am I being too proud?

[newmommy]

We have about 60 people on our guest list for our son's christening................dh wants us to have the party at my parent's home (they offered) our house is 1/2 the size of hers, but that seems funny to me........any thoughts???

TIA

[scout]

Why does it seem funny? If you have 60 people coming, and not enough space at your house, the easy solution would be to have to at your parent's home--since they offered.

We had our ds' first birthday party at my IL's house just because it was more convenient for everyone driving-wise. I think it's fine!

[maplekitty]

I dont think its strange at all that the party be at the grandparents house. It gives you an opportunity to mingle and talk to guests instead of worrying about food and such. Just enjoy yourself.

[MrsD108]

I agree with maplekitty.

[Sophia]

I agree--if you're having more people than you can comfortably fit in your own home, it makes perfect sense to have it at your parents' house. How nice of them to offer.

DS's first birthday party was at my parents' house becuase our apartment was too small.

[BooeyJ2]

I agree with everyone else :) I say have it at the your parents house! :)

[newmommy]

Really?!

I don't know why I've had issues, I guess I just feel like they've done too much for us, and I feel guilty(although we're paying for it all).

Thanks for your quick responses...dh just called and lectured me again about this----I guess he does make sense after all ;)

[Renrel]

I can understand wanting to do it yourself at your own home but do not see anything "funny" about doing it at your parents home. My sister had her "baby naming" ceremony/party at a resturant to accommodate all the people and make catering as simple as possible. We had DS 2nd year b-day at my parents home since all the relatives live nearer to them than to us, like hours closer. I would think carefully about which place would make the celebration "better." More room may make your guests more comfortable and you may be able to mingle more, feel less hostess like. At your home it may feel more "homey" and/or "personal" to you which could affect how your guest end up feeling about the party.

[newmommy]

Now DH is giving me a hard time about this entire thing, and wants immediate family only(my parents, and grandparents, his parents our siblings and spouses....a total of 12) Which could be at home or at a restaurant...how boring!!!!!!!!!


He's driving me nuts:mad:

[Renrel]

Two totally differnent kinds of parties. I don't think small is necessarily boring. It is more intimate and may allow for a more meaningful and thus memorable celebration. Large may be more exciting and fun, but also stressful. Any remember you will be busy taking care of your baby, not really free to mingle like you used at a big party.

I am Jewish, so can't really comment on a christening party. I can tell you about my families experiene with brit and baby namings, for what it may be worth.

We had a bris in our home for our son, which is a very different ceremony. DS was only 9-10 days old and I was recovering from a C-section. And a bris is more tramatic for the parents than a christening.

The ceremony was attended mostly by family and close friends, since others did not arrive till after sundown and the ceremony needed to be done before for religious purposes. I am guessing there were around 20-25 people present. ( a bris invitation is very informal since it can not be planned until after the birth and is supposed to be done at 8 days, absent medical reasons to delay) At the time I really did not know what was going on, I was to worried about my baby, but the video someone made is beautiful.

DS dressed lin a special outfit, aying on a big white pillow, being passed along to each of his relatives before reaching the Moyel. My dad holded the pillow on his lap during the ceremony. A cousin playing accordian. My DH almost passed out (so cute seeing him sitting on the floor reciting the blessings wiht a wet towel on his head). Everyone singing and dancing around the table after the ceremony as I danced inside the circle with my son showing him off to all present. My holding my baby so very very close to comfort him. Gorgous. I think a bigger crowd would have been overwhelming for what we were trying to accomplish.

Due to the open house nature of the celebration alot of visiters to come and went during the evening. I have no idea how many. I was in the bedroom nursing and comforting my son for most of the party, while my mother and MIL fed and comforted me. (Also a very fond memory)

( All in all the bris was not that hard on DS as bris is much less painful then a hospital circumsion. He was over it quickly as soon as the wine soaked hanky hit is lips. It took me longer.)

My sisters had much bigger parties for their daughter's baby naming (for a girl) until the babies were around a year old. One had it at the house and went all out. I missed that because my son was less than a week old. I hear it was alot of fun and I am sure she was happy with it. She wants to do a another big party for her son when he is born in May. My other sister as I said did a party in a resturant and she was also happy with it. I attended and it was very nice and meaningfulf, but I prefer a more intimate ceremony. She however, made a much smaller party in the house for her second daughter. I do not know her reasoning.

[newmommy]

Thank you for your story!

I don't mind it being an intimate gathering, however we are not on really good terms with his parents---we still speak, but it would be very awkward for EVERYONE....hence my apprehension......

Maybe I'm making this bigger than it needs to be...I don't know, but I have to get the invitations out asap---because the christening is next month!!!


ETA: christening rather than party----that is after all the purpose of the gathering ; )

[Renrel]

If you do not get along well with the immediate family then maybe a bigger party is a better idea, more of a buffer between you and them, less likely to ruffle your feathers and ruin the day. If DH is aware of this issue and symathetic maybe you can voice that argument.

[newmommy]

renrel--thanks, I did just that!!!

DH has agreed to have it at my mom's : ) Now my mom and I are meeting this afternoon to discuss the details : )

Keep you posted!

[ManteoChik]

I don't see anything wrong with it at all. My best friend and her DH just had their DD blessed in the church and had a party afterwards. They couldn't help but invite lots of people.

Her DH is one of 5 children....all of which are married with kids of their own. His parents are also one of 5 or more kids so aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. They are a VERY close family and the entire family gets together every sunday after church for lunch so there is no "immediate family only" because they all *are* immediate family...lol

Not to mention she has her parents and two sets of grandparents that were VERY insistant on being at the blessing of their first grandchild. (you know how that goes)

They decided to keep it simple. They let everyone know that church let out around 11:30 and party would start around 12:30 to allow everyone time to go home and change because they wanted to keep it simple and comfy. They ended up cooking out and doing hotdogs, hamburgers, and chicken on the grill with a few different sides like potato salad, pasta salad, baked beans, salad, chips, ect.... She and her mom prepared everything the night before (including hamburger patties) and all they had to do was put it out. The men pretty much stayed outside at the grill :rolleyes: and the women inside..although they all came in and out.

[newmommy]

New plan :) :rolleyes:

We are going to rent tables and chairs and a canopy--for our backyard...and if it is pouring out--my mom's house will be the back up location(since it's just family and close friends it'll be easy enough to change locations--and we live down the street from eachother)

I like this plan the best, and we all agreed pretty easily...

thanks for all of your input--so appreciated!!!

I love the CC!!!!

[Katie1]

I had a similar problem- my parents offered to have DD's christening party at their house since our house is so small. My BF was against it because he didn't think our friends would feel as comfortable at my parents' house as at our house. Plus, we had never entertained at our house before and we really wanted to have it at home, except for the space issue.

In the end we decided to have it at our house, and it worked out fine. We had about 25 people (we only have two common rooms- the LR and kitchen, and it was winter so we couldn't use the yard.) I was really worried that there wouldn't be enough room but there really was plenty of space.

However, I wouldn't feel guilty about having it at your parents' house. If they offered, then they're probably happy to do it. Another option is to have an open house- rather than everyone arriving at 1:00, tell them to stop by anytime between 1:00 and 4:00. That way everyone won't be there at once.