Holy communion party help

[irishchick93]

Hi there.

I've lost the will with chat gbt.
Can anyone offer advice.
My child is making first holy communion in May. A Saturday. They want a bouncy castle at home. I really would think it would be much handier for me to book a local restaurant but I have a toddler and a baby also and also elderly parents with mobility issues. I'd be bringing wheelchairs..prams...car seats out with me. So perhaps at home would be slightly easier where we have locked gates and my parents like here so could join in and out as required. My child would love them to be involved.

However....I was going to rent a marquee type stretch canopy thing incase of rain but can't help but think it's a bit grim if it rains.

Bouncy castle.

Have a large garden and a biggish bungalow.

Has anyone basically any tips on food drinks entertainment just anything. I'm a bit stressed

Thanks

My parents live** here

How many people will be invited? How many adults and how many kids?

It’s Holy communion. It’s not about the party or the dress.

Bouncy castle is traditional! If you are in Ireland you may be too late to book one as its a very busy time of year. It works as the kids are always so well behaved for the ceremony and need to work off their energy.
Go simple, sandwiches, cake and squash for the kids. Nothing purple or chocolate if you have girls still in their dresses attending. Feed the growns ups your preferred buffet, a friend always does a lasagne and salad as it can all be donein advance. .

Ok but OP is in Ireland where it is about Both and is a rite of passage for most so there will be a party…and a dress!

@irishchick93 i think the plan sounds good! Bouncy castle and gazebo/marquee is perfect. It might rain but from my experience, the kids won’t care they’ll be outside in the bouncy castle in any weather. Just make sure you have an area they can dry off and all the adults will be in inside. 🙌🙌

It is though I made my first holy communion in 1980 it very much was about the party.and the dress.

Have to agree with those saying it is about the party and the dress! (as well as the holy communion)

Yes of course but it's a BIG deal where I live of course we will be doing all the religious side as well but just wondering about after. All the friends are having parties and it's what I done as a child also

@FlippyKiYayFlippyFlipperapprox 30 adults 15kids

Any suggestions on nice finger foods. Do charcuterie cups go down well? I've never thrown a party for adults ?

Should I keep drinks inside the house not outside incase of broken bottles and what about the cake

Can you ask a few friends with older children, who’ve done it before, for in-person advice? I did a very simple party at home for my older children, but no bouncy castle as it’s not such a big thing here, so was easier!

Are you in thr UK? If so then i have done food from morrisons for many parties. Order selections of indian food sandwiches etc they do chacuterie style too and just collect it the day before and put it out when your back from the church/the party starts

Is the issue that you dont want people in the house? Or space? Is that why your looking at a marquee?

Just to add after my dd first holy communion 2 years ago we had a meal afterwards at a resturant with the people who were at the church that was around 15 of us and then back to our house for a big party with all our friends and funnily enough a bouncy castle!! Its a big deal in where I am from (west of scotland) lots of people go all out!

With the marquee, put a few blankets/ throws dotted around if it's a cool day as the elderly can really feel it.
Have you thought about getting caterers in? Much easier, you really don't want to be making sandwiches and struggling re having enough cool storage space.
By the time you've costed out your homemade charcuterie cups and fancy bits and bobs, I bet the price of professional caterers isn't much more.

No drinks or food allowed on the bouncy castle!

Keep the drink and glasses inside, paper cups outside.
If you are in Ireland your local bakery will do cakes for holy communion, and loads of cafes will do buffets too. It all depends how much you want to spend and how long the party will go on for.
I was at one which was a sedate cake and tea affair, another which raged til 3am and my south Dublin relatives which was catered and had a champagne bar. Do what you are comfortable with, which probably isn't an all nighter as you have a baby!

I'd speak to a local caterer and order in at least some of it with it being for so many people. You won't have time to prep food on the morning and it'll take 20 mins to collect something ready down.

We've also done hot dogs for kids as they take no cooking/preparing other than sausage in pan and some onions

Can you host inside if the leather is bed?
Do you have patio heaters if outside and cool?

Some bouncy castles are covered so might help too.

Order a bouncy castle with a roof.

If you we’re going to pay for a meal, book a caterer, the lady who made our DD communion cake done all the food, sandwiches, hot platter, veggie platter, fruit platter, she delivered about 3pm when everyone was starving.

I personally think a meal in a restaurant is unfair to the child, its her day, her party.

Fingers crossed for good weather.

Most of the bouncy castle places do machines to. So a popcorn machine and slushie machine or candy floss. Most people have the machines at the Communion parties and they go down a treat.

Ther9e is often a local caterer who will do all the food. Cold meats, salads, crusty bread.Set up on your cleared kitchen counter as a buffet. If your family are good at baking ask them to bring a dessert or just use the cake ordered from bakery in local supermarket. Presuming family will row in making tea, cleaning up etc. As its a child centred occasion l wouldn't go overboard with alcohol drink. Just invite both families.
My family does this regularly for all those celebrations and keep it nice and relaxed. Change the child out of dress soon as she gets home and photos are over.

I made mine in 1978 in a very devout household, and it was absolutely about the dress. And white sandals. And little bag. And veil. Which I tore climbing an apple tree after mass, and was deeply unpopular for.

Yes the white sandals!
And veil!
Mine was in may and we had a buffet in the garden with all my aunts and uncles and cousins.

Who The fuck do you think you are? It can be about that if that’s what OP wants.

I’ve done both a restaurant and home
party OP.
The home option is much less stressful but get catered foo, make sandwiches in advance or throw pizzas into the oven. There are adults everywhere who can help, the kids run wild and everyone has a great time.
The restaurant option works if yours are the oldest and most people are adults. I found it more stressful keeping the kids quiet even though it was in a separate area, and the casual mingling was less.
Only tip in the UK - tell your non Catholic friends they don’t need to buy anything or can stick a tenner in an envelope if they want. Some of mine went to extraordinary effort and time for personalised jewellery and gifts - very lovely and generous but also no need at all! They all loved the house party though!
Have a great time.