To have a christening without a party?

[PurpleRay]

Hoping to get our first child christened in December, he is due mid October.

Service would be at 2pm on a Sunday. We will be inviting immediate family and chosen godparents only (about 12 total).

We’d like to have a cake and tea/coffee in the church afterwards so everyone gets a proper chance to see baby and get a photo etc. but no intention of a party or reception.

Is this unreasonable? Should we have a full meal or provide sandwiches etc.? We’re not party people and hate the idea of a big do but it’s very important to us that our child is baptised.

Thank you

My family all had huge christening parties at home when we were growing up. Exhausting and the baby gets passed around to all and sundry. In these Covid times I think it's perfectly reasonable to say you will be keeping the baptism a small group and also that it's not a convenient time of year for many people. Or some such nonsense.

Unless you have people travelling long distances I think that's perfectly fine. If you have then you could do more of an afternoon tea type affair with sandwiches, scones and fruit cake so people are heading into the car hungry.

Sounds good. We did the same for my dc's thanksgiving services.

Sounds fine to me, your baby will be very small still so you will have an excuse to get home.

There's nothing to stop the party animals going off to the pub afterwards if they want to.