Baptism invite list?

NikkiD522 · February 2014

We're a little behind I think.. But I'm just now trying to decide on how elaborate or low key I want LO's baptism to be. What did you ladies do? Invite just family? Friends too? Have a gathering after? At the church? Or a restaurant? Any regrets? Tips or advice?

Texasmomma13 · February 2014

We kept our list to in town family & friends, and grandparents. We're doing lunch afterwards at a local restaurant. It should be 20-30 people.

sftbllstr87 · February 2014

We just did it last weekend and due to being poor we just did family plus the godparents and their SO's, it was about 15 people, I kinda liked it being so small, we had a nice lunch at a semi fancy restaurant afterwards

MitsB707 · February 2014

We had ours a few couple months ago and just had family. My family alone was 40 people! After the private ceremony, we had a luncheon at a restaurant nearby.

MommyKristin88 · February 2014

We invited 50 people, family and friends. More people heard about it from word of mouth, so a little over 60 came. We had dinner afterwards in the fellowship hall at the church. No regrets.

Bunnyfer · February 2014

I may not be a huge help...ours is going to be after Easter in NJ....We have a 1k dollar budget(not us paying). We looking to invite 50+ people since no one has seen LO at all, so this will be a coming out party, and a way to see everyone at once. It will also be the first time the two families are blended, and I am all stressed about it

MagPie 1986 · February 2014

Bunnyfer said:
I may not be a huge help...ours is going to be after Easter in NJ....We have a 1k dollar budget(not us paying). We looking to invite 50+ people since no one has seen LO at all, so this will be a coming out party, and a way to see everyone at once. It will also be the first time the two families are blended, and I am all stressed about it

Holy crap?! 1k for a baptism!? Are you a Real Housewife of NJ?

Bunnyfer · February 2014

Hall rental...and food...my in laws are paying...I hope to spend no where near that amount...lol

MitsB707 · February 2014

MagPie 1986 said:

Bunnyfer said:
I may not be a huge help...ours is going to be after Easter in NJ....We have a 1k dollar budget(not us paying). We looking to invite 50+ people since no one has seen LO at all, so this will be a coming out party, and a way to see everyone at once. It will also be the first time the two families are blended, and I am all stressed about it
Holy crap?! 1k for a baptism!? Are you a Real Housewife of NJ?

Eh, depending on the COL in the area, that's not that far off. Our luncheon place charged around 25/person for food and wine, then there's taxes, gratuities, donation to the church for ceremony, invites, thank you cards, cake, outfit for lo, and anything else I'm probably forgetting. It adds up fast!

V&G101808 · February 2014

We kept it small and I preferred it that way. We invited only family and had a small get together at our house afterwards with a catered meal.

Snowbird7 · February 2014

Baptisms are a low-key, private thing for us. Alex is being baptized next Sunday, and his grandmothers and three aunts are coming. We'll probably go out to lunch afterward.

Emeraldeyed315 · February 2014

We invited family and local friends. We had a BBQ after church at our home. Many of our friends are not religious so I invited them to everything and said come to whatever you are comfortable coming with. Most friends just joined us for lunch. It was nice getting together with everyone.

ludali · February 2014

We just kept it to family...had about 20 people and then my parents hosted a lunch at their home.

Texasmomma13 · February 2014

MitsB707 said:

I may not be a huge help...ours is going to be after Easter in NJ....We have a 1k dollar budget(not us paying). We looking to invite 50+ people since no one has seen LO at all, so this will be a coming out party, and a way to see everyone at once. It will also be the first time the two families are blended, and I am all stressed about it
Holy crap?! 1k for a baptism!? Are you a Real Housewife of NJ?
Eh, depending on the COL in the area, that's not that far off. Our luncheon place charged around 25/person for food and wine, then there's taxes, gratuities, donation to the church for ceremony, invites, thank you cards, cake, outfit for lo, and anything else I'm probably forgetting. It adds up fast!

Yep, I live in a low COL area and by the time it's all done we'll most likely spend close to that. I wanted to do something smaller with a buffet lunch, made by me, at our house. But, DH didn't want me to have to do all of that work. So, we're hosting everyone for lunch. which will cost about $13 per head.

mommabmb · February 2014

We kept it casual. Honestly, I just didn't have the time or the energy to make it big. And a disappointing turn out would have crushed me dead in the middle of a PPD breakdown.

We had maybe 20 people, and everyone came over after for lunch. We had hotdogs.

PTmama199 · February 2014

We had 40 people with get together at the local VFW which was free because H is a member. I ordered sandwiches, coleslaw, macaroni salad, potato salad and a cake. We also had alcohol. My H planned everything because I was exhausted.

BelhurstBride · February 2014

DD1's we kept smaller, had a reception at my parent's house.

DD2's was bigger, we did it as a combo meet the baby type event. We hosted the reception at our house. I did baguette sandwiches, a couple of salads, a veg tray, a fruit tray, and a mimosa bar.

NikkiD522 · February 2014

Thanks for all of the insight, ladies!

I'm torn between inviting friends or not. It's basically either going to be 25 ppl or 50.. and it seems like you all are at both spectrums :-) I'm with @mommabmb when I say I don't have the energy for a huge event, but at the same time.. I love to plan a good party.. rrr decisions decisions.

Follow up question - for those of you with little boys - what did you dress him in?

mommabmb · February 2014

I got a white suit at belks. I'll find a pic....

mommabmb · February 2014

Here's some pics.... I preferred the suit to the gown for a boy.

Snowbird7 · February 2014

We were just going to go with a sweater vest and white button-down shirt, similar to what he wore for Christmas Eve:

But I'd like to find a little suit, if I could. Maybe a grey one?

NikkiD522 · February 2014

Omg I love the cute little babies!!!

@ayanahazel1 a grey suit is a great idea.. i didn't even think about that.. I was leaning towards the white suit like @mommabmb , but I bet we'd get more use out of a grey one. @dani_brewer I was considering a gown too, but I'm torn between wanting it to serve multiple purposes but then it also be sentimental.... hmm

jbean1325 · February 2014

dani_brewer said:

We had about 90 people actually come, and served a hot meal after it. It was really informal which was lovely. But honestly, that many people was overwhelming. Everyone wanted a picture with LO, or to hold him, and he was overstimulated and sick of being passed around. It got to the point where my mom took him and announced that he was going to be fed and put to sleep.

OMG this. Although we didn't have anything close to 90. We invited about 70. 40 people RSVP'd yes, but due to the weather, we had about 15 pull out last minute. And it was still super overwhelming - for me and LO. He was fine during the service, but afterwards it was just too much for him. He was miserable and unable to be around anyone. I spent about 30 minutes with our guests because I had to take him upstairs (where he calmed down instantly). And if you're doing it yourself, get it catered. I did everything I could get done beforehand. I even had a friend come over while we were at the church to set everything up. But I wanted to cook the pasta while our guests were enjoying the apps. It was a disaster. No way that was happening with a screaming baby who only wanted mom! I think a person who's more apt at entertaining could pull it off, but not me. Good luck!

NikkiD522 · February 2014

dani_brewer said:
@NikkiD522 DS's gown is sentimental. The outer part was hand made by MIL, and the silk and lace underneath came from my mom's wedding dress. I'll post a picture when I get on the computer later.

Thats so sweet :-) I almost cried reading it .. I'm so sensitive these days ;-)

sftbllstr87 · February 2014

My mil ordered his outfit from macys and the socks, shoes, bib and blabker( she went a bit overboard) he looked so darn cute though, none of the pics could show his whole outfit but it was a complete tuxedo

NikkiD522 · February 2014

@sftbllstr87 O.M.G.... so cute!

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