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Original poster

Christening cost

40 replies

othership · 11/09/2017 23:11

Trying to plan LOs christening and wondering what a reasonable cost is for a christening?
We would have roughly 90 guests and this cost would include service donation, room hire, buffet inc desserts, cake, decorations, room dressing by venue, prosecco at each table, photographer, gown for lo plus bonnet and shoes, dress for me, make up, hair and nails for me, travel from Cathedral to hotel and invites.
The prices I've come to is £2500 for the day, is that reasonable?

OP posts:
wobblywonderwoman · 11/09/2017 23:21

Have you rang any venues to check meal prices? 90 is a huge number (totally respect your choice)

I don't think you can really get a feel for costings as prices vary so much per region

Ours was 20 per head (sit down meal), we took our own photos and 50 donation to priest. 50 for gown and shawl was a gift. Baptismal candle 10.

Have a lovely day.

LoniceraJaponica · 11/09/2017 23:31

That is an extravagant christening. Are you in the UK?

We had about 15 guests at ours and I did a buffet at home. I am honestly not judging your christening at all, but I have never known anyone have such a large one like yours. Every christening I have been to has been a small family affair.

I have never known anyone have room decorations or a photographer at a christening either.

Justgivemesomepeace · 11/09/2017 23:31

Blimey that's some christening. Every christening I've ever been to and my ds's were much more low key. I obviously move in different circles. We had maybe 30 guests and a buffet in a nice pub. About £300 altogether. I got a nice dress, dp put his suit on and voila- ready to rock. DSIL surprised us with welcome drinks (might have been prosecco or bucks fizz or something can't remember) for everyone . Dont know what that cost. Have a lovely day.

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PrincessPlod · 11/09/2017 23:36

£30 for church and about £300 for venue with food for 40 people. Could have done without the expense but important we had it done

tissuesosoft · 11/09/2017 23:38

£30 donation to the church, £15 DD dress, £15 my dress, DP had a suit already, £30 on kid packs (8 children), £190 on the buffet in a local lovely pub (included own area and unlimited tea and coffee), I made a two tier cake- about £30. 35 guests including the children.

numbmum83 · 11/09/2017 23:39

Some people don't even spend that on their wedding ! Seems a lot of money for what it is.

sonlypuppyfat · 11/09/2017 23:40

DDs christening I had my mum my SIL and MIL back to ours for tea and cake. You know you are just promising to bring them up as a Christian no need for all this

LoniceraJaponica · 11/09/2017 23:43

I already had smart clothes so didn't buy a new outfit. The baby is the star of the show, not the mother.

llangennith · 11/09/2017 23:49

What is the purpose of the christening? To baptise your baby or have a big show off extravaganza?

MrsMoastyToasty · 11/09/2017 23:54

are you going to be able to figure 90 people in the church, (given that christenings usually take place during Sunday morning service and there's likely to be regular congregation attending)?

Parker231 · 11/09/2017 23:59

Sounds more like a wedding than a christening. I thought they were the church service and then cake and a drink at the parents home.

Justgivemesomepeace · 12/09/2017 00:04

It's a cathedral not a church mrsmoasty 😮

ParkheadParadise · 12/09/2017 00:09

The prices I've come to is £2500 for the day, is that reasonable?

No

EdithWeston · 12/09/2017 06:58

On one level, no that's a vast amount to spend on what is, in Britain, a small affair involving immediate family and Godparents (plus church friends).

But if you come from a different traditional then yes, as the question becomes 'is £2.5k a reasonable cost for a daytime party for c.100 people'

Nightscroller1 · 12/09/2017 07:06

I've just arranged our LO's... we've got 60 guests give or take. Hired a function room, arranged a buffet, decorations, putting money behind the bar (£200) and the donation to priest it's probably costing £700. That doesn't include a christening gown as she's wearing mine or a cake as it's being made.

£2,500 does sound a lot but it depends on where you live I suppose x

mimiholls · 12/09/2017 07:38

£2500 is a lot for a christening but not for venue hire and professional catering for 90 (Ive never been to a christening of this scale). If you suppose £20 a head for food and drinks (not sure how you get any cheaper than that if you want at least a 2 course meal and prosecco?) Thats £1800 already?

PotteringAlong · 12/09/2017 07:42

What?! It's my ds3's christening in 2 weeks.

Church is free - we go, he will be christened in the service. Sunday lunch at ours for grandparents / godparents so will do a buffet as too many to sit down. Cake. Will probably cost £100 all in.

If you want a party then reasonable is whatever you want to pay.

BikeRunSki · 12/09/2017 07:48

That is very elaborate compared to any ChristeningI have ever been to (many, largely U.K., largely Catholic). They've all been closer to about 20 guests - immediate family and Godparents. Then tea and biscuits in the church hall, or a buffet in the local pub or cricket club. Maybe a bit of fizz. Christening gowns often family heirlooms.

I suspect I come from more modest means than you though OP.

Nightscroller1 · 12/09/2017 09:17

To elaborate on cost, mines is £60 hall/venue hire and the buffet is £8.50 a head. That's not even fancy, standard buffet with morning rolls. Costs are so high these days! DP also wants to pay priest £250, I thinking that's way too much. But I'm not catholic so maybe not?

ParkheadParadise · 12/09/2017 09:42

@Nightscroller1
My dd's were christened in the Catholic Church. No way would I have given the priest £250. We made a donation of £100. I thought that was than ok Blush.

ParkheadParadise · 12/09/2017 09:43

More than ok

Allthebestnamesareused · 12/09/2017 09:51

ha ha ha!

Of course its not reasonable!

Nightscroller1 · 12/09/2017 09:59

@parkheadparadise my friend whose Catholic also said £100! My dp said it's the most important thing in her life, more important than a wedding - I get it, we're not getting married!!! I'll stick to my guns with £100 and say I'm not halfing for the £250! It's more than enough!

CbeebiesAddict · 12/09/2017 12:19

I'm trying to remember but I think DS' was between £200-300. All family and Godparents had the travel so I wanted to do a good sized buffet afterwards. Couldn't have it at home due to disabled Grandma and steps so it was at a local tennis club. Main cost was the food and a donation to the church.

NerrSnerr · 12/09/2017 12:39

I have never been to a christening with wine on tables, photographers and the like. The ones I have been to have been service in the church and then back to a community centre/ church hall/ rugby club or similar with a buffet. The gatherings afterwards have never been long, just a couple of hours.