Tips for Planning a Baptism/Christening Reception
You may be surprised to read the words budget-friendly and baptism/christening reception in the same sentence. Planning a party to celebrate such a religious milestone can seem overwhelming, but with a little preparation and elbow grease you can plan a reception that is both breathtaking and budget-friendly. Here to share some frugal planning tips is Jennifer Carver, of Spaceships and Laser Beams. You’ll love Jen’s ideas for saving money on invitations, decorations and food!
Budget-Friendly Invitation Tips
When budget is a concern, consider limiting the guest list to just your family and close friends. While some parties are built for the phrase “the more the merrier”, this is an intimate celebration. It is entirely appropriate to leave off that long-lost second cousin, once removed! Once your guest list has been narrowed, plan to send out invitations about 6 weeks before the event so those out-of-town guests can make arrangements to attend.
Living in a highly digital age means sending a digital copy of the invitation is an option. This cuts down on printing and postage as well as the cost for envelopes. If evites are not your style, consider making your own invitations. You could combine a favorite photo of the guest of honor and add text over the image or print baptism details on one side and the photo on the back. Inexpensive photo printing is available (Costco is one source).
Budget-Friendly Decoration Tips
Keep decorations simple, but sophisticated. Scour your local dollar stores for beautiful frames to use as is, or spruce them up with gold or silver spray paint. Add favorite photos of the guest of honor to display around your celebration space. While you are at the dollar store, pick up glass votive and pillar candle holders and candles. Candlelight adds a nice ambience to almost any event. You might also buy several vases to fill with inexpensive baby’s breath and wholesale flowers. Use scrap fabric to make a ripped fabric bunting or use leftover card stock to create a pretty banner with your child’s name. Fill any extra space with bunches of white or clear helium balloons.
Budget-Friendly Refreshment Tips
Because many guests will have traveled for the occasion, it is thoughtful to serve some sort of refreshment prior to their departure. Keeping your cost down for this portion of the party can be accomplished a few ways. First, instead of arranging for a sit-down meal, serve food buffet style and create an area for mingling and eating. This will eliminate the need for place settings and fancy centerpieces. As far as food is concerned, your closest family members or friends can be invited to contribute a side dish such as a salad or soup, or perhaps even a finger dessert to help reduce costs. Instead of soda, punch or alcohol, serve fruit infused water. If asking guests to contribute to the menu is uncomfortable or not possible, an alternative is to limit the menu to finger foods or a dessert bar with a few popular selections.
Add these tips to your own money saving skills and you’ll see that planning a budget friendly baptism or christening reception that impresses—and satisfies—is totally possible!
I see so many beautiful baptisms and christenings in the party industry, and I love to share them. I recently shared Laura, from LAURA’S little PARTY‘s, son’s Royal Baptism. Another one that I have always adored was Bethany, from Sweet Georgia Sweet, son’s baptism and dedication. Both are full of cost saving DIY elements!
Bethany was kind enough to share a few of the images from Walker’s celebration, look for a full post with more beautiful images soon!
Tags : Baby Shower, Baptism, Christening, Everyday Party Magazine, Spaceships and Laserbeams
