First Communion Party

This is a very tough question to answer. How many people are attending? Will everyone be going to the church first or is the party on a different day or much later in the day?

My suggestion for a First Communion party for a young child... do something at your home if you can. You can have it catered and rent tables/chairs/tent whatever you need, but the odds are pretty good that after being "dressed up" for HOURS, your daughter or son will be anxious to get into play clothes and run around. My parents always did ours at their house and invited people immediately following the service (but bring a change of clothing).

If that's not an option, do a brunch following the Mass at a child-friendly restaurant with a private room. Bring a change of clothes for your child.

There is a Buca Di Beppo in Westlake - parties there are always fun! Or your backyard if you are looking to do something simple.

We are having Panera, my daughter's choice. She wanted to have the party at the house and I wanted something easy!

We had my eldest daughter's at our house and planned it for outside. The problem was it was drizzly and dreary that day and we didn't have enough room in the house for everyone we had invited.

For my middle daughter we just had it in a party room at a local pizza place and they did a fabulous job. We're doing it there again for my youngest daughter. I prefer it there since I don't have to make the food or worry about cleaning up. When I did all of the food and preparations like cake and house cleaning for my eldest daughter's party, it was so stressful and hectic and I didn't have enough time. I didn't have any help either and definitely didn't have help the second time either. As my pain issues have increased, why worry about it?

My husband wants to do it at his mother's house this time to save money but honestly, that means I would still have to cook and transport everything on my own and serve in a dusty basement. AND I'd have to do it all by my MIL's rules. No way. I'd rather be the hostess in a restaurant that's casual but has amazing food that I already know everyone loves.

For past parties, like birthdays and baptisms, we've done the church hall thing and at parks but that's when the children were small and my pain issues weren't as advanced. This is a bigger deal too, and I want to celebrate it the right way.

We went to church and then rented a hall at this restaurant and had a luncheon for about 50 people. We also passed out communion favors as well (chocolate bars with my son's communion details on them) ... It was a lot of fun.

We are having ours at the house after mass. You can either do some breakfast casseroles, biscuits and gravy & fruit salad or a lunch. We are doing meatballs, scalloped potatoes, corn & cake. I'll have dessert and some apps as well. Happy First Communion!

Need more info. When, budget how many people.