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starr14
LIF Zygote
Member since 11/13 17 total posts
Name:
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Christening Help
Hi everyone!
I need some help/ideas for planning the christening for DD. I've looked through the forums and already received some great answers, so imagine how many questions I had before writing this post!
In my family we usually have our parties in our backyards, but I live in a condo so I don't have that luxury. Does anyone have any suggestions for a venue in the Patchogue, Holbrook, Ronkonoma-ish areas? I live in Holbrook, Church is likely going to be in Ronkonkoma and I'd go to a venue anywhere in the vicinity. I have my eye on Lombardis on the Bay right now and perhaps the Mansion at West Sayville. It's going to be the end of summer so I was hoping a water location, but it doesn't have to be. I've been to Lombardis before and had a great experience, does anyone have any reviews about the Mansion at West Sayville?
Also, each church offers the Christening on a Sunday between 1-2pm, but all of my family lives far (Nassau-Brooklyn.) Is it OK to have the dinner after church on a Sunday or should I consider maybe doing the party the following Saturday and leaving the church for just the close family that would come anyway? I thought that might be too much to ask to have the family be available two weekends in a row, I just wasn't sure if the Sunday party is customary.
Since we're used to backyard parties, we provide our own entertainment like a pool/games for kids, music, etc. Since I'm having the party somewhere else should I consider having entertainment like a DJ or other things for the kids to do? I'm really unsure what normally would occur at a Christening party, I know I would provide this if it were a birthday party or some other type of affair.
And same question for decor. Do I go all out with decorations, centerpieces, etc? If it were in my home I would definitely decorate, but I'm not sure if that's normal for having it out as well. I think so, but if I start getting in to decor, centerpieces, dj, favors, etc I'm starting to think this is a mini-wedding. Is that normal? I'm totally OK with that, I'm just unsure.
Any help you can provide would be so appreciated, I'm the first of my friends to have a baby and my family is no help with this. TIA!!
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Posted 5/21/14 4:06 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Christening Help
If you are doing it at a catering hall it will be a mini wedding.
Also, a catering hall has set times for events so while your church will be at 1ish a catering hall will most likely not let you have the place until 5pm at the earliest because they try and book 2 parties in one day.
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| Posted 5/21/14 4:48 PM |
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starr14
LIF Zygote
Member since 11/13 17 total posts
Name:
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Christening Help
Good to know, thank you!
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| Posted 5/21/14 4:50 PM |
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jab818
LIF Infant
Member since 10/12 254 total posts
Name:
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Christening Help
We just had dd 3 weeks ago. It was a mini wedding but not a mini price. We had flower centerpieces, a 3 tier cake, table cards, a band, dd had 3 outfits, and we had favors. It was amazing but not a necessity. I think it can be as big or small as you want. As everyone was leaving they said we hope to live to see her wedding. And they didn't want to leave. The band stayed an extra 30 min. It was on a Sunday church at 2 party from 3:30-8 but most stayed till 9. No one complained and we had family from nj.
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| Posted 5/21/14 5:25 PM |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
Member since 2/09 20494 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Christening Help
Posted by jab818
We just had dd 3 weeks ago. It was a mini wedding but not a mini price. We had flower centerpieces, a 3 tier cake, table cards, a band, dd had 3 outfits, and we had favors. It was amazing but not a necessity. I think it can be as big or small as you want. As everyone was leaving they said we hope to live to see her wedding. And they didn't want to leave. The band stayed an extra 30 min. It was on a Sunday church at 2 party from 3:30-8 but most stayed till 9. No one complained and we had family from nj.
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| Posted 5/21/14 6:12 PM |
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MrsG823
Just call me Mommy.
Member since 1/11 5570 total posts
Name:
S
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Christening Help
You should plan to have the reception immediately following the Christening- the church should be able to give you an estimate of how long the ceremony usually takes. In my family christenings are usually followed by low key affairs in the home or lunch at a restaurant with a private room. We do not have huge events. My daughter was christened this past weekend and I hosted a brunch at my home. If I had done it out I would have had a lunch in a private room of an Italian restaurant near the church- no entertainment, simple center pieces and the same eatable favors I had for the brunch.
Message edited 5/21/2014 6:39:10 PM.
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| Posted 5/21/14 6:33 PM |
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starr14
LIF Zygote
Member since 11/13 17 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christening Help
Posted by jab818
We just had dd 3 weeks ago. It was a mini wedding but not a mini price. We had flower centerpieces, a 3 tier cake, table cards, a band, dd had 3 outfits, and we had favors. It was amazing but not a necessity. I think it can be as big or small as you want. As everyone was leaving they said we hope to live to see her wedding. And they didn't want to leave. The band stayed an extra 30 min. It was on a Sunday church at 2 party from 3:30-8 but most stayed till 9. No one complained and we had family from nj.
Aw. How many people did you have and where'd you have it?
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| Posted 5/21/14 7:03 PM |
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starr14
LIF Zygote
Member since 11/13 17 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christening Help
Posted by MrsG823
You should plan to have the reception immediately following the Christening- the church should be able to give you an estimate of how long the ceremony usually takes. In my family christenings are usually followed by low key affairs in the home or lunch at a restaurant with a private room. We do not have huge events. My daughter was christened this past weekend and I hosted a brunch at my home. If I had done it out I would have had a lunch in a private room of an Italian restaurant near the church- no entertainment, simple center pieces and the same eatable favors I had for the brunch.
Thank you! We have about 50 adults and 20 kids so I haven't been able to find a restaurant to accommodate us, otherwise that's the route I'd prefer to go. I'm trying to find a catering venue that accommodates small parties.
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| Posted 5/21/14 7:06 PM |
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jab818
LIF Infant
Member since 10/12 254 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christening Help
Posted by starr14
Posted by jab818
We just had dd 3 weeks ago. It was a mini wedding but not a mini price. We had flower centerpieces, a 3 tier cake, table cards, a band, dd had 3 outfits, and we had favors. It was amazing but not a necessity. I think it can be as big or small as you want. As everyone was leaving they said we hope to live to see her wedding. And they didn't want to leave. The band stayed an extra 30 min. It was on a Sunday church at 2 party from 3:30-8 but most stayed till 9. No one complained and we had family from nj.
Aw. How many people did you have and where'd you have it?
74 adults 5 kids the church was in douglaston the catering hall/rest was in bayside. We live in queens.
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| Posted 5/21/14 8:11 PM |
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jacksmom09
LIF Adolescent
Member since 6/10 687 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christening Help
I am not sure how fancy you wanted to get, but we ended up doing ours at an American Legion hall. We paid to rent the hall, but it was not as much as it would cost at a catering hall. It was really nice and we had it catered. There was a space for a DJ if we wanted, but we didn't do that.
Maybe there is a VFW hall, or American Legion hall you can look for that has a seating? Also, some people have also used a fire house as well. Not sure how fancy you wanted to get, but that is what we did and everyone had a great time! We also had the hall for the entire day as well.
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| Posted 5/21/14 9:47 PM |
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EandF
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 1674 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christening Help
Posted by jab818
We just had dd 3 weeks ago. It was a mini wedding but not a mini price. We had flower centerpieces, a 3 tier cake, table cards, a band, dd had 3 outfits, and we had favors. It was amazing but not a necessity. I think it can be as big or small as you want. As everyone was leaving they said we hope to live to see her wedding. And they didn't want to leave. The band stayed an extra 30 min. It was on a Sunday church at 2 party from 3:30-8 but most stayed till 9. No one complained and we had family from nj.
We had something very similar for DD this past weekend. The only real difference was we had a Dj and face painter/balloon artist.
I agree that it wasn't necessary but we do things on the larger side. It was incredibly expensive and stressful, poor DD ended up getting sick and was a disaster at the church, but I'm happy in the end that we did it. I say we will go smaller for the next one but I personally feel like I want to keep things equal with future kids.
I agree that it's what you want, and if that's a big event, go for it!
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| Posted 5/21/14 10:21 PM |
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Pinkisles
<3
Member since 11/13 2868 total posts
Name:
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Christening Help
I'm having my sons at john Harvards. The church is at 1030 and I'm having the party start at one to accommodate travel time. I'm not planning to have any decorations. I'm making my own edible favors.
I did splurge on the cake though. I got a mini replica of my wedding cake, mostly because it was so damn delicious and everyone loved it. Just a replica of the inside, different on the outside.
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| Posted 5/21/14 11:41 PM |
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td123
LIF Infant
Member since 3/10 294 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christening Help
I recently have had a few parties. A little further west from you but not too far from patchogue. Shandon Court in East Islip. They were great for both my kids christenings. They have a restaurant and a few party rooms. Very reasonably priced with great food. They also help you do the centerpieces and things.
I recently had my husbands 40th at Marconi Manor which was recently renovated and beautiful. Very reasonably priced as well. Everyone raved about the food at both locations.
We also had a larger party at Mediterranean Manor in Patchogue. little pricier than the others but also beautful and a great time by all.
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| Posted 5/22/14 9:23 AM |
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starr14
LIF Zygote
Member since 11/13 17 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christening Help
Posted by td123
I recently have had a few parties. A little further west from you but not too far from patchogue. Shandon Court in East Islip. They were great for both my kids christenings. They have a restaurant and a few party rooms. Very reasonably priced with great food. They also help you do the centerpieces and things.
I recently had my husbands 40th at Marconi Manor which was recently renovated and beautiful. Very reasonably priced as well. Everyone raved about the food at both locations.
We also had a larger party at Mediterranean Manor in Patchogue. little pricier than the others but also beautful and a great time by all.
Thank you! Shandon Court was one place I was looking at!
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| Posted 5/22/14 7:00 PM |
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