First Communion Party Ideas

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RE: First Communion Party Ideas

My daughter's first holy communion is very important to me as we are "converted" Catholics with neither set of family being Catholic. This will be a first for our family and is a way to help share our faith with them by them attending the mass.

We live in the UK where Sunday Lunch is traditional (roast beef, roast potatoes & Yorkshire puddings) so we are having a Sunday lunch for family and close friends after the service. After a lot of calling around hotels and restaurants, a few were offering a very good deal on having their standard Sunday lunch menu in a private room. My daughter and all her friends will be seated at a round table that will be decorated with balloons, confetti, etc. The grown ups will then be seated at additional round tables around the main table (a bit like flower petals), these won't be decorated other than the standard white table cloth.

We are then having afternoon tea for additional friends at the same Hotel. Relatively inexpensive and not too much work so we can focus on preparation for mass and not for the party :)

The invitations I made myself, printing them on an ink jet printer and then immediately sprinkling the words Holy Communion and her name with Gold embossing powder. It sticks to the wet ink then you heat it up and you get part of the print in raised gold. It looks really professional and is easy & very cheap, if a little time consuming.

I am really undecided about favors, I can't decide if they are too much, but I have seen some really beautiful bonboniere with a gold cross in the center that I love. I will have to think about it.

I would love to include a prayer of some sort, maybe even a little rosary and instruction card as many of our guests are not catholic, but I am worried it will seem too over the top. She goes to a Catholic Prep (private) school, but only 30% of the children there are actually catholic, so some of her friends are and some won't be and I am not sure who and don't like to ask! Do you think it would be too much to give a rosary to non-Catholics?

Good luck and God bless

Gemma

Post by gspurr

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

My daughter is having her first communion this april. My problem is that it is the same day as her birthday. We recently moved out of town. We have about 50 people on the list to invite. My husband and I come from Italian families. This means a very big deal. Anyone have any ideas on how to decorate? I want it to be tasteful yet simple. My daughter is excited for both her birthday and first communion.

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

We are also planning for the May '09 1st Communion Sacrament! We are going to do something easy since there is so much going on at the church and getting everyone ready. We decided to make Lasagna's the night before and cook them before we go to church. If we pull them out right before we leave they should be nice and cooled and set when we all return. We are going to get a moonbounce for the back yard for the kids that show up. We are planning on about 40 people between close family and friends. This is a blessed day for our daughter. We are trying to make it as memorable as possible! I still remember my 1st communion more then 25 years ago.

Post By wahiakwas (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

I am a current Canidate in RICA my daughter is making her first communion this spring, I bought her dress today and feel that I have done the "BIG" part. I am making her a lovely rosary, My husband is Italian and the first holy communion is very big in the Italian community here. We will be having family and VERY close friends only. The only children that will be there are cousins and our other three children. I never thought about favors, or games,or anything extravagant for something that should be, in my opinion approached with reverence.

Post By Tonja (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

My daughter will be celebrating her first communion in December and I want the main focus to be Jesus. We are having a gathering in our home after the mass. I will be making a dinner the night before and will set up in the backyard. I will have two buffet tables, and one drink table, which will have wine and soda. (We live in Florida). I also plan to have the chimney in the yard lit up.

Our theme will just be silver table clothes and candles. The invitation were printed at Hallmark for $40. The cake will be from Publix for $40. I'm planning to spend about $200. in food, drinks, and paper goods. As gifts for my guests I have purchased Yankee Candles at $6.00 each from Ross Stores (9 in total).

My daughters dress was purchased at David's Bridal ($100.) and I'm planning to surprise her with a scrap book with things collected that she has made in regards to her learning. We will have the play room set up with Wii and play station (14 kids under 10 will be in our home) and no games other than that are planned. It sounds expensive but I have limited a lot and I just hope that everyone has a nice time.

The main focus is Jesus, we are Latin and I did not want this to turn into a loud, 'birthday' like party. I hope this is helpful. I thought it out and I hope it all goes well.

Post By Maribel (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

Thank you, thank you, to all of you who brought the focus back on Christ. I was beginning to get carried away on the whole party thing and was thankfully brought back to the real reason of this celebration. We will fix our eyes on Jesus.
Thank you!

Post By Tracey (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

I think First Communion is about Christ and I think it is a big deal. It is one of three sacraments of initiation into the Church and it is worth celebrating. I have five kids and my two older sons have already made their First Communion. My daughter just did the last weekend in April. We invited family, one additional close set of family friends that were going to be in town that day and our priest (40 invited, but not all came).

As I said we tried to keep the focus on Christ, which included going to confession the day before as a family, and making him our theme for the Mass and the party. I used the cross as my main symbol. I gave my daughter a gold cross necklace with a pearl in the middle for her gift, it had been given to me by my godparents for my First Communion. Josie's veil included a rhinestone tiara that had a cross in the center. I picked up invitations that had a cross in the center with beams of light in rainbow of color shining out from it and Communion written below in pink at Party USA on clearance 25 for $1.50 in Sept. (it helps to shop early to save money). They also had matching beverage napkins (36 for $.99), confetti and center piece fountain ($.79 each). I found a very similar pattern called Holy Lights at Dollar Daze, it had the cross and light beams but no writing. The dinner plates (20 for $1.50), cake plates (20 for $1), cups (14 for $1), lunch napkins (20 for $1), mylar balloon ($2), tablecloths ($1) all seemed very reasonable to me and I was thrilled they reminded us what we were celebrating.

I did a favor table for guests that included a picture frame for each family. The frame (Dollar Tree on clearance $.50 each) was silver with a 2" x 2" picture opening in two of the corners (kitty corner from each other) and in the other two corners was a gold chalice and a gold cross. I put a picture I had taken of my daughter in her dress in one of the openings (you can get wallet size pictures developed at Walmart 4 for $.28) and I took a picture of my nephew at his First Communion the next week to give out on Mother's Day for the other opening. (The family friend was going to put in her daughter's picture who was also making her First Communion this spring.) I had originally picked the frames up last August, but they still have some now. I also had 20 small notepads in the shape of a cross (10 for $1 at Dollar Daze). I had really lucked out and when I was looking for a First Communion gift for my nephew at a Catholic store, they had a basket full of saints medals for $.25 each. I got 16 (one for each invited child) for only $4.00. This was all diplayed on a table in our foyer with the centerpiece fountain and confetti to make it feel festive and so people would remember to take it with them when they left (the medals were in an iridescent candy dish).

I decorated our dining room with the cross tablecloth and a bouquet of white roses (6 for $2.99 at a discount grocery store) and pink and white crepe paper streamers hung from the chandalier to the walls to form a canopy. In our great room, I set up an additional dining table (decorated the same way) and a gift table. For this table, I placed a picture of Josie in her First Communion dress in a white satin frame with the matching mylar balloon attached to a weight behind it and sprinkled some of the confettii (it had blue crosses and pink dots) around it.

I ended up ordering food from a local Italian restaurant, but that was because my daughter's favorite food is lasagna and (more importantly) I had a $100.00 gift card, so I only had to pay $6 out of pocket. We had lasagna, foccocia bread and chef salad. I made cross shaped sugar cookies and frosted them in pink icing and ordered a 1/2 sheet cake from Walmart with a white cross and pink flowers trailing down it ($26.50). We placed Josie's baptismal candle in the cake and sang happy First Communion to her before we cut the cake.

When Josie opened her gifts we had each of the kids choose the holy medal they would like to take home. (I had a First Holy Communion one for Josie, the rest were saints, including St. Christopher for my nieces and nephews who can drive!)

I hadn't intended to write this much when I started, I just wanted to share that a First Communion party could be meaningful and inexpensive with a little effort and shopping around for deals.

Post By Tori (Guest Post)

No party no guests

My 2 children are having their first communion this Sunday and they know we are not having a party. They will have a cake and no guests. They are the focus in the mass. As a gift they will have a nice rosary and a book like an album for their pictures and memories. I was taking pictures during their classes and meetings at the church. Like a scrapbook.

Post By ali (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

My son is making his First Communion this Sunday and we are keeping things pretty simple. He understands that this is a gathering of family at our home and not a huge party. We are going to have around 30 guests. We are doing a few simple pasta dishes, one of which I am making myself. A friend of mine is making the cake and making some chocolate covered oreo cookies with blue crosses on them. Other than that we are just doing chips and soda.
I wanted to keep this gathering as simple as possible, as people have posted before me I wanted this day to be about his Communion NOT about a big party.

Post By Erin (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

Keep it simple, make the gathering (not a party) about receiving the Body of Christ and don't make it a source of stress and anguish.

Post By Lisa (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

My son's First Holy Communion is this weekend and we made the theme or focus all about him. I made a custom monogram for him and used that to decorate throughout the party. We stayed away from birthday or character theme and made everything about him and his journey to this point. Hope that helps.

Post By Kris (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

"I am in a state of PANIC right now. My wife is Catholic and I am Christian. She has mentioned that we would be having a first communion party for our son this May and I really didn't think much of it. I figured that it would be similar to any other holiday where we have a few close family and friends over and have a cookout (if the weather is warm enough by then. We live in Ohio).
Last week my wife started telling me that she has set up the guest list and that if everyone on the list actually shows up, there could be over 80 people at my home. There is no possible way that we can get that many people in our house nor could we find enough placed for that many people to park. She is acting like this is no big deal and I am ready to lose my mind trying to figure out what we can do. This is supposed to be a joyous event, but is quickly turning into a nightmare. It's not like we can afford to rent a big banquet hall and with the weather in Ohio it could be snowing at that time of year (It's happened before). Any thoughts on how I explain to my wife that a large portion of her family and friends cannot come?
I only have 5 people coming from my side of the family. the other 75 people are my wifes side.
"

Surely your lady wife must be aware of the fact that your property is not as big as to be able to accommodate 80 people for your daughter's First Communion party. My daughter is due to receive her First Communion in July this year & my wife (who is non-Roman Catholic)& I are planning to hold a small buffet party @ a hotel near our Roman Catholic cathedral (in England, the United Kingdom)at which place we worship.

You may simply point out to your wife the fact that your house is not large enough to hold such a huge party & may reduce the numbers of the guests since you & your lady wife will be needing to save up for daughter's wedding day to come in the future.

Post By Enter your name. (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

I must agree I am simply amazed at the party gone awry themes - This is First Holy Communion. I teach CCD and have 30 chidren making their Communion along with my own twins. I am having a lovely affordable home gathering to celebrate - No magicians (huh?) no games - why? This is all about a slice of cake and a gathering in His name.

As for ideas - I made fortune cookies with scripture themed of communion, dipped in white choc in Chinese food boxes with a rosary - boxes are $6.00 for 50 @ Smart n Final (Restaurant Supplies), tissue paper 99 cents, and cookies were a fraction to make.
I'm not judging. I just think getting carried away about the party will make one lose focus in Mass for what we're there for. Thinking about what your guest list or what you need thru all of Mass. Be easy on yourself and gather in prayer for this Blessed Holy Sacrament.

Post By mom23 (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

I am just amazed at what I am reading. I am glad that so many parents want to celebrate the event, but it just seems that it is all about the party and not about the sacrament. Yes, this day needs to be special, but it is not about catering and cakes, but about the child and his/her special relationship with God. Don't get me wrong--I have seven kids and we make this day a big event, but everything is in perspective. The main event is the First communion. The party afterwards focuses around that, but is simple and relaxed.

Post By M (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

Log in to Oriental Catalog for ideas or to order party items for First Communion or other party theme. They have allot of items and at a reasonable price.

Post By Diana (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

Hi LJ Corso-

Not trying to "slam" you, but I have to agree with klb about not combining the two events. Have you considered having a big birthday bash on Saturday and a smaller, family-centered 1st Communion party on Sunday? Since you have access to that tent, it could be quite easy. Your daughter and wife can plan and decorate for both events, which should keep them both very busy and happy.

Post By me (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

My wife is all for what the kid wants and that is to have a pizza party with about 30 guest and to spend the day at a indoor water park at $40 dollars a head. I say why not take them out for Chinese or Italian and for us 4 to spend the week end at the indoor water park. Any suggestions on what would be more reasonable

Post By George (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

Dear LJ Corso (1/4/08)
First Holy Communion is a Sacrament and should not be treated lightly. You should no sooner combine a birthday with this Sacrament than you would with another "party" Sacrament: Weddings. When your daughter receives the body and blood of Jesus Christ it should be celebrated as a most special time. It is the only time in her life she will receive her "First" Communion. Don't overshadow it with balloons and kids' games. Do the birthday another day.

Post By klb (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

I am in a state of PANIC right now. My wife is Catholic and I am Christian. She has mentioned that we would be having a first communion party for our son this May and I really didn't think much of it. I figured that it would be similar to any other holiday where we have a few close family and friends over and have a cookout (if the weather is warm enough by then. We live in Ohio).
Last week my wife started telling me that she has set up the guest list and that if everyone on the list actually shows up, there could be over 80 people at my home. There is no possible way that we can get that many people in our house nor could we find enough placed for that many people to park. She is acting like this is no big deal and I am ready to lose my mind trying to figure out what we can do. This is supposed to be a joyous event, but is quickly turning into a nightmare. It's not like we can afford to rent a big banquet hall and with the weather in Ohio it could be snowing at that time of year (It's happened before). Any thoughts on how I explain to my wife that a large portion of her family and friends cannot come?
I only have 5 people coming from my side of the family. the other 75 people are my wifes side.

Post by Worried

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

My daughter is making her First Communion this May. The wrench in the party is that it is on her birthday. SInce all our family will be in for the Ceremony, we are planning a double party. We need some ideas for entertainment for the kids. We are having the party in our backyard. I have a tent from my business. Any idea will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Post By LJCorso (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

HELP! Need First Communion party at home ideas for mixed adult.child family style. I'm in RN school, so money is a huge issue. Two children, boy and girl both had the communion already. Very few could attend, we went to brunch after paid for as a gift by a relative..This is the party for everyone who's upset about missing it. Thought about revisiting the brunch idea. Has to be inside, upstairs large condo with balcony, bright with kitchen/dining/living/family rooms all open to each other. I want to show the home video at some point, for anyone who missed it. I can cook and I'm creative/artistic. About 20+ adults and children. My fear is looking back in six months as a nurse when the money issues are resolved thinking I wish I could have done a better job of this...any ideas would help, thank you and God bless!
I have one week :0

Post by MAnne

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

Having it at the house is always a big job. I reserved the gazebo area down at our local town beach. It's quiet. If it's hot, they can go in the water, they can play baseball, volleyball, play on the new playground or just play in the sand. I'm either going to serve sandwichs and salads or barbeque. The cake, since it might be hot, a cream cake would not hold up, so I'm making a decordated cross shaped box and filling it with white iced cup cakes, and a cookie platter and fruit on the side. The centerpieces, I'm painting teracotta pots white, decorating them with ribbon and lace, I'm putting real white flowers in them and a pin wheel, on the inside edge I'm going to put peppermint lifesaver rolls and packs of gum with communion wrappers on them stuck in the pots with small skewer sticks.

Post By Pattie (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

I was also looking for ideas, and it's amazing how difficult it is to find something. My two kids are having their communion this May. We have about 50 guests (adults & kids). I'm having the food catered, and we'll do it in our backyard. We will have a tent, tables w/white tablecloths. I found some angels that I will arrange for centerpieces together w/flowers. Since it's for a boy and a girl, my theme colors will be be soft pink, blue and yellow. For favors, I found silver frames w/a cross on top. I also found small rosaries.
I have been looking for unique ideas for their cake, the usual its a cross, If you have any other ideas, please share.

Post By Ingrid (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

For the cake, I decided to make a first communion doll cake. Using a barbie and a dome shaped cake pan makes it simple. For food, we went to a fun pizza restaurant so all the children could have a blast. Instead of goody bags, I just gave free tokens to our guest so they could enjoy themselves.

Post By ylexia (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

hi my two boys are having there communion in may and we just bought a house and were very low on money. i wanted to take them to a restaurant and do a buffet so we wont spend so much but i want some ideas for that day not so expensive

Post By adriana (Guest Post)

Your child's touch

I am a Catechetical Leader at a catholic church. The children in our parish draw a picture of themselves as they think they will look on their First Communion Day. We turn these creations into blank notecards that can be used as invitations or thank yous. My daughter is celebrating the sacrament this year, and created her own "holy card". She drew a beautiful picture of Jesus on one side, and her favorite scripture verse, along with her name and date of first communion on the other side.
A word of advice: Do not ruin it for the kids by making your parties too big, too much - the focus on the day needs to be what happens at the church.

Post By Mary (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

We are having my daughter's Communion party at our home with about 50 guests. We're having it catered (the caterer will bring all the food, papergoods, utencils etc..) Entries include the standard meatballs, roast beef, and chicken fingers for the kids. That takes a great deal of work off our plate! We're looking into renting a tent with a few round tables for outside and I am hoping to decorate them with bouquets of spring flowers. Nothing outrageous or fancy. It should be beautiful but not over-the-top. I'm a big believer in simpler the better. As for a gift for our daughter, we are planning to get her a digital camera--one that is geared toward a 9 yr old. She is always asking for one and this is as good an occasion as any. It is a very special, blessed day. We want her to remember it by being able to take her own pictures

Post By Maureen (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

Well...after reading all this..it's all amazing.
I am doing easy foods and side salads with our son's cake that I will personalize for him..but I think i am going to now do side fingers desserts as someone about stated and I had never thought of favors,,and small bowl vases with flowers that I will give to the women at the party when they leave beings mother's day is the next day... ...so thanks for the favor ideas...well we did higher a magician...he always wanted one and it's a surprise..that he'll always remember.

Post By Lisa (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

My daughter's 1st communion is next weekend so I am busy preparing, like you. Her colors are pink and green. One idea we had was to spray paint lots of small (2.5in) flower pots pink and stamp a cross (that matches the invitations I made). We will plant a variety of small pink flowers in the pots and use them to decorate our house and yard. When the party is over, each guest can take one home as a momento of her special day!

Post By Michelle (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

Another nice centerpiece idea. I dug out my child's baptism candle. Then I placed both her baptismal candle and first communion candle on the table. We lit both. You may want to add photos of those special days next to the candles. A great symbol of both sacraments.

Post By kristin (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

We had our daughters first holy communion last year and another one doing it again this year. Her dress was beautiful so we took her for professional pictures and what a keepsake. The day of the professional pictures I brought her home and took our own pictures which I used in her invitations and her thank you hershey bar candy wrappers. I converted a pink baby announcement to a communion invitation which was pink so wewent with a pink and green theme. We rented tents and I tied tulle around the legs of the tent with pink flowers on each. We ordered round tables and each table had a picture frame from the dollar store on it with again the pictured we had taken along with a vase of pink roses and balloons. All the table cloths were pink and the tableware was green. It was beautiful. The cake was ordered from a bakery and it was an ice cream cake which worked nice becasue I didn't have to buy ice cream seperate. we also had a party tray of finger desserts (eclais, cookies etc) and a chocolate fpountain thet you could dip strawberries. cookies and pretzels in. We really had a wonderful day and plan on doing it again this year for the other daughter but her colors are going to be lilac and yellow. Hope I gave someone some good ideas just as I have gotten from other people here.

Post By Lisa (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

try considering a real cheap backyard type Mediterranien feel. Just like Jesus. Serve Breads cheeses wines (grape juice for the kids) fish if you want fish sticks for kids and maybe a few lunch meats for some of the men. It is fun.

Post By Enter your name.sherri (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

My three kids are doing their first communion in May. I'm planning a family reunion after the mass in my house. I've being looking for ideas in the internet about how to decorate my backyard, but I still don't have anything. There will be around 40 guests. any ideas?

Post By Mary (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

I copied the cake my mom used to make for us, it is my favorite. It looks like a chalice with a host on top. Using a circle cake you cut it off center, about 1/3 down, this makes the top and bottom of the chalice, with a cupcake inbetween to complete it. She then used a pan from our easy bake oven to make the "host". The first communicate got the honor of having their own cake (the host) and loved it and felt very special. I made cupcakes with the extra cake batter.

Post By Amy (Guest Post)

RE: First Communion Party Ideas

I too am having about 50 people for the party. I was lucky enough to find a hall that will cater and decorate for about $32 a person. This includes Entrees, main dish, pasta, salad, grilled chicken, 2 vegetables, unlimited bread and buns, coffee, tea, pop and 2 bottles of wine per table. That takes care of decorating the hall, clean up and serving. Also I have ordered a white pound cake, since we are of Latin American background, the bakery new how to decorate. The only thing I am stuck on is gift bag ideas or are they necessary for a first communion?

Post By Rosa (Guest Post)

First Communion Party for my 2 boys together

My two boys are going to receive First Communion soon. I need advice on how to go about it. we will be having 60 guest and we intend to have the party in a hotel.

what will be a good gift for them
how to decorate the cake
should we have 1 or 2 cakes
what should be written on the cake
what about backdrop
what colour table cloths and napkins should i use

please give as much advice as u can

Post By Edward Lopes (Guest Post)

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