys I think, they are 1.49 a pack of 8.

Not quite sure how we fit everone in either at home, but I was thinking it was a bit of a "come round for an hour or two" rather than a full blown all day-er.
HELP!

Hey girl, don't get into the hot rice and chicken thing. Think of all those knives and forks and people would want to sit down to eat it. You need to keep them on their feet, with food they can graze and walk around with.

Cook the chicken pieces the day before and serve them cold. Do the same with a load of sausage rolls as well - frozen ones from Iceland etc are fine, but of course you'll be picking up the crumbs for a week. Prepare some garlic bread in foil and bung the oven on when you get back from the church. Something to warm them up.

Provided you've got loads of mugs, make a huge lot of soup and dish that up as well. Chunks of bread, cheese and pickles and you're all set.

All of this can be prepared before you go to the church - get the Godparents to help! :A