baptism?

Emeraldeyed315 · October 2013

We scheduled G's baptism in a few weeks. For those of you that did one, did you have a party after? If so was it at a restaurant or at your house? Did you have favors?

My family normally just does something in the house after, but DHs has a full on restaurant party with favors, etc. We don't have money for the latter, but his parents hate me already and I hate to "not deliver" on something else. As it was MIL called the baby shower that was thrown for me tacky...

Emeraldeyed315 · October 2013

Are favors common for a baptism though?

kwrecks · October 2013

Typically my family just goes to a restaurant after, but it's completely informal. It's just a bunch of people getting together for brunch after the service. At my church, the baptism is done during the Sunday Service, and everyone goes out to eat after anyway, so when we do her baptism, that's probably what we'll do. I've only been to one baptism where they had a party afterwards, and it was a catholic baptism where there was a special service just for the baptism and it was invitation only.

BlondieBia21 · October 2013

Just having people for a lunch or small dinner is fine! It doesn't have to be anything extravagant. I definitely would host a little something at the house, rather than not do anything at all. Favors aren't necessary! Also, screw mil- if she wants it a certain way, than she should be offering to host it. A Baptism isn't a show, it's an event for your faith! Don't worry about her!

(I know easier said than done, trust me- I know!)

Emeraldeyed315 · October 2013

kwrecks said:

Typically my family just goes to a restaurant after, but it's completely informal. It's just a bunch of people getting together for brunch after the service. At my church, the baptism is done during the Sunday Service, and everyone goes out to eat after anyway, so when we do her baptism, that's probably what we'll do. I've only been to one baptism where they had a party afterwards, and it was a catholic baptism where there was a special service just for the baptism and it was invitation only.

This is us...catholic not after a service. Normally our church does them on Sunday after a mass, but DHs parents live in TX so we requested a saturday time to ease with their traveling.

Leosmom13 · October 2013

We had ds christening 3 wks ago! We definetly could not afford a restaurant afterwards so my parents offered to host a party in their house! My mom cooked food, I made the cake(pip) and we bought some wine! Way cheaper! Do what is best for your family and don't break the budget just to accommodate a fussy MIL!!

megnallen · October 2013

This past Sunday we had our baby's blessing at church (like a christening), and then right after we went to my in laws house for a big pot luck lunch! Pot lucks are always nice and cheap! I wouldn't worry about favors. Everyone will just be happy to be together and love on your LO.

Leosmom13 · October 2013

A pic would help! This was the cake I made for our christening! If you do it DIY you can do it affordable and it's personal! Never heard of favours for a christening. Definetly not nesessary!

kklee0710 · October 2013

We are Greek Orthodox so our baptisms and the after party are a bit over the top. That said have just a cocktail party of sorts after. This way it doesn't break the budget and your mil can't say anything. We do favors but they are a bundle of Jordan almonds in a decorative sack... It's a Greek thing I didn't do it justice explaining it. Other baptisms I've been to there haven't been favors.

johnson8586 · October 2013

I've only been to Catholic Baptisms, but there have never been favors. We are having LO's this Sunday after Mass and are just having a brunch at my parent's place afterwards.

kaylababy5 · October 2013

I've never heard of favors for a baptism! We had a little party at our house afterward and had food catered....nothing fancy, just pastas, bread and salad

tanabeans · October 2013

Never heard of favors either. We are having her baptism in December and we will have lunch at a community center after with probably brisket or Spanish food. My aunts will help cook and it will be delish! Mmm brisket! I'm excited for the party haha!

LokiLahve · October 2013

Can I just say F your MIL. You delivered her a grandchild...she should be happy to celebrate this faith based celebration however you and DH see fit. It's a baptism, not a flaunt my baby and materialistic (favors) things party.
Sorry...I'm in a crap mood today so this may not be very helpful.

BubblyDevil · October 2013

Favors? No. That's weird.

LO was baptized Catholic this past Saturday night and we just had everyone over after for grilling. There were less than 10 of us.

alexkylee · October 2013

We just had LO's two weeks ago. I got a meat and cheese tray from the store with different rolls and crackers. We did a fruit tray as well. Then we made a pasta salad and veggie tray. I also ordered a cake from our favorite bakery. We did it after the service at our house (everyone came from out of town). We got a gift for the Godparents/sponsors which was a picture from LO's newborn shoot in a nice frame and a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant. I figure a lunch is a way of saying thank you for coming. I just don't think favors are appropriate for this religious ceremony (at least in our church).

V&G101808 · October 2013

SCREW MIL! If she isn't offering to pay she has no say. I'm going through the same thing with mine so I totally understand.

We don't do baptisms until adulthood but our church does baby dedications. DSs is on 10/13. We're having a dinner at my house afterwards. My mom offered to help pay for the catering and I'll be making the cake and some appetizers. We aren't inviting a ton of people (just family). I plan on decorating the house really cute but we're definitely on a budget.

MIL kept insisting that we host at a restaurant but there's no way I was paying for 14 people's lunch at a nice restaurant.

EDIT: We won't be doing favors… I've never heard of favors for a christening/baptism but ours are also smaller events.

JilllyBean · October 2013

We just had his baptism. Never heard of favors. We catered a party with just immediate family , 15 people. We had it at my ILs house bc it it way closer to the church

lindsayanne14 · October 2013

DS is being baptized along with his cousin in two weeks. My Aunt is hosting a brunch after, I'm not having favors, I've also never been to a baptism of any religion that involved favors.

MitsB707 · October 2013

Screw your mil. You do what you and your dh want to do to celebrate your lo's baptism. That being said, we're raising our son Catholic (dh is no religion, I'm catholic) and having his baptism on 10/12. It's a private ceremony, and we're just inviting family, which is about 40 people, lol. Afterwards dh and I are having a luncheon at a restaurant. We'll be decorating and having favors, but that's just how my family rolls. I think I'm going to make the favors and have a ribbon printed with ds's name and the date.

HermansWife · October 2013

kklee0710- Russian orthodox here! Just waiting out the 40 days before our LO gets baptized and chrismated.

OP. I've also never heard of doing favors for a baptism, but we always do a small meal/potluck after for family and close friends.

Creedon778 · October 2013

Last time we had everyone over at our house afterwards for food. This time we are doing a joint baptism with SIL so we rented a hall, but food is free bc MH's family does catering. No favors. I've never seen that at a baptism.

Do what you are comfortable with. Don't give into pressures and have your DH back you up.

BelhurstBride · October 2013

We couldn't afford to take everyone out, either, so we had the reception at home. DD1's was in my parents backyard, Dd2's was in ours.

I ordered baguette sandwiches from wegmans and made up veg and fruit trays. My mom made a pasta salad and a Tuscan bean salad. I made chocolate chip cookies and brownies for dessert. I also put out a mimosa bar- two types of juice and a bunch of different fruit.

I also picked up a couple dozen white roses, some white hydrangea and picked some dusty miller from the garden to use for center pieces.

I'd say it turned out pretty damn nice and more relaxing/enjoyable than anything at a restaurant could have been.

Oh yea, DDs godmother volunteered to do cookies for favors. Had she not I wouldn't have had them.

Scubagirl79 · October 2013

I'd say skip the favors- I've never seen them either for a baptism. We did a lunch at my parents' for just family after my baby's baptism. We got a cake from Sam's Club (which looked like an open Bible), and gave gifts to the godparents (godmother got a cross necklace from Brighton and godfather got a cross from Hobby Lobby and I wrote a message on the back). Do what you and your hubby want to do- don't worry about MIL. It sounds like anything you do won't be good enough for her anyway.

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