first holy communion favors

[stephbillalec]

Does anyone have any cute favor ideas for my daughter's communion next month? I'm planning on having about 30 guests. Something with candy usually seems to be the most well received. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[katied]

I'm not sure if it counts as "cute" but one idea is to buy the favor tins at Michaels (in the wedding section, you can use a 40% off coupon generally for the box). You then can design and print your own top (they provide the white sticker base and template instructions inside the box, just type it up on the computer and print out). To fill, you can use mints, M&Ms, jellybeans...

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

We did netting with mints, tied with a hand-written thank you. A communion while a celebration is not a wedding. Keep it simple. A hand-written thank you from the communion child will help seal the act of "adulthood" that the church has just granted the child. Congrats to your child, and enjoy the day!

 

[js]

We had chocolate crosses made and wrapped in clear plastic and tied with my son's name and communion date.
We had white chocolate and milk chocolate.

 

[mom2boys77]

This is a great idea! I needed something for my son's Communion in May.

We had chocolate crosses made and wrapped in clear plastic and tied with my son's name and communion date.
We had white chocolate and milk chocolate.

 

[tiggger1]

My MIL makes chocolate dipped pretzel rods with white crosses on them. She make them for 1st communions and baptisms!

 

[java]

Sugar cookie Crosses? That's what I did. Wrapped them in cellophane and then tied a little note on.

 

[allison443]

Last year for my niece's communion my sister made candy bar wrappers for hersheys candy bars. Name's First Holy Communion, date, picture of a cross, etc.

 

[brymolmom]

WOW - you guys really took me by surprise with this one. DS's first communion is coming up in May...I had not even considered 'favors'. Do you mean for the guests coming to the party afterward?

Anyone else not plan on this? I plan on providing a nice brunch and cake - but nothing for them to take home.

Honestly I've never even heard of it. Why do parties have to be so 'much' these days?

Sigh....I guess now I'll have to worry that some will be offended I don't have a favor.

Then again, I didn't even do favors at my wedding - took the money I would have spent on it and donated it to a charity - and put a sign on the gift table stating 'In leiu of favors, a donation was made to...' So I guess I'm not really the favor type of person anyway.

 

[mom2boys77]

I would never be offended if someone didn't give a favor out a party, I just plan to give something small as a thank you for coming.

WOW - you guys really took me by surprise with this one. DS's first communion is coming up in May...I had not even considered 'favors'. Do you mean for the guests coming to the party afterward?

Anyone else not plan on this? I plan on providing a nice brunch and cake - but nothing for them to take home.

Honestly I've never even heard of it. Why do parties have to be so 'much' these days?

Sigh....I guess now I'll have to worry that some will be offended I don't have a favor.

Then again, I didn't even do favors at my wedding - took the money I would have spent on it and donated it to a charity - and put a sign on the gift table stating 'In leiu of favors, a donation was made to...' So I guess I'm not really the favor type of person anyway.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I guess I'm in the "don't need favors" side of this too. I love the donation idea (let the child pick a charity that means something to them- animal shelter or library or whatever.)

I think the mint tins or in netting is a reasonable alternative.

I do have to add my two cents though, that I don't consider cross shaped food appropriate at any point. Drives me nuts to see chocolate crosses and rainbow swirled cross lollipops at Easter. I understand it's a symbol of Christianity, but making food in that shape trivializes its importance. Maybe it's me, but just throwing out it may be offensive to some guests as well.

 

[allison443]

WOW - you guys really took me by surprise with this one. DS's first communion is coming up in May...I had not even considered 'favors'. Do you mean for the guests coming to the party afterward?

Anyone else not plan on this? I plan on providing a nice brunch and cake - but nothing for them to take home.

Honestly I've never even heard of it. Why do parties have to be so 'much' these days?

Sigh....I guess now I'll have to worry that some will be offended I don't have a favor.

Then again, I didn't even do favors at my wedding - took the money I would have spent on it and donated it to a charity - and put a sign on the gift table stating 'In leiu of favors, a donation was made to...' So I guess I'm not really the favor type of person anyway.

Well, if you've never heard of it, it's a good bet your guests haven't either, since it isn't the norm in your family/community...so I highly doubt that you have to worry about "some being offended"

I think it's nice to celebrate a first holy Communion, and if there is one thing I have learned on the dis, it is that customs for weddings, birthdays and other celebrations vary a lot among areas/cultures. To each their own!

 

[brymolmom]

I would never be offended if someone didn't give a favor out a party, I just plan to give something small as a thank you for coming.

OK - got that covered. We already bought cute THANK YOU notes for ds to send out after the party. THAT will be the thank you.

And since this is the first First Communion in our family in a long, long time - it might be possible I just haven't heard of the tradition even if others around here are doing it.

 

[stephbillalec]

OP here...thanks for all of the suggestions everyone. I love the pretzel idea...I actually forgot that I have the plastic baggies they sell to wrap them up with from when I made them for a party quite a few years ago.

I've been to many communions, baptisms, showers etc. with favors and many without. It's a personal choice thing around here. I wouldn't think twice if no favor was given; however, at a party that *I* am hosting, I have to give something. It's just how I am. The restaurant that we're having the luncheon includes dessert but since I'm not having an official "cake", I'm going to bring a cookie tray. I just wouldn't feel right if I didn't.

 

[PrincessNoelle'sMom]

Personalized hershey kisses ~~~

For my ds's last April we had round labels printed with his name, date, and 1st holy communion. We affixed then to the bottom of hershey kisses (we used original milk chocolate ones, but you can use any flavor/color wrappers) and placed five or so each in a 2x2 organza drawstring bag. They were georgous and very well received.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[klacey1]

OP, II really love the chocolate cross idea-- my mom's best friend owned a chocolate shop, so she did an assortment of Catholic chocolates for my First Holy Communion (way back in the day!) I think there were crosses, mini churches...some others, I believe. Pretty fuzzy on the details. You can never go wrong with edible favors!
However, I have some much younger cousins who both received Communion about three or four years ago. One family dressed up their daughter in her dress/veil a couple weeks before the day and took a picture. The favor was that picture (wallet size) in a small silver frame-- I know the frames were actually wedding seat assignment frames that she got in bulk on a discount favors website. Not sure how much they were, but I've seen similar ones for $1 on websites.
My other cousin is half Colombian and her communion was a huge deal. They had these custom-made mini chairs with a Bible resting on the chair-- and a personalized ribbon with the girl's name and the date. They were made out of beads and were clearly handmade. I cannot imagine how much they were.
So, to answer the PP who had never heard of Communion favors-- I think it depends on the family, culture etc. We have favors at all "big" parties-- just the way we do things. However, I don't think anyone would think anything of it if you didn't. Especially if you were only having guests over for brunch. My, my brother's, those two girls, and all other relatives had late afternoon parties of 50+ guests.

 

[Soulsearching]

Personalized hershey kisses ~~~

For my ds's last April we had round labels printed with his name, date, and 1st holy communion. We affixed then to the bottom of hershey kisses (we used original milk chocolate ones, but you can use any flavor/color wrappers) and placed five or so each in a 2x2 organza drawstring bag. They were georgous and very well received.

Let us know what you decide.

I also gave out Hershey Kisses in little bags (the bags were adorable, found them in the dollar store, just perfect for the occasion) and added a small poem in the bag. Easy peasy!

You could always, if you have the time, get pretty labels to personalize and affix them to the front of the small bag also.

 

[tinkarooni]

To brymolmom: I have had two communions and been to tons in the past couple of years. No favors involved and not even something I thought of.
Good Luck!

 

[apnep]

WOW - you guys really took me by surprise with this one. ... I plan on providing a nice brunch and cake - but nothing for them to take home. ...So I guess I'm not really the favor type of person anyway.

Here! Here! Not my thing. It's nice of OP, but totally unnecessary. My DD's first communion celebration was small and intimate. Just us, her sibs, and grandparents. We all went out to an early dinner and then we gave her some small gifts. But, I don't do gift bags at bday's either. I'm old school that way.

Ang

 

[PrincessNoelle'sMom]

Just wanted to say that I agree that favors are not necessary for intimate or home parties, but in the OP's defense, she has decided to have her ds's celebration at a restaurant and favors are always a nice touch. In every family/culture/religion there are reasons why and how people choose to celebrate. OP is CHOOSING to have a celebration for this event for her ds. It is her choice, she is not asking for anyone's permission, just advice on an appropriate favor.