|



 |

Baptisms or Christenings of infants are a
memorable event for parents and a joyous occasion for the entire family.
Babies are adorable in their special outfits chosen with love for the
christening ceremony. A wonderful addition to the christening outfit might be a blanket,
bib or a bible that the minister could bless and then can be added to a
keepsake box for the child.
First Holy Communion, a ceremonial
admission of young Catholics to the community of the church, is becoming
a main event for this rite of passage for 7- and 8-year-olds. The
First Communion season is short, so planning is essential.
When planning your special day, first,
decide on a budget and the size of your guest list. Confirm the
date with the important people in your child's life, grandparents,
favorite aunts and uncles, cousins, etc., before you set the date with
the church.
Decide if you will have a reception
following the baptism, christening or communion ceremony. If you want a reception at a banquet hall
or restaurant, reserve it for your date and time as soon as you have
confirmed the same with the church. If you are having a reception
at your home, decide if it will be indoors or out (make allowances for
bad weather.) If you will have the food catered at your home,
reserve the date with the caterer and a time to look over their
selections and to place your order. Do you need to rent tables,
linens, chairs? If you would like the services of a photographer,
musicians, and entertainers, book them as soon as possible.
Once your date, time and reception
location have been confirmed, it is time to order the party invitations.
There are invitations available for all budgets and styles. You
can include a separate RSVP card or include a response line on your
invitation. Mail your invitations up to eight weeks prior to your
event. "Save the Date" cards are a great way to give out-of-town
guests prior notice of your party or a simple phone call will be
appreciated. Unlike the child's birthday party or other social
events, the invitations to a Baptism, Christening or First Communion
party will go to guests of all ages. The overall theme should
reflect not only the child, but the invited adults. During an
adult cocktail hour, you might want to have activities for the children,
but remember, they will probably be dressed in their best "church
clothes". If the party is for an infant, you might want to enlist
the services of someone to watch the baby while you mingle with your
guests. With all the family attending the affair, it shouldn't be
a problem to find a willing sitter.
At least a day before the party, make sure you have charged your video
camera battery and have checked your still camera batteries or digital
camera memory available. Make sure you have plenty of video tape and
film set out in plain site so you know where it is when you need it!
Some disposable cameras sitting around for your guests to also capture
the action can yield some of the best pictures of you, the parents, with
your child.
And most important, enjoy
this special day with your child. |



 |