Help Planning and Inexpensive Baptism

Hi! I can tell you what I did and I did it pretty inexpensively. My child is a boy too and I did baby blue and brown as my colors for the after party at my house. I went to an art supply store and bought brown construction paper and cut out crosses from the paper and I bought some baby blue balloons. I also bought brown and baby blue table clothes (plastic ones) and something thing with plates and napkins. Then on the walls I just taped up a cross, then a balloon, then a cross, etc. For the table clothes I laid down the brown one then folded the blue one and put it over (so it looked like a brown border). It was simple but very pretty and I got compliments on it. For food we got a cake with the same colors and then we got the meal from Blue Sky Food by the Pound. I think it was $77 for the about the same size you would need and it comes with emperial rice (with chicken in it) and fried plantains. Then at Publix I got some Cuban bread and made a salad. The most expensive thing was the food, the decorations, including the plates and napkins were about $30 or under (it's been a year so I'm guessing). Hope this helps!

You ARE giving them a great Baptism. It is the greatest gift you can give them, after life. The other amenities, are optional.
Since everyone is bringing something, you can buy fresh flowers at a wholesales or the supermarket and arrange them around the house. Buy paper napkins and coordinating plates for the food and a pretty cake maybe.
Afterwards you will feel that just by being surrounded by family and friens who love you and your kids is great. God bless you.

My friend's big family gatherings are usually this: they buy lunch meat and roll it up (or leave it flat and overlap it)to make their own platters-- you can buy big plastic platters for pretty cheap at the party stores. Then all you need are cheese, rolls, condiments, and some stuff for sides like potato salad and macaroni salad and some cut up veggies(all of which you can make yourself or buy) and a nice tray of fancy finger desserts like pretty cookies and brownies. I like the punch bowl idea and I agree that if the table looks nice you don't really need "decorations" for the rest of the house

Hi Noelia,

I think the most important thing is that the table be decorated well. Anything else with that many people in the house would just be overkill. A pretty white lace tablecloth that is decorated with flowers, flower petals or winter leaves. Make a colorful punch to go with the food. Make ice cubes out of the punch in different colors to brighten it up. When all the food arrives, arrange it so it's not just in sections, but colorfully placed.

My husband and I cater regularly and less is more when it comes to decorations.

God bless!

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

Hi Noelia,

I agree with what every one has said, keep it simple! You can focus your decorations around the table -- if you have live flowers you could put some in the main seating areas if you want also. If everyone is bringing something I used to do a meat/cheese tray with rolls -- however, I found a fantastic lasagna recipe and it is amazing to me how inexpensive it is to make and it feeds a number of people. Plus, a lot of people are vegetarians so you could make a plain cheese lasagna and a meat lasagna and with everyone else bringing salad, bread, drinks, etc. you are set for everything.

Let me know if you want the lasagna recipe!

M.

Noelia,
If you are looking for cheap food ideas, we did lasagna, salad, & bread sticks. Lasagna is really cheap to make & goes a long way. The same with salad.
If you are talking about their Baptism clothes, then you should try a consignment shop. I am sure some people dont keep their gowns.
Hope this helps.
H.

We just baptized my 4 month old son and had a beautiful, simple celebration back at our house for about 25 people, as well.
I put out cheese and crackers; chips and salsa for snacks.
My mother made a baked ziti (easy and inexpensive to make for a lot of people) and my mother-in-law brought a ham. I made a simple salad (romaine and croutons) and bought some small rolls so that people could either make a ham sandwich or have bread with their pasta. I made pigs in a blanket for the kids.
For drinks we served soda, water and got one large bottle each of pinot grigio and merlot (great deals from Costco).
For dessert, we got a 1/4 sheet cake (ended up being just the right amount) from Publix (Costco also makes very nice, inexpensive, delicious cakes).
I didn't really decorate because I still had all of my Christmas decorations up, but you can do something really simple and add some fresh flowers (again Costco has beautiful, inexpensive flowers).
We didn't give out favors. It's an added expense that I don't think is necessary. People generally don't keep them. If you wanted to do something as a memento, print a nice photo from the day of you and the kids and send it along with a thank you note after the day. Something like this will be much more appreciated and serve as a nice reminder of the day.
In the end, the food was great and the cake was good, but what I (and my family and friends) will remember the most is having all of our loved ones around us for the beautiful service and spending some time celebrating together, afterwards.
Hope you have a beautiful day.
Hope you have a beautiful day.

Another idea for table decorations, put a framed photo of each boy on the table. You can get cheap frames at the dollar store, also mine usually has baptism decorations. Ziti, spaghetti and meatballs are easy food to make and serve, and pretty cheap. Don't do favors, no one keeps them anyway...

Congratulations on your sons' baptism!

I don't see a reason a baptism would need to be expensive. The ceremony itself should be free. Our party was at home we invited close friends, people we knew well from church, and a few people from work. It was pot luck. The decor was simple, white, and inexpensive. The only other thing we bought were drinks and disposable dishes. The most expensive thing was the babies outfit, but remember you can get that from a consignment store if you can't afford new. All the guests were very gracious. We got lots of gifts, plus several people gave us money or gift certificates, and the potluck was wonderful. The funds we received were used to pay for room furniture that hadn't yet been purchased.

To those concerned about when a person should be baptized that is up to the parents and the church. Some churches baptize babies, then do a confirmation when they reach "the age of reason." Some do the baptism after the person reaches "the age of reason," and have a special celebration when they are a baby. In both situations the adults in the babies ceremony are tasked to care for the child's spiritual welfare, and the later ceremony is performed after the person has grown in faith and decided on the next step of their own free will. Neither method is anymore wrong or right, and both achieve the same ends. So I think we all need to be respectful of our individual right to follow our faith as we believe is right for us.

These 25 people must be close and special to you so I would suggest you do potluck style and have everybody bring a dish. You can creat the menu and just ask them to bring a specific dish, I'm sure they won't mind. Otherwise you can always do pasta, salad and bread; that's easy, simple and inexpensive.

As far as activities, you can have some paper that you can give to everybody and ask them to write a special not to your child about what that day meant to them or how special that child means to them and you can save them and give it to them when they are older. otherwise, just fellowship and enjoy the day with your friends.

I'll let you know what we did... We didn't do decorations -- I didn't have the time, but if you do, go to the dollar store and grab streamers and ballons. It's a celebration! We did a pork butt in the slow cooker and had BBQ pork sandwiches. Make sure to invite the pastor and his/her family. That is very important. Have someone bring coleslaw, someone else bring beans, someone bring dessert. You can easily do this for under $60. Don't go all out because then you are more worried about the party and not about the baptism.

Good luck and God bless.

My suggestion would be either Italian food (baked ziti or spagetti and meatballs with salad and bread) or Mexican Fiesta (taco meat, soft and hard shells, chesses, lettuce, tomatoes and salsa. Lots of chips and dip. For decorations a few pictures of the kids some framed artwork from your older one and balloosn from the dollar store. Make homemade cupcakes or make sheetcake.

Karen

Definitely the dollar store for decorations and favors; consignment shop for outfits; and ask the guests (your friends and family) to bring a dish. Plan the menu (some good suggestions here: Italian, bbq, etc) so designate who brings what. Perhaps grandma or your auntloves to bake....and decorate the cake! Blessings

Pasta is pretty cheap; a large pan or 2 of ziti can go a long way in feeding a big crowd. Make punch or lemonade; add some rolls and perhaps a green salad with a couple of dressing options. If you by plain plates for the main food and decorated plated for desert you can also save money. I also rarely buy the larger decorated napkins because they come in smaller quantizes and cost more than the decorated desert napkins (you get twice as much for ½ of the price). I loved the idea of Flowers on the table and cookies and brownies for desert! Oh also streamers are super cheap and can go a super long way instead of other decorations like banners, and balloons. If you chose to use the flower Idea make several small little arrangements for each family to take home. Look at the dollar store for small bud vases and maybe tie a bow on it Or maybe a nice cookie bagged and tired with a bow. I understand why you want to get this done, as a mother we all just want to get something’s done sooner than later…But I hope you guys have a fun day and enjoy everyone’s company!

I LOVE this site they have cute cheap favors…
http://www.favorwarehouse.com/pages/communion_main.htm

http://www.favorwarehouse.com/pages/hot-communion-favors-...

I hope this helps!!!

I don't have any specific ideas, but I might have a way for you to make some money. I just had a Gold and Silver party at my house to make some money for my friends and I, and it was great. I am having another one soon, if you have any old gold or silver that you don't want any more the jeweler will test it,weigh it, and write you a check for it. My friends made anywhere from $100- $650 that night and we had fun doing it. I hope this helps you. LisaM

Hi Noelia,

I have sort of the same questions for our mamasource moms..but there's only one difference, i want to do a baby dedication, not a baptism.We are also on the same financial boat, so if you could share your responses with me i will greatly appreciate it!

God Bless Your Children

Hi Noelia,

I do announcements, invitations, and favors. Email me back and I'll give you my website information. I can work with your budget to try and keep it low for you.

Thanks, L.

Oh, Sweetie, Jesus said about little children "Of such is the kingdom of heaven"...so I am bewildered as to why a church would require a baby to be baptized. Study the book of Acts in the New Testament - only those who knew what sin is, were baptized. Your children are already SAFE! When they get to the accountable age, then it will be their responsibility to be baptized "for the remission of sins", according to the New Testament. Right now, all they need is to be taught about Jesus and how He loves them and how He wants them to always obey Him. Yes, in these perilous times, we want them to be safe and cared for - it sounds like you are doing that for them. You must be a good mom.