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Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

Original poster

Christening/ 1st birthday

35 replies

Bree82 · 26/03/2023 15:36

Hello
planning on getting out baby christened and waiting until 1st birthday as the weather will be nicer (although not actually summer time and in Scotland lol) and looking for some ideas?
it will just be family but we both have big families and are probably the last siblings form each side to have kids so already lots of nephews and neices. I’m guessing around 40 including kids, possibly more…
looked at club hall hires but we would have to pay for their buffet instead of being able to provide our own food and the church doesn’t have a big enough hall…
so we decided to have it at house after christening and that’s why we were waiting for nicer weather (hopefully lol)
was thinking to hire a bouncy castle to keep all the kids entertained? I know the 1 year olds won’t be so bothered, but we have family driving from elsewhere for the day so kind of want to make it fun for the older kids too and give the grown ups some peace :)
all the kids ages range from 0- 10 really , plus some teens …
more about entertainment for little ones though as the teens always sit on their phones anyway lol
Thinking of getting a marquee for garden etc and ask soem family to bring camping chairs etc and hope it’s nice enough that we don’t all have to squish in the house (one bathroom lol)
but just wondering if anyone has ideas how to pull this off? And is a bouncy castle too much? Should I arrange party games for the kids?
thanks 😊

OP posts:
Villssev · 26/03/2023 15:38

Have you posted about this? Your DH suggesting you get a hall?

Villssev · 26/03/2023 15:39

How big is your house and garden and are you fairly experienced / relaxed about large group entertaining?

Original poster
Bree82 · 26/03/2023 15:59

Villssev · 26/03/2023 15:38

Have you posted about this? Your DH suggesting you get a hall?

Nope I haven’t posted about this. My DH is usually happy to go along with whatever I decide lol

OP posts:
Original poster
Bree82 · 26/03/2023 16:02

Villssev · 26/03/2023 15:39

How big is your house and garden and are you fairly experienced / relaxed about large group entertaining?

I haven’t had a house party since I was a student lol
I know the family are happy to bring dishes etc our kitchen is quite small and we have a sitting room and that’s it. One of my step kids as sofa bed so that could be used as a sofa for the day.
garden is big!

OP posts:
Villssev · 26/03/2023 16:27

40 people including lots of children in a small house?

Original poster
Bree82 · 26/03/2023 16:36

Villssev · 26/03/2023 16:27

40 people including lots of children in a small house?

Oh I feel like I have a big house. But the kitchen is small lol. Well it’s 4 bedrooms (the one downstairs was a dining room but now used as a bedroom and that’s the room with the sofa bed which can be a sofa for the day, step kid doesn’t mind and also has an air hockey/pool table which can come down for the day, probably a great room for the teens to hang out!
can fit 3/4 bar stools in the kitchen…
does this seem mad to have it at the house?
there is loads of space in the garden….

OP posts:
Original poster
Bree82 · 26/03/2023 16:37

I guess that’s why I thought about a bouncy castle or some kind of entertainment in the garden - to keep all the kids boys and happy …

OP posts:
Original poster
Bree82 · 26/03/2023 16:37

The kids busy and happy

OP posts:
CC4712 · 26/03/2023 16:45

Am I correct- 40+ people will be sharing the ONE bathroom and presumably ONE toilet??? 😳

Unless you are also hiring port-o-loos, this alone is bonkers. Do you have the space/tables/seating to actually sit 40 people in your home? Or even 20 and have 2 rounds of serving?

I don't know the norm for a Christening in terms of who normally pays for what, but I'd chose a different venue! Could you hire/use the back room of a pub/local restaurant and organise a group menu? £x per head for a set menu?

Original poster
Bree82 · 26/03/2023 16:58

CC4712 · 26/03/2023 16:45

Am I correct- 40+ people will be sharing the ONE bathroom and presumably ONE toilet??? 😳

Unless you are also hiring port-o-loos, this alone is bonkers. Do you have the space/tables/seating to actually sit 40 people in your home? Or even 20 and have 2 rounds of serving?

I don't know the norm for a Christening in terms of who normally pays for what, but I'd chose a different venue! Could you hire/use the back room of a pub/local restaurant and organise a group menu? £x per head for a set menu?

Could be closer to 30…
mayeb not everyone will come. Could be even less?
mim in two minds weather to just to the invite to the church then house but if too many people are coming maybe a separate venue?
what number would you say is too much for a house?
im stressing so much lol

OP posts:
Original poster
Bree82 · 26/03/2023 17:00

how much is too much to spend on a buffet?
I did get quotes from somewhere and if it was 40 people it would cost £220 for food alone, plus £50 hall hire… (not allowed to bring our own food except cake…) but if we go straight from christening is there time to set up?
I didn’t really want a massive thing, but as it’s the christening and we are religious and it is just direct family! It’s just a huge family!

OP posts:
CC4712 · 26/03/2023 17:06

Even 30 people sharing 1 toilet is crazy? You didn't answer my question- so is there really only 1 toilet in your house?

£220 for 40 is only £5.50 a head! Sorry, IMO that is very cheap so can only assume its hotdogs of something very simple.

If £220 is too much, then don't have a buffet or meal. Just have tea/coffee and cakes and if you must- have it at home. Either buy or make some cakes, biscuits etc and then have tea/coffee/squash available. You said you wanted someone less formal- so why have the stress of a full on sit down meal???

Villssev · 26/03/2023 17:16

You said maybe more than 40

one toilet!!!! OMFG

Villssev · 26/03/2023 17:17

1 toilet house? I wouldn’t go more than 20 maximum.

Villssev · 26/03/2023 17:18

Bree82 · 26/03/2023 16:37

I guess that’s why I thought about a bouncy castle or some kind of entertainment in the garden - to keep all the kids boys and happy …

You’re in Scotland
best to assume the worst weather wise

Villssev · 26/03/2023 17:19

1 reception room
1 bathroom
small kitchen

20 absolute maximum but if poor weather… and multiple children…. That will feel very cramped

Villssev · 26/03/2023 17:20

You’re on a tight budget and thinking £220 for 40 people is too much…

so rule out bouncy castle

Original poster
Bree82 · 26/03/2023 17:22

CC4712 · 26/03/2023 17:06

Even 30 people sharing 1 toilet is crazy? You didn't answer my question- so is there really only 1 toilet in your house?

£220 for 40 is only £5.50 a head! Sorry, IMO that is very cheap so can only assume its hotdogs of something very simple.

If £220 is too much, then don't have a buffet or meal. Just have tea/coffee and cakes and if you must- have it at home. Either buy or make some cakes, biscuits etc and then have tea/coffee/squash available. You said you wanted someone less formal- so why have the stress of a full on sit down meal???

Oops sorry - yes only one toilet!!
the quote was for a buffet or bacon rolls and stovies and the only food I’m allowed to bring is birthday cake!
so it will just be sandwiches / finger food then can know for sure the vegan options are varied enough too.
if it’s at home I’ll probably get some sandwhich platters and make cake and soem other finger foods…
oh I have no idea idea what is a normal amount to spend !
And if I should spend some on entertainment or bouncy castle …

OP posts:
Original poster
Bree82 · 26/03/2023 17:23

Sorry meant to say can’t know for sure how varied vegan options are but I could always check

OP posts:
Villssev · 26/03/2023 17:30

What I’d do.

Just have close family…. Parents, siblings and god parents.

or

have them all and hire hall and do tea and cake

Villssev · 26/03/2023 17:31

We did the former and it was lovely. People who all truly loved our children. Then back home for lunch and handful of children in garden.

bot scotland though… Kent so more confident of sun in august!

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 26/03/2023 17:32

@CC4712

so is there really only 1 toilet in your house?

How rude! How many have you got!?

Villssev · 26/03/2023 17:35

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 26/03/2023 17:32

@CC4712

so is there really only 1 toilet in your house?

How rude! How many have you got!?

I think the poster meant in the context of considering 40 plus people including children in your home

CC4712 · 26/03/2023 17:47

Villssev · 26/03/2023 17:35

I think the poster meant in the context of considering 40 plus people including children in your home

Show quote history

Apologies @Bree82. I didn't certainly mean how ridiculous to only have 1 toilet in a house. I did indeed mean in terms of hosting 40 people!

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy clearly didn't understand or read the entire post.

Original poster
Bree82 · 26/03/2023 22:20

Villssev · 26/03/2023 17:31

We did the former and it was lovely. People who all truly loved our children. Then back home for lunch and handful of children in garden.

bot scotland though… Kent so more confident of sun in august!

Aw that sounds lovely. We are just having family which is my parents , our siblings and their children. So many little nephews and neices but they are all cousins and Love spending time together. It’s a big family but a close one!
DH and I are the last from both sides to have kids, so previous christenings etc were all smaller, but the families are just so huge now lol

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