Inspired by Jeafl's Communion Dress thread...Party related question

[Mishetta]

What type of party did you have or are you going to have for your DD's or DS's First Communion?

Was it at home? Restaurant? Banquet Hall?

Lots of people? Small family affair?

Did you give your guests favors & if so, what did you give?

We've booked my DS's Communion party at a nearby very elegant restaurant. We kept the number down to 30 people due to the cost of the party. Cake is ordered from the best bakery in town (their cakes are soooooo yummy & very beautiful) & we're giving a little ceramic chalis painted in gold & purple with grapes painted around the base with jordan almonds wrapped in netting to our guests.

Just wondered what you have planned...

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Geez these things are getting like marriages.

For my DSS and DSD we had a family gathering at their grandmother's house (since she has a pool). Me, my DH, the kid's mom and most of the family that lives here were there. The kids had a couple friends over, too.

When I did my first communion it was just a small family party as well.

 

[Mishetta]

Believe it or not, most of the Communion parties we've been too, they have been in wedding halls with no less than 250 people invited! We wouldn't do that even if we could. We just have some family & our closests friends attending.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

WOW I guess I didn't realize.

So what happens at Confirmation? lol

 

[Mishetta]

Don't know yet....no confirmations yet, but I think they start next year in my family!

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by Mishetta
What type of party did you have or are you going to have for your DD's or DS's First Communion?

Was it at home? Restaurant? Banquet Hall?

Lots of people? Small family affair?

Did you give your guests favors & if so, what did you give?

We've booked my DS's Communion party at a nearby very elegant restaurant. We kept the number down to 30 people due to the cost of the party. Cake is ordered from the best bakery in town (their cakes are soooooo yummy & very beautiful) & we're giving a little ceramic chalis painted in gold & purple with grapes painted around the base with jordan almonds wrapped in netting to our guests.

Just wondered what you have planned...

HOLY COW!! When I was coming through, all we had was lunch after church in the community hall....everyone attended. If you had anything else (which we didn't) it was maybe a cake made by your mother when you got home after the church reception!

After my kids' Baptisms, we had a small appetizer/cake thing at home, but only because the grandparents and godparents had travelled from far away and we wanted a social setting to introduce them to our friends here and it seemed like a fun way to do it. We didn't spend much at all....I made everything except the petit fours I picked up from a local bakery...they were prettier than the cake I had planned on making, and were pretty affordable.

I SO hope the HUGE party/reception isn't the norm when mine go through...just seems over the top for a 7 or 8 year old. YIKES!!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Wow! For DS we had family over for dinner after the service. It was a nice day but NOT anything fancy.

 

[Tinks]

We haven't decided what we are going to do for our son's first communion, also May 1st. We will either make a lunch or have carry out (something nice) but only for our immediate family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins).

My SIL, on the other hand, had an outdoor tent set up with a fully catered dinner and tended bar! She also had lots of people she invited...maybe close to 75 - 100??? We later found out it put them out around 5 - 10 grand

That's not our style...but if you enjoy it, knock yourself out.

 

[rbuzzotta]

WE are having 27 people. Immediate family and my Dd's godfather and his family!! We are going to brunch at a hotel up the street. WE have a private room from 10:30-2:30!!

 

[beattyfamily]

My DD's is April 24.

I believe about 30 people are coming; grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, and close friends like her Godparents and one other family.

It will be at our house. I'll order a cake and I still have to decide on the food!

I will order candy bar favors with my DD's info on it!

I'm getting her photo taken/done at Sears.

That's it!

 

[TandyR]

We plan to have a buffet dinner served at our house after the Mass. Anyone who wants can show up...but I am expecting about 25 friends and family and since I have put on many of these sort of things I am figureing it will cost about $200. I have been thinking about getting the cake done by my favorate bakery which specialized in wedding cakes but I go there for my girls' birthday cakes all the time. DD's First Communion/Confirmation (we do both at the sametime) is May 22 at 6pm so I figure offering dinner is a nice thing to do.

 

[CEDmom]

Wow, I can't imagine doing anything that fancy. If we gave DD a party like that for her communion I can't imagine what she'd expect for her sweet 16 or her wedding.

For DD's baptism we took everyone (about 12 people) out of lunch. For her communion we'll probably take everyone to brunch or have something at our house.

 

[Jeafl]

I don't think I've ever inspired a thread before!

We are having a luncheon at a nearby restaurant for 32 people, then cake afterwards at our house. Since DH's family is coming in from Michigan, I will probably have to have some kind of appetizers or dinner for later that night.

I wouldn't mind having it at home, except for the fact that there's no time to cook anything. It takes me quite a while to get my daughter dressed and hair done, and then you're in church for an hour. I wouldn't be home to throw something in the oven. I looked into having it catered, but it was the same cost-wise as having it out. We can't depend on the weather being nice, so seating 32 people inside is also a problem. I hate when people eat in my living room or family room, and we all can't fit in the dining room and kitchen. It's just easier to have it at a restaurant.

 

[LvsTnk]

The 2 older ones had parties catered at the house. My youngest DS with special needs had his party at a restaurant owned by family....they wanted to do it for him, and it was an amazing affair!

His siblings really were proud of him

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Your right Jeafl! That was the hardest part of the day, having the food ready when we got home. A friend and I traded off, as our boys are the same age but we attend different churches. I went to her house while they were at Mass and put food in the oven, etc. and she did the same for me. It helped so much to know someone was at home getting everything together.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Ah, a subject near and dear to my heart!

My son will receive his First Holy Communion on Sunday, May 16 at 10:30 a.m. Mass.

Following that, we have a restaurant near the church booked for his party. They close the place to the public on Sunday afternoons to do private parties.

We are inviting 67 adults and 19 children. I'm going to make the invitations myself from nice invitation printer paper sold at Party City.

The restaurant is a BYOB (bring your own bottle), so a relative whose job is wine distributor is going to hook us up with some nice wine. We're going to put a bottle of red and a bottle of white on each table. (Don't worry--there will be extra bottles if needed.) Also, a lot of our friends like beer, so we're getting a keg (quarter keg? half keg? Whatever the liquor store recommends for our size party.) The restaurant will fill pitchers for the tables that like beer.

We're having 5 courses: salad, pasta, appetizers, entree, and dessert. Salad will be a basic green tossed. Pasta will be farfalle (bow-ties) in vodka sauce. Appetizers will be eggplant rolatini and antipasto or fried calamari (haven't decided between those two yet). Dinner is veal parmagiana, chicken francese, and broiled salmon. The appetizers and entrees will be served family style.

For dessert, I'm getting a vanilla cheesecake mousse filled sheet cake from Costco. (I love that vanilla cheesecake stuff.) We'll bring a bottle of Sambuca or two if people want a splash in their coffee.

I'm going to make the favors myself. I'm getting Song of Angels scented votives from Yankee Candle and wrapping them in tulle. I'll tie the tulle with ribbons printed with the occassion and date, a little Cross charm, and a little packet of Jordan almonds.

Can you tell I'm psyched to give this party? It'll probably be my last one for a long time. DS is an only child.

Communion parties were big when I was growing up--at least they were in my extended family. My folks combined my party with my oldest's brother's high school graduation and had it in a catering hall. It was as big as many weddings I've been to. Of course I have to something large for my only.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

DD #2 is May 1st this year. We booked the same hall as we did for DD #1, 3 years ago...I think we invite about 100 and about 70-80 show.
This year we are even getting a DJ too. Last time we had a friend play the music...they have since split up and we don't associate with them anymore. We come from quite a "party going" family. It is an evening affair too....I think from 5-11pm. For Morgans, we had it 6-12 but decided to do it a little earlier due to the fact my neices is May 2, the following day.

Mishetta....do you mind if I ask what bakery you get your cakes?? We have always used Christines over on Garfield....but they are getting quite expensive....almost 100 now for a whole sheet decorated etc....

 

[Mishetta]

Lisa ~ Christine's it is for us! There is none better in my opinion. The only thing I'm disappointed in is that they won't deliver it. They delivered my DS's Christening cake but they no longer deliver smaller orders. When I lived closer to Detroit, I used to use Joseph's in Grosse Pointe...are they still in business? Maybe you can check them out, they would be much closer to you.

We're having our party at Villa Penna's. Got the favors for guests at Bonaldi's on Garfield also.

I think most people in our area do the mini-wedding party's for their kids Communions, don't you? I've never been to one at someone's house. We're doing a very tiny party (due to the venue) but also, we just don't want to invite everyone we know.

BTW ~ how did your windows turn out?

 

[Lisa L from MI]

Hi
That is too funny because when I read your post the first thing I thought of was Christines!! There isn't anything better....yes I agree!!! I don't think that Joesphs is still there....I will check or else just have our caterer take care of the cake too.

Hey, when is your party?? Cause my my sister is having hers (well, my nieces) the next day, May 2....which happens to be by BD but that is beside the point.......at Pennas. Isn't there 2 different locations??? Whichever one....it is the fancier one.....but she could only get the room that fits up to 50 people.....


Windows arent going to be installed until 4-14! I can't wait!!

 

[Mishetta]

We're having it at the fancier one...Villa Penna's on Hayes & Shoreline Drive. Since we will only be 30 ~ we opted for the restaurant so that we won't have to pay a banquet room fee nor will we be charged for someone who doesn't show up. The food is awesome there! Can't wait!!

Oh ~ & check your PM box!