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Looking for ideas for a baby dedication (Christening/Baptism)
Our 4 month old b/g twins are being Dedicated (think Christening or Baptism) in our church on Nov. 15. I have invites out to 20 people which say "Reception to follow". I am looking for any and all ideas for the reception.
LOCATION:
What I am thinking so far is to have it either at our house, conference room at my office (I own the company) or at the clubhouse at my MIL's housing development (think Planned Community type clubhouse/furnished common area that can be reserved)...depending on how many come. (I don't want to have it at the church...we are new to the area and it isn't "my church" yet.)
FOOD:
I don't have the budget for a full catered affair with staff, but don't think I have the time to do a lot of day-of prepping/cooking either. (Hey, I'm busy chasing twins here! LOL)
So I think my options are to either do a menu that can be prepped/cooked the day before and simply heated that day with sternos and chafers. Else, get a few vats of food from a restaurant and heat them up there with chafers and sternos. Add one or two handmade things for a personal touch.
OTHER/DECOR:
-Since it is kind of a formal event (in our Sunday best), I'm gonna use glass plates and silverware (instead of paper plates and plastic flatware).
-I'd like to use linens: tablecloths & cloth napkins with some paper cocktail/beverage napkins available for apps/dessert/coffee.
-Since it is a church event (think Purity), I was thinking of doing a neutral color scheme: layered colors of whites on beiges
-I thought of making a slideshow of the babies to have playing in the background.
-to keep it classy, I thought of maybe playing light classical/easy jazz
IDEAS?
-what other ideas do you have?
-Food ideas?
-Decor ideas?
-Any other special touches I should/could consider for this event?
Thanks in advance!
Re: Looking for ideas for a baby dedication (Christening/Baptism)
Location- I wouldn't do the conference room. In this case the clubhouse may be a good choice, BUT find out how early you can get it. If you can't get in until morning of you won't be able to set up. Also see about availability of the frig etc. I'd hate to have to cart everything in the morning of. The only downfall to the home is you have to clean it.
Food- I did all of my cooking the day before my kid's baptism. A spiral sliced ham (cut off the bone the day before too), rolls and mustards, deviled eggs, pasta salad skewers, potato casserole, and baby carrots. The morning of I put the ham, potatoes, and carrots in the oven while we went to church. Everything was ready when we got back.
There are lot of things you can make the day before and heat the day of.
The biggest recommendation I have is to have apps ready to be put straight out when you get home. People will be hungry, especially if they have driven any length of time before the ceremony. I don't remember everything, but I know we did shrimp cocktail and a cheese platter. No prep, just put out while everything else is going on.
Other- If you have room, we went ahead and bought service for 36 in glass plates and silverware. The silverware is from Sam's club and the plates were $1/ea at Walmart. I figure between bday parties, religious celebrations, and whatever else over the years we'll more than recoup the money.
I know you are going for a "look," but people are going to be focused on the babies and why they are there. If money is tight focus it on food. People care more about that then a cloth napkin. Again I went ahead and invested in plain white tableclothes for each of my tables. For the napkins, ask the people in your family if they have any you could borrow. I know my mom has at least 20. Even if it's mismatched, I think it would be more special since they were from my grandmothers.
A couple of other things- Get organized. Lay out linens, pull out serving plates and utensils and label them. People will be there and will want to help. Let them. Hand someone your camera and put them in charge of pictures. Make sure you get one of your immediate family unit.
The very most important thing. Remember what this event is about. More important than food, linens, and music, this is a celebration of your children becoming a part of God's Church.