Plan ahead

Be realistic about what you can afford and stick to your budget. Plan well ahead as budget considerations tend to go out of the window when things are last minute.

Identify the elements that are really important to you and assign your budget accordingly. You may have your heart set on a beautiful christening gown for your baby – the compromise could be to serve sparkling wine rather than champagne for the toast - your guests probably won't even notice.

Our free online planning tools can help you with your preparations - try out our Budget tool.   We have also put together some examples of what you can get for your budget to get you started.

Size matters

Think carefully about how many guests to invite as this will influence where you have the celebration and will greatly affect the catering costs. 

Send invitations early and ask for responses by a particular date so that you know exactly how many guests to budget and cater for.

Use our Guest List tool to keep track of who you have invited and whether they have responded.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount

By avoiding the busy Christmas party and wedding seasons you should have more bargaining power. 

Ask about late availability and cancellation deals. Sunday tends to be a quieter day for venues so don’t be afraid to ask for a discount, particularly if you are using their in-house catering services.

Food

If you are having caterers choose a main course and dessert rather than 3 courses or eliminate the dessert and serve christening cake instead.

Consider the new trend for bowl food  - dishes eaten from a bowl using a fork. Warming for a winter celebration, it is also economical and hassle-free as it can be prepared in large quantities in advance. 

For a lighter alternative, serve a traditional afternoon tea or simply champagne and cake.

Drink

Enquire about any corkage charges at your venue. The cost savings of providing your own wine and/or champagne may seem small per bottle but it soon adds up when you are catering for large group. Alternatively have a pay bar or limit the money behind the bar.

Consider hiring out a pub rather than having it at home – guests will think nothing of paying for their own drinks in a bar – you can always stand the first round or provide a few bottles of celebratory fizz.

Look out for supermarket and wine club specials on wine, champagne and beer – most offer great discounts when buying by the case. Many also offer a sale or return service as well as free glass hire.

Less can be more

Use a few high impact decorations. Plain white tablecloths and crockery borrowed from friends and family are perfect to set off a simple flower arrangement on the buffet table.

Raid grandparents’ attics for china tea sets to mix and match for a fashionable vintage look.
Fabric bunting and garlands can often be as cost effective as banners and paper decorations as well as being reusable for future birthday parties.

Revive and recycle

Many christening traditions are based on reusing items with a special significance such as keeping the top layer of a wedding cake for the christening cake or handing down a family christening gown. Specialist dry cleaners and restoration services may be able to help revive an aging heirloom rather than have to replace it with a new one.

Recycle Christmas decorations for an atmospheric winter celebration. Wind fairy lights and winter garlands round door frames, banisters and fireplaces to evoke a magical winter wonderland feel.

Share the load

Godparents, grandparents and other family members may like to contribute to the celebration in lieu of a present, for example by buying the christening gown, providing the champagne or buying/making the cake.

What you can get for your budget

Budget of £250
Budget of £500
Budget of £750
Budget of £1,000
Budget of £1,500