Communion Gift - Spotswood,NJ

If I were you I'd give $25 regardless of the baquet. It's not a wedding it's a child making communion. Don't get to hung up about it.

I think monitary gifts are good, especially in this day and age. You may also want to consider a bond.

Monetary gift works well; my friends have purchased savings bonds too--a standard $25 to 50 is appropriate; more for family.

Hi L., I'm a little behind in my responses. Maybe you have already gone to the party. Money gifts are always good. There are also stores that sell religious articles. A nice 1st. communion picture frame is lovely. Have fun!good wishes, Grandma Mary

Dear L.,

Since it's a friend of your daughter's a monetary gift is the best way to go. Nothing less than $100 or savings bonds are a great option. Since it is not a wedding you don't have to match what it costs per plate. Otherwise, if you don't want to spend that much or be so specific dollar wise, you can have your daughter pick out a great charm for her friend's necklace or bracelets I'm sure she owns. There is a lot of fun jewlry out there for girls that age now.

Have fun. A. B

If you want to give money-I would give a securities bond or a share of stock.

L.,

The communion party i went to I gave the chils a shadow box picture that had averse in it . They loved it. You can probbibly find a Christian book store or gift store and get a lot of ideas there.

S.

These days money is always appropriate, but I feel it could be a little impersonal. I always like to give a little something along with a check to make it more personal - especially for a kid. Keeping in mind that even though the family is having this party at a reception hall - it is not a wedding. My niece's communion was this past weekend and I gave her an American Girl craft set and a check - totaling about $100. Since it was my niece, I would have liked to have given more, but it was in line with what we could afford, as I am currently staying home with our little miss. I would probably do about the same for a close friend's child, whether the party was big or small.
If money is tight, I you can give a savings bond (which costs only half the face value), along with a small toy or something. Crosses and other religious items are nice, but I would be weary of spending a lot on them, as I am sure that the child will receive them from family and/or close friends.

My son just had his first communion last weekend. He mainly got money, but there are a ton of gifts that are appropriate depending on how close you are with this family.

My son, received to beautiful photo frames, an angel/communion boy figurine. But there are other gifts too, check out your local Hallmark Store.

Sounds like this is a big party since it is at a reception hall, so you might want to give money to make it easier. Again depending on how close you are with this family, $10 is plenty.

Good Luck.

Hi L.: I just had my 3rd daughters Communion last week. The best gift I think is a Savings Bond. Ask for the childs S.S. #, or use your own if You do not want to ask the parents for it. The value will double in 7 years and it shows you really made a effort towards the gift. Then get a white stuffed animal with wings and a cross at a dollar store and put the necklace around the stuffed animal with the Savings Bond. Put it in a gift bag with tissue paper and it looks wonderful. Anyone can give just money$$$$$ I do that for all my Communions and the children love the winged stuffed animal with a cross on around its neck. Good Luck and God Bless!! M. and family of 4 girls

How about a child's bible, it is a religious occasion. I think that a money gift takes away from what is being celebrated.

In my opinion, a communion should stress more the spiritual aspect of the day than the material one. Giving money or a gift certificate puts more emphasis in the materail present. A savings bond to be redeemed in 10 years to help pay for higher education is more appropriate, even better is a donation to a charity which is in tune with either the church that the family attends or that it is a favorite of the child's. Another idea is to give books about saints, Jesus, or the like.
Also, a good source for gift ideas could be a local church of the same denomination as the child who is taking communion as they may have catalogs with items for gift giving.

Cash is always a great gift. How much???....well that depends on how close you are with this family giving the party, how many people are attending the party from your own family and what you can afford...

My neighbor with whom I have a very pleasant relationship with, invited me to two communions. The first one I gave $50...and didn't attend due to healh reasons. For the second one I gave again $50 and only attended the services at the church...not the party due to health reasons.
My decision was based on me being one guest, my relationship with this neighbor and what I was able to afford...

However a gift is a gift and should come from the heart...I tend to think what ever you decide on giving will be appreciated.

Enjoy the party....

You seem to have already gotten all the good advice, but I'll just chime in anyway! Money is always a good gift, and $25 should be fine, as one woman said, she's not getting married, for goodness sake! What happens at confirmation if you are still friends at that point? Sweet sixteen? etc. Don't set the bar so high at a young age. I know it's at a banquet hall, but still. Maybe the parents shouldn't set the bar so high at such a young age. But do what you feel comfortable with.

A necklace that is a crucifix (specifically Catholic) or a cross (all Christianity and very appropriate) is an excellent gift, I remember my Uncle and Aunt gave me a cross for my First Holy Communion and I LOVED it. However, that is a pretty typical gift and usually a family member does this, so check with the parents to see if someone is already doing this. You could complement it with earrings in the shape of a cross (subdued posts, not huge, hanging Madonna-style, and I'm not talking about the virgin mother! ha ha), that's another idea...

As far as a bible is concerned, this is nice idea as well, although again, check with the parents, if the child is in Catholic school chances are they may already have one.

Either way, if you can't figure out a gift, money is usually well-received at events like this, and I would do money over savings bonds. Savings bonds don't go very far these days -- you pay half the value of the bond and in 25 years he/she gets $25 bucks. Just give the cash. My opinion.

Good luck and enjoy the party!

Through the years and many children in the family having Holy Communion, I always found it nice to get a gold cross on a chain necklace. They are relatively inexpensive and will always be remembered. I still have the one my godmother bought me.

I would give a savings bond & depending on close you are to the family maybe a cross or picture frame. Hope this helps.
K.

A gift card or check is very great! The amount should be what you are comfortable with...I would say 25-50 would be a normal average! Don't stress, a nice card and a small piece of jewelry could work as well...the child is 7 and yes this is impottant(probably more to the parents) but don't go overboard...she's 7!

L.,

In the past, I've known people to give monetary gifts along with some small religious artifact especially for communions and baptisms(ie. bible, small cross pendant, picture frame that comemmorates the religious event, glass bead rosary, etc - all these can be purchased at a religious store). And just like a wedding where you should be at least giving a monetary gift to cover your plate, I would give one that would roughly cover your meal also (say $15-20 p/head). Enjoy the party and hope I helped!

Hi L.,

I have a communion to go to also. I asked around to see what to give and a lot of people told me to get a savings bond so I did. I also bought something small like prayer beads to give to the child. You can look online for gifts at personal creations. Hope this helps.

T.

There is a Christian Living store on Rte. 23 North in Pompton (near the Pompton Queens Diner). I got some great gifts for a child's first communion. Some people do savings bonds as well. As far has how much of a monetary gift depends on how close you are to the child & family.

Consider that you have to at least cover the cost of the banquet. You can always call the banquet and ask how much it would be to hold a similar party. Once you get the 'per person' price, double it for you and your husband. This way at least you'll know you're on target.

Just my opinion as a mother and as a gift-giver myself- I think money or a savings bond is really more appropriate and more well-recieved than knick knacks no matter how thoughtful you think it may be. I am a mother who's son just turned 2 and we have had 2 birthday parties and a Baptism and those knick knacks never get used, end up collecting dust and wind up getting thrown away or given away or packed in a box somewhere to be forgotten. Crosses and jewelry are usually given by the godparents and grandparents. How many crosses can one child wear?

He has more toys and clothes than he can play with or wear so money is always welcomed. We have a savings account and a lot of money in CDs for him and in just 2 short years, he has acquired over $8000 plus loads of savings bonds. We continue to put money away for him with each birthday. The money will be very helpful in 16 years when he goes to college or wants to buy a home. Toys are soon forgotten, clothes are shortly outgrown and knick-knacks, well, you know how I feel about those.

I've also noticed that this way of thinking about gift-giving changes based on where you live in the country. I went to a wedding in FL where the bride actually expected people to not show up with anything or have someone bring a tablecloth as a gift when she paid over $100 per person. I live in NJ and most people here give money for a gift and would NEVER show up with nothing. But in other parts of the country, this is not always the case. I also read another post that said $10 was more than enough- that was laughable to me (I'm actually hoping that was a typo and she meant $100). But again, just my opinion. Good luck!