How to Plan a Christening Reception: A Step-by-Step Guide

A christening is one of those days that sounds simple until you start organising it. The church service itself is usually straightforward. Your vicar or priest handles that. But the reception afterwards? That's where the planning gets real. You've got family arriving from different directions, a guest list that spans four generations, and a baby who couldn't care less about your carefully timed schedule.

We host christening receptions at The Anchor in Stanwell Moor, and we've learned what works (and what causes last-minute panic). This is the step-by-step guide we wish every parent had before they started planning.

Step 1: Choose Your Date Early

This sounds obvious, but it trips people up more than you'd expect. Christenings aren't just about finding a date that works for your family. You need the church available too.

Most parishes schedule christenings on Sunday afternoons, typically after the morning service. Some churches offer Saturday slots. Either way, you're working around the church's calendar first, then fitting everything else around it.

What to do:

• Contact your parish church as early as possible. Popular churches book up months ahead
• Ask about the typical service time (most run 30-45 minutes)
• Confirm whether the church requires baptism preparation classes (many do, and these need booking separately)
• Once you have the church date locked in, book your reception venue immediately

The biggest mistake we see? Parents who book the church but leave the venue until later, then find everywhere decent is taken for that date.

Step 2: Build Your Guest List Before You Book Anything Else

Your guest list determines everything: the venue size, the catering quantities, the budget. Get this nailed down before you commit to anything.

Christening guest lists tend to be broader than you first think. You've got godparents and their families, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, church friends, neighbours, NCT group mates, and colleagues who've become actual friends since you had the baby. It adds up fast.

Practical tips:

• Draft a list, sleep on it, then review. You'll always forget someone the first time round.
• Budget for about 80% attendance. Some people won't make it, but you need catering numbers that work either way.
• Consider whether you're inviting children beyond your own. It changes the catering and the atmosphere.
• For a christening, 30-50 guests is the sweet spot. Big enough to feel like a celebration, small enough to stay personal.

Step 3: Pick a Venue That Actually Works for Families

Here's where a lot of christening receptions go wrong. Parents pick a venue because it looks nice in photos, then discover on the day that there's nowhere to park a buggy, the toilets are up two flights of stairs, and the garden is next to a main road.

A christening reception needs to work for everyone from your 85-year-old grandmother to your 8-month-old. That means thinking practically.

What to look for in a christening reception venue:

• Step-free access to the main event space (essential if elderly relatives or wheelchair users are attending)
• Buggy space, not just "technically possible" but actually room to park multiple pushchairs without blocking walkways
• High chairs for babies and toddlers
• A garden or outdoor space where kids can run around and adults can breathe
• Free parking: guests arriving with car seats, nappy bags, and gift bags don't want to wrestle with a pay-and-display
• Flexible timing: you don't want to feel rushed because the venue has another booking an hour after yours

Here's how The Anchor measures up. Getting in from the car park is step free, and so are the bar and the dining area. The beer garden is step free straight from the car park. From inside, there's one step between the bar and the garden, and we'll put our ramp out for it if you ask. We don't have an accessible toilet. If you'd like to check what will work best for you, give us a call on 01753 682707 and we'll help.

We have high chairs, buggy space, and a beer garden with 64 seats where kids can play while adults relax. Parking is free: 20 spaces on site, with additional parking nearby. We're honest about one thing though: we don't have baby changing facilities. Parents manage fine with a changing mat and a quiet corner, but it's worth knowing upfront.

Bottle warming is available on request, and breastfeeding is always welcome.

Step 4: Sort the Catering (Without Overcomplicating It)

Christening receptions sit somewhere between a formal dinner and a casual gathering. You don't need a three-course sit-down meal, but you do need more than crisps and sausage rolls from the supermarket.

A buffet is the natural choice for christenings. It works for all ages, guests can eat at their own pace, and it takes the pressure off timing everything around a baby's mood.

Buffet options at The Anchor:

Kids catering comes as burger and chips, chicken nuggets and chips, or mini pizza and chips, minimum 20 children.

Drinks packages to consider:

For a christening, the welcome prosecco option works particularly well: it gives guests something to toast with when they arrive from the church. Put your numbers into the private hire calculator to see what any combination comes to.

Step 5: The Cake Question

Every christening needs a cake. The good news: you don't need to spend a fortune on it, and most pub venues (including ours) are happy for you to bring your own.

You're welcome to bring a celebration cake. We'll ask whoever brings it to sign our outside-food waiver.

A few cake tips:

• Order more than you think you need. Guests always want a slice "for the road."
• If you're having the cake cut and served, let your venue know in advance so they can plate it up.
• Consider a smaller display cake for photos plus a sheet cake in the kitchen for serving. Cheaper and easier.
• Christening cakes don't need to be elaborate. A simple white-iced sponge with the baby's name is classic for a reason.

Step 6: Plan Your Timeline Around the Service

Timing a christening reception is all about the gap between the church service ending and guests arriving at the venue. Get this wrong and you'll have hungry relatives milling around for an hour, or food going cold because everyone's still at the church taking photos.

A typical christening day timeline:

Key timing tips:

• Allow 20-30 minutes between the service ending and guests arriving at the venue. People need to get to their cars, drive over, and find parking.
• Open the buffet within 30 minutes of guests arriving. Hungry guests (especially kids) get restless.
• Do the cake cutting before people start leaving, not as a "finale." By mid-afternoon, families with young children are already thinking about nap time.

If your church is local to Stanwell Moor, you'll be at The Anchor within minutes. We're also well-positioned for churches across the area: 2 minutes from M25 Junction 14, 8 minutes from Staines, and a short drive from Ashford, Feltham and Egham.

Step 7: Keep the Decorations Simple

Christening decorations don't need to rival a wedding. In fact, the most successful receptions we host are the ones where parents kept things tasteful and unfussy.

What works well:

• Balloons in a simple colour scheme (white and silver is classic, pastels work beautifully)
• A small table display near the entrance with a framed photo of the baby, the order of service, and maybe a candle
• A guest book or message tree where people can write wishes for the baby
• Fresh flowers if budget allows. A single arrangement on the main table goes a long way

What to avoid:

• Over-decorating a venue that already has character. A pub with character doesn't need much dressing up.
• Anything that creates a safety hazard for crawling babies or toddlers (dangling ribbons, breakable centrepieces, low candles)
• Decorations that require hours of setup. You'll be at the church. Keep it to what you can put up quickly when you arrive.

At The Anchor, you're welcome to bring decorations. No confetti cannons or confetti balloons, please. Smoke cannons are for outside only, well away from buildings and fencing. Please don't use push pins, Blu Tack, sticky tape or anything else that could damage the paintwork.

Step 8: Photography Without the Stress

You probably don't need a professional photographer for a christening (though some parents choose to hire one for the church service). What you do need is a plan so you actually end up with good photos of the day.

Practical suggestions:

• Ask one reliable friend or family member to be your "official" photographer for the reception. Give them a shot list: baby with godparents, family groups, the cake, candid moments.
• Take the formal family photos at the church immediately after the service, while everyone's together and the baby is still relatively content.
• At the venue, focus on candid shots. The best christening photos are always the ones of Great Aunt Margaret holding the baby for the first time, not everyone lined up stiffly against a wall.
• Make sure someone photographs the cake before it's cut. You'd be surprised how often this gets missed.

Step 9: Think About the Practical Details Guests Won't Ask About

These are the things that make the difference between a smooth day and a stressful one.

Parking. Guests arriving with babies and small children need door-to-door convenience. "There's a car park ten minutes' walk away" doesn't cut it when you're carrying a car seat, a nappy bag, and a gift. At The Anchor, we have 20 free parking spaces on site: level surface, close to the entrance, CCTV.

Directions. Send guests clear directions to the venue, not just a postcode. Include a note about parking availability. If your venue is near the M25, mention the junction number. Ours is Junction 14, 2 minutes away.

Dietary requirements. Ask on the invitation. You'll have vegetarians, possibly vegans, someone who avoids gluten, and at least one person who "doesn't eat fish." Better to know in advance than scramble on the day.

The baby's schedule. This sounds silly, but plan around your baby's nap time as much as possible. A christening reception with an overtired, screaming baby is no fun for anyone, least of all the baby and the parents.

Step 10: Budget It Out

Work out roughly what yours will come to before you ring anyone. Our private hire calculator lets you put in your numbers, pick a room, choose the food and drinks, and see an estimate straight away. No form to fill in and nobody chasing you afterwards.

The things worth deciding before you use it:

• How many adults and how many children. They are priced separately, and the children's options are portioned and priced for small appetites.
• Which room. The dining room suits a smaller, quieter gathering. The garden if you have a crowd.
• How long you want it for. Rooms are hired by the hour, so a lunchtime christening costs less than an all-afternoon one.
• Buffet or afternoon tea. Afternoon tea suits a christening particularly well, and there is a prosecco version if you want a toast.
• Whether you want drinks sorted up front. A welcome drink on arrival and unlimited tea and coffee take the queue away from the bar.

A £250 booking and damage deposit secures your date. It's held separately from your bill and refunded after the event, less any documented deductions.

Room hire is charged by the hour for the space you book. The rates are on our private hire page.

Christening Reception FAQ

What if we have more than 50 guests?

The dining room seats 26, or 50 standing. Above that, the garden seats 64, or 250 standing. For more than 50 indoors, ask us about hiring the whole pub. Private hire runs from 10 to 150 guests. Call us on 01753 682707 to talk through options.

Is there a TV for a slideshow?

Yes. Our TVs can be used for photo slideshows or presentations, and we provide the connection cables. Test yours with us in advance. We don't have a projector.

Can we bring our own decorations?

Yes, you're welcome to. No confetti cannons or confetti balloons, please. Smoke cannons are for outside only, well away from buildings and fencing. Please don't use push pins, Blu Tack, sticky tape or anything else that could damage the paintwork.

What about allergies and dietary needs?

Tell us about any allergies or dietary needs when you book and we'll do our best. Everything is prepared in one kitchen, so we can't guarantee there's no cross-contamination.

Is The Anchor dog-friendly?

Yes. Dogs are welcome throughout the pub, on a lead. We'll have water bowls and biscuits waiting.

Ready to Plan Your Christening Reception?

Start with the private hire calculator to get an instant estimate, then ask us about your date.

We're 7 minutes from Heathrow Terminal 5, 2 minutes from M25 Junction 14, and easy to reach from churches across Surrey and West London.

Plan your christening reception at The Anchor or call us on 01753 682707 to talk through what you need. You can also email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp.