How to Plan a Baptism Party

Baptism is a solemn Christian ritual used to initiate a child into a church. Relatives and friends who haven't seen each other in years come together to celebrate life and faith--and, of course, to see the baby. After the baptism, it is common for the child's parents to hold a party either at the church or in their home.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Help from family and friends
• Party-planning Web sites

Plan a Baptism Party

1. Ask yourself if the people you are inviting are used to more formal or informal entertaining, and if children will be present. This information will help you figure out how large your venue should be.
2. Look at your budget to make sure you can afford what you have planned, especially considering the cost of a rented venue.
3. Share the responsibility. Plan jointly with a friend or spouse and delegate jobs such as pricing party rentals and helping with decorations. You'll feel more relaxed and will have more time to focus on enjoying the baptism.
4. Decide on a theme for decorations. For instance, teddy bears, hearts, flowers or crosses may be nice for small children.
5. Plan games and entertainment appropriate for both children and adults. For large parties, you may wish to put someone in charge of the children in a separate room. Smaller parties may benefit from all-ages amusements, such as a band, a magician or an old standby, such as charades.
6. Think about your time frame. Find out the times the baptism begins and ends and how much time there will be between the baptism and the party.
7. Assign last-minute tasks to family and close friends beforehand. Tell them exactly when and in what order the tasks need to be completed.
8. Remember the baby's needs. Don't allow him or her to get overtired from too much company. Everyone will understand that you need time to feed and change the baby and see that he or she gets a nap away from the noise of the crowd.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are hosting the party in your home, think about serving the food buffet-style. It saves a lot of time and trouble.
• Keep in mind that it is a religious occasion and plan to reflect this in the tone of your celebration.
• If you have invited a lot of children, a formal sit-down dinner is not the best choice. A park or a backyard might be better. At the least, you may want to provide a separate room or space where younger guests can play.

Who Can Help:

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