Planning an event requires a lot of hard work. So whether you’re planning a christening for your newborn baby or an older child, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite christening reception ideas.
What is a Christening reception?
A Christening is a religious event. The Christening ceremony indicates the child being accepted into the church and beginning a journey of faith. The Christening reception is what follows the event and is a great time for family and friends to mingle and catch up.
Many parents choose to organise a Christening after-party. This may involve entertainment, a cake, food and more. While some may opt for an intimate small gathering at home, others may hire a venue to celebrate the special occasion. It’s completely up to you how you celebrate.
Many couples will actually bring in a creative team to assist with event planning. At Creative Venue, we can assist with all Christening plans. We can support you with planning and bringing the whole event together. Our team of Christening planners have extensive knowledge and can access some of the best vendors to create an unforgettable day.
Planning a Christening after party: What to consider
Planning the budget for your child’s Christening party
It’s completely up to you how much you splash out on your child’s Christening. One of the most important steps when planning a party is to establish how much you’re willing to spend.
In addition to this, you’ll need to make a note of the things that you don’t want to compromise on. These things should then be factored into the budget so you can see what’s left over.
Finding a venue
Soon after deciding to have a Christening after party, you’ll need to find a venue. You should go and look around the venues you like and try to be open-minded about the dates. Make sure that you ask plenty of questions to the venue staff regarding food, timings, the use of external vendors and anything else you need to know.
Once you’ve agreed on a date, price and any finer details for the venue, you can start the next stage of planning.
Finalising the guestlist
Before agreeing on a venue, you’ll have to have a rough idea of the number of guests attending the Christening party. Bear in mind that your venue may have limits on guest numbers, meaning that you may need to cut the guest list down.
Choosing a Christening theme
One of the first steps to any party organisation involves thinking about the theme you’d like to incorporate. Once you’ve selected a baptism theme, it should be used across every other aspect, including invitations and decoration. Ensure that you include all relevant information on the invitations, such as location, dates, times and the dress code.
Some of the most common Baptism party themes include animals and nature. However, that doesn’t mean you need to stick to the norm for your little one’s special day. Our team are always happy to take on a new challenge when it comes to Christening party ideas!
Food and drinks
Some venues may provide food and drinks, but others may expect you to bring in external vendors to provide catering. Whichever option you choose, ensure that a variety of food is available. This is important when covering for food intolerances. Depending on what’s available, you may also want to ask about options for children.
You’ll need to decide whether you want to organise a sit-down meal or buffet food that people can revisit throughout the celebration.
Many parents also choose to organise a cake for the Christening guests to enjoy. The cake’s decoration should match the theme of the Christening party.
Choosing a Christening outfit for your child’s special day
Your child will only have one Christening, so many parents choose to splash out for their outfit. This may include a gown or a smart suit. You might also want to pack another outfit so that they can enjoy the rest of the day in something more comfortable.
Decorations
Our fabulous team have a lot of experience in dressing venues, so we’re more than happy to offer advice. Your venue decorations will totally depend on the experience you want to create.
If you’re planning a winter Christening, we recommend using warm fairy lights and candles to brighten up the space. If you’re planning a summer Christening party, you could consider utilising the outdoors too. Many people choose to hire a marquee or a teepee so that people can get some shade if they need to.
A party venue can be decorated with balloons, bunting, a photo wall and many other accessories.
Booking entertainment
Usually, Christenings don’t require too much entertainment due to people making memories with loved ones. However, you might choose to have some soft music in the background to add to the ambience.
Additionally, you may want to consider some entertainment for the little ones. Many Christening parties include a magician or a face painter. If you want to create an excellent Christening reception on a budget, you might choose to hire some board games for children to play.
Christening reception ideas
There are many things to consider when planning a party, especially a Christening reception. Here are some additional fun Christening party ideas to consider.
- ENCOURAGE GUESTS TO TAKE PHOTOS OF EVERY SPECIAL MOMENT, THESE WILL BE LOVELY FOR YOUR CHILD TO LOOK BACK ON
- HAVE A GUEST BOOK FOR PEOPLE TO WRITE A MESSAGE IN
- PLAN SOME FUN, CLASSIC GAMES TO GET THE ADULTS LAUGHING
- GIFTS FOR GODPARENTS, THE PERFECT WAY TO SAY THANK YOU
- ADD A GIFTING TABLE IF PEOPLE BRING PRESENTS
- PUT AWAY ANY MONEY GIFTED FOR THE CHILD TO ENJOY LATER IN LIFE
We hope this article has been useful on Christening reception ideas. The most important thing is that you create a Baptism party for everyone to enjoy. Our amazing event planners near Manchester can offer as much support as you need to create a memorable day for all guests. Please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team for party ideas, we’re always happy to help with all event planning.
