The service is the formal bit. The party afterwards is where people actually relax, catch up, and celebrate properly. Whether you're planning a traditional christening, a Catholic baptism, or a non-religious naming ceremony, the reception is the part your guests will remember -- and the part that needs the most practical planning.
Most parents spend weeks choosing the right church or venue for the ceremony itself, then scramble to organise the party in the last fortnight. Don't be that parent. The reception deserves the same thought as the service, because it's where your family and friends will spend most of the day.
Here's a complete guide to christening party ideas, planning logistics, and what to look for in a venue -- especially if you're searching near Heathrow and the Staines, Stanwell, and Egham area.
Christening Party Ideas That Work for Every Budget
Decorations That Set the Tone
Christening receptions call for a softer touch than birthday parties or gender reveals. You're celebrating something meaningful, so the decorations should feel warm and personal rather than over-the-top.
A photo display timeline. Print and frame photos of the baby from birth to now, laid out along the buffet table or pinned to a ribbon line. Guests love tracking how much the little one has changed. If grandparents have photos of the parents at the same age, include those -- the comparisons always get a laugh.
Personalised table cards. Simple name cards or table numbers with the baby's name and christening date. You can order these for under £15 from Etsy or make them yourself with card stock and a decent printer. They double as keepsakes for grandparents.
A "wishes for the baby" jar. Leave blank cards and pens on a table and ask guests to write a message, a piece of advice, or a prediction for the child's future. Seal them in a jar and open them on a milestone birthday. This costs almost nothing and creates something genuinely precious.
Flowers and foliage. A few simple arrangements in white, cream, or soft pastels. Supermarket flowers arranged in mason jars or small vases work just as well as florist arrangements for a pub or restaurant reception. Don't overthink this.
Colour schemes that work: Soft whites and greens for a neutral feel. Pale blue or pink if you want to acknowledge the traditional. Lemon yellow works beautifully for spring and summer christenings. Avoid going too heavy on a single colour -- subtlety reads as more thoughtful than saturation.
Food Ideas for a Mixed-Age Crowd
Christening receptions span four generations, from the baby to the great-grandparents. Your catering needs to work across all of them.
Buffets over sit-down meals. A buffet lets guests eat at their own pace, accommodates dietary requirements without awkward conversations, and means parents can eat one-handed while holding the baby. Finger food is ideal -- sandwiches, sausage rolls, mini quiches, and something sweet.
A statement cake. The christening cake is tradition for a reason. A simple single-tier or two-tier cake with the baby's name and date is all you need. Some families use a top tier from their wedding cake if they saved one (though honestly, year-old frozen cake is more symbolic than delicious).
Kids' food that isn't an afterthought. If there are older children at the party, they need proper food -- not adult buffet leftovers. Burgers, chicken nuggets, or mini pizzas with chips. Children eat when they're hungry, not when the buffet opens, so having something ready early helps.
Tea and coffee throughout. For an afternoon reception, unlimited tea and coffee is worth its weight in gold. Grandparents and older relatives will appreciate it far more than a drinks package they won't touch.
Party Favours Worth Keeping
Skip the generic "Baby [Name]'s Christening" keyrings. If you're going to do favours, make them something people actually want.
- Seed packets with a label: "Watch me grow" -- plant-themed favours suit the occasion and cost under £1 each
- Small candles in a scent that matches your table flowers
- Miniature bottles of prosecco or gin for the adult guests
- Homemade fudge or shortbread in a small bag with a ribbon and tag
Or skip favours entirely. Nobody judges a christening by the party bag.
Entertainment and Activities
Christening receptions aren't raves. But a few thoughtful touches keep guests (especially older children) engaged during the afternoon.
A short speech or toast. The godparents, grandparents, or parents saying a few words. Keep it under five minutes. Heartfelt is better than polished. If public speaking terrifies you, write it on your phone and read it -- nobody minds.
Background music. A Bluetooth speaker with a soft playlist. Nothing with explicit lyrics or aggressive bass. Think Sunday afternoon soundtrack: acoustic covers, jazz, soul. The venue's own sound system often works for this.
A "meet the godparents" moment. If guests don't all know each other (and at christenings, they often don't), give the godparents a brief introduction. It gives people a talking point and acknowledges the role publicly.
Naming Ceremonies: The Non-Religious Alternative
Not every family is religious, and that's completely fine. Naming ceremonies have become increasingly popular as a way to formally welcome a child and celebrate with family -- without the church element.
What's different about a naming ceremony?
The ceremony itself can happen anywhere -- a garden, a living room, a venue's private room. There's no set format. Most families appoint "guide parents" (the secular equivalent of godparents), include readings or poems, and make promises to support the child. A celebrant can lead the ceremony, or you can run it yourselves.
The reception afterwards looks identical to a christening party. Same food, same decorations, same guest list, same afternoon timeline. The only real difference is that you're not travelling from a church to a separate venue -- you might hold the ceremony and reception in the same place.
Venues that suit naming ceremonies
You need somewhere that can host both the short ceremony (15-20 minutes) and the longer reception. A private dining room that opens onto a garden is ideal -- ceremony indoors, drinks and mingling in the garden, buffet back inside. It's a natural flow that doesn't require guests to drive between locations.
Planning Timeline for a Christening or Naming Ceremony Reception
8-10 Weeks Before
- Book your venue. Sunday afternoons are prime time for christening receptions, and good venues book up. Tell them your expected numbers, the ceremony time, and when you expect guests to arrive.
- Confirm the ceremony details. Church, registry, or celebrant-led -- get the time and location locked down so you can plan the gap between service and reception.
- Start your guest list. Christenings tend to be 20-40 people: close family, godparents, and a few dear friends. Larger families might push to 50. Keep it intimate enough that the baby isn't overwhelmed (and that you aren't).
4-6 Weeks Before
- Choose your catering. Buffet menus, cake, kids' meals, and drinks. Confirm dietary requirements -- there's always at least one guest who's coeliac, vegan, or dairy-free.
- Order decorations and favours. Give yourself enough lead time for personalised items.
- Send invitations. Include the ceremony time and location, the reception venue address with postcode for sat-nav, parking information, and dress code (smart casual is standard for christenings).
2 Weeks Before
- Confirm final numbers with your venue. Catering quantities depend on this, so be as accurate as possible.
- Plan the cake. Order from a bakery or confirm your home-baking plan. A two-week lead time is comfortable for most bakers.
- Write your speech. If you're saying a few words, draft them now. Edit them next week. Practice once. That's enough.
1 Week Before
- Confirm everything. Call the venue, check the cake order, message the photographer (even if it's just a friend with a phone).
- Pack a christening day bag. Change of clothes for the baby (they will spit up on the christening outfit), nappies, wipes, bottle or snacks, a comforter, and a portable changing mat if your venue doesn't have baby changing.
- Prepare decorations for transport. Box everything up so you're not improvising on the morning.
On the Day
- Arrive at the venue 30-45 minutes before guests. Set up decorations, confirm the buffet timing, and take a breath.
- Have a point person. Someone who isn't you -- a sibling, a friend, a godparent -- who manages the logistics so you can focus on the baby and the guests.
- Don't over-schedule. Guests arrive, drinks flow, the buffet opens, someone says a few words, cake is cut, people drift home. That's the perfect christening reception. Resist the urge to add structured activities for adults.
What to Look for in a Christening Venue
Christening receptions have specific requirements that set them apart from birthday parties or corporate events. Here's what actually matters.
Proximity to local churches
If guests are driving from a church service to the reception, you want them close together. Ten to fifteen minutes maximum. Any further and the gap between ceremony and party kills the momentum -- people get lost, go home to change, or decide to skip the reception entirely.
Genuinely family-friendly
This means more than a kids' menu and a high chair. It means staff who don't flinch when a toddler drops a plate. It means space for buggies that doesn't block a fire exit. It means breastfeeding without being directed to a toilet. Ask the venue directly: "Are children welcome at all times with no age restrictions?" The answer tells you everything.
Flexible timing
Church services run late. Babies need feeding at inconvenient moments. Your venue needs to accommodate a start time that might shift by 30-45 minutes without charging you extra or rushing you out. Pubs are generally better at this than restaurants and hotels.
Private or semi-private space
You don't need a sealed-off function room, but you do want a space where your group isn't sharing every conversation with the couple on the next table. A private dining room or a reserved section of the garden gives you enough separation to feel like it's your event.
Catering for four generations
Soft food options for very young children. A proper kids' menu for older ones. Adult food that works for both the 30-somethings and the 80-year-old grandmother. Tea and coffee on tap. A venue with buffet flexibility handles this far better than a fixed menu.
The Anchor: A Christening Venue That Gets Family Events
We've hosted christening receptions, baptism parties, and naming ceremonies for families across Stanwell Moor, Staines, Egham, and the wider Heathrow area. Here's specifically what we offer and -- just as importantly -- what we don't.
The private dining room
Twenty-six seated with standing room for more. French doors open directly onto the beer garden, which gives you indoor-outdoor flow on a nice day and a contained, private space on a cooler one. It's the right size for a christening reception of 15-40 guests -- large enough to feel like an event, small enough to feel personal.
We have AV equipment including a TVs and sound system if you want to play a slideshow of baby photos or set up a background playlist. A dedicated events coordinator handles your booking from first enquiry through to the day itself.
Family facilities -- the honest version
- High chairs: Yes, several available
- Baby changing: No. We're honest about this. The building is older and we haven't been able to add baby changing facilities. Parents bring portable mats or use the car. We know it's not ideal, and we'd rather you know beforehand than discover it at the party
- Bottle warming: Yes, on request -- just ask the bar team
- Buggy space: Yes, plenty. The dining room and entrance area accommodate buggies, car seats, and all the paraphernalia that comes with young families
- Breastfeeding: Always welcome, anywhere in the venue, without question
- Children welcome: At all times, completely family-friendly, with no age cut-off whatsoever
Nearby churches and ceremony venues
If you're looking for a christening venue near your church, here's how close we are to local options:
| Church / Venue | Distance from The Anchor |
|---|---|
| St Mary the Virgin, Stanwell | 4 minutes drive |
| Our Lady of the Rosary RC Church, Staines | 8 minutes drive |
| St John's Church, Egham | 10 minutes drive |
| Staines Registration Office (naming ceremonies) | 9 minutes drive |
For families coming from St Mary's in Stanwell, we're practically next door. The drive is four minutes, which means guests arrive at the reception while the good feeling from the service is still fresh.
Catering packages for christenings
Most christening groups opt for a buffet and a drinks package. Here's how it breaks down.
Buffet options (minimum 30 guests):
| Package | Per Head |
|---|---|
| Sandwich Buffet | current approved price |
| Finger Buffet | current approved price |
| Burger Buffet | current approved price |
| Premium Buffet | current approved price |
| Pizza Buffet | Menu priced |
| Indoor BBQ | current approved price |
Kids' catering (all £8.00 per head):
- Kids Burger and Chips
- Kids Chicken Nuggets and Chips
- Kids Mini Pizza and Chips
Drinks packages:
| Package | Per Head |
|---|---|
| Welcome Drinks | £6.99 |
| Welcome Prosecco or Orange Juice | £7.99 |
| Unlimited Tea and Coffee | £4.49 |
| Kids Unlimited Squash | £3.50 |
For a typical christening reception of 30 guests with a finger buffet, kids' meals for eight children, unlimited tea and coffee, and a welcome prosecco, you're looking at around £500-600 total. That's well within our pricing is discussed on enquiry (which varies by day and group size).
Bring your own christening cake at no extra charge. Bring your own food entirely if you'd prefer -- no cakeage, no corkage drama.
What it costs
Private-hire pricing at The Anchor is discussed on enquiry, and food and drink prices come from the live approved source.
Parking and access
Twenty free parking spaces on site. Level surface, right by the entrance, CCTV monitored and floodlit. No time limits while you're visiting. Additional parking available nearby for larger groups. Grandparents and anyone with mobility considerations appreciate the level access from car park to entrance and throughout the bar and dining area (step-free throughout, with a ramp available on request for the beer garden).
We're two minutes from M25 Junction 14 and outside the ULEZ zone, saving London-based guests £12.50 per day. Bus routes 441, 442, and 555 connect from Heathrow Central Bus Station for anyone arriving by public transport.
Christening Party Themes That Aren't Overdone
You don't need a theme, but if you want one, these work for christenings without tipping into children's birthday party territory.
Garden party. Works beautifully for spring and summer christenings. Pastel table linens, wildflower arrangements, and food served outside. The beer garden at The Anchor seats 64, so even larger christening groups fit comfortably outdoors.
Afternoon tea. Finger sandwiches, scones, mini cakes, and proper teapots. You can arrange this as a buffet variation -- talk to your venue about adapting the menu. It suits the afternoon timeline of most christening receptions perfectly.
Vintage or heritage. Lace doilies, old family photos, a christening gown passed down through generations on display. This theme writes itself if your family has strong traditions -- lean into them.
Neutral and modern. Clean whites, natural wood, eucalyptus sprigs, and simple typography. This suits naming ceremonies particularly well, where the tone is celebratory but not tied to religious imagery.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a christening reception cost at a pub?
Private-hire pricing at The Anchor is discussed on enquiry, and food and drink prices come from the live approved source.
Can I hold a naming ceremony and reception at the same venue?
Yes. Our private dining room works well for a short naming ceremony (15-20 minutes) before opening the French doors for drinks in the beer garden and serving the buffet. It means guests don't have to travel between locations, which is especially helpful for families with young children.
Do you have baby changing facilities?
No. We want to be upfront about this. We have high chairs, buggy space, bottle warming on request, and breastfeeding welcome everywhere. But we don't have baby changing. Parents typically use a portable mat or their car. We know it's a drawback and we'd rather be honest about it.
How close is The Anchor to local churches?
Four minutes from St Mary the Virgin in Stanwell, eight minutes from Our Lady of the Rosary in Staines, and ten minutes from St John's Church in Egham. We're also nine minutes from Staines Registration Office for non-religious naming ceremonies.
What time should a christening reception start?
Most christening services finish between 12pm and 2pm. Allow 20-30 minutes for photos, travel, and arriving at the venue. A 1pm-2:30pm start for the reception works well, with the buffet opening 30-45 minutes after guests arrive. Sunday afternoons are most popular -- our kitchen serves from 1pm on Sundays.
Planning a christening, baptism, or naming ceremony reception? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us at [email protected] or call 01753 682707 to discuss dates and catering. You can also explore our christening packages for the full details, browse the food menu, or see all our private hire options.