Baptizm

Hi S.
No way! I would personally NOT be offended if someone asked me to bring a side dish....to anything! In fact I think that it's pretty silly when or if people are offended in that situation. Good luck and have a great time..

You may could ask immediate family but otherwise it would be considered tacky to ask people to bring something. The expense falls on you, you could get already made dishes to make things easy.

Enjoy,
D.

SInce people are probably going to bring gifts for your child, I would not ask them to bring a dish.

However if you feel you need help with it because you'll be busy with your baby or because of finances, I would only ask your family members to help out, like maybe your mom and your mother in law.

That's AWEOSME! How old is she? My daughter, who is 6 1/2 and in 1st grade, was baptized this past Sunday!(We have a big baptizmal? pool) What a wonderful day seeing your child go forth with that. She was saved right about when she started kindergarten, but too afraid to get baptized in frount of everyone. Then out of the blue she said, "I need to get baptized!". And did it! We had a dinner afterwards with family. We ordered a bunch of pizza and just let her have her special day with those that love her most around her. But, I don't think it would be awful to ask people to bring stuff. We didn't do presents. How many people would be comming? If it's a lot, I would definatly ask them to bring something. That's my oppinion. And CONGRATULATIONS to your daughter....and you:)! As I said about us, "One down, one to go". (I have two girls, 61/2 and almost 3)

I think if you plan something you need to take care of the arrangements. My Mother recently went to a Birthday party for a 4 year old and was asked to bring a side dish. I personally thought it was rude and would be offended if someone asked me to bring a dish to an event they are planning for their child. I think the only person I may be willing to ask if you really need help would be your Mother and that's it.

S.,

I would not be offended if a member of our congregation were to ask me to bring a food item to a baptism celebration. Part of the joy of baptising your child is knowing that your child will be raised in and by your community of faith. I agree with the other ladies who are saying you should only ask family to bring food, the church is your family and your child's. In my opinion, a baptism is much different than a Birthday party.

Hi S.. There seems to be a division of opinion on this one. I think anyone with a 14-month old should be able to ask for help, especially given that it's a picnic you're planning. Potluck parties are the norm in the parent community here. My suggestion is for you to line up some family members and perhaps close friends to bring side dishes in quantity - say, a big salad, a pot of beans - and then tell the rest of the people that if they felt like bringing a side dish, you would be grateful for it.

Ok, seems like a lot of us are split on this...I was raised with the old school that if it was something you were doing for your kid you footed the bill. However, my MIL does things very different and never hesitates to tell everyone to bring a dish. What if you approached some of your closer family members and asked if they would help with the side dishes. Maybe they could also help with the set up after the ceremony?

I can tell you from experience, that it is a lot of work to take on the whole thing yourself for a baptism. I did it for my daughters and could barely enjoy the day. I would recommend dollar rolls (pre made with ham/turkey) and the side dishes. If you do decide to do the whole thing, appoint someone in the family to go to the house immediately after the ceremony and start laying the food out. That was a godsend for us b/c so many family stayed behind for pictures but friends just headed on to the house.

Bottom line, is this is a ceremony for your kid so protocol does indicate that you should be footing this. If it were a general family get together, then bringing dishes is more appropriate. But if your close enough to your family or have a close friend then maybe they can help out with the dishes (or at least the storing of the extra dishes for refridgeration).

hey sandy i really dont think that is a bad ideal some people may want to bring a dish to share their recipes some people may not eat certain foods just make it a option to your guest and not a request you may be suprised of the turn out good luck.

We throw a huge BBQ once or twice a year and always ask for side dishes. This way the pressure is not all on the host to feed the masses. And we get to sample new menu items too, it’s fun. This year our son's baptism will be Memorial Day weekend and we are also celebrating other May special events anniversaries, graduations, confirmations, birthdays etc. Our family is huge, so for us, we HAVE to ask for side dishes. (And that they bring they're own adult beverages) We'd go broke if we had to foot the entire bill every time. We do supply the cake, meats and soft drinks.
I guess for your party, depends how many people you invite and how casual you are. To me a "picnic" sounds great and I'd vote for having the guest bring sides.

First, I think it's wonderful that your child is being baptised! Secondly, I think that a request of close relatives to help by bringing a side dish is fine...however, because of the type of function you're having (celebrating something happening in your immediate family) as opposed to a 4th of July party for instance, I would not ask anyone other than close relatives. If I am a close friend of yours, I would, ask if there was anything I could do to help or bring. But out of my own good will or choosing, not because you asked it of me. Good Luck!

I totally disagree with the other person. I am normally the one asking what I can bring to help because I would feel rude to show up empty handed. We had a Memorial Day BBQ last year and asked everyone to bring a side dish or dessert and everyone was thrilled to do so. The way I look at it is this....if I was going to feed my family at home I would spend more money on lunch/dinner for us than one side dish or dessert. If someone is offended that they would be asked to bring something then maybe they can just join you later for cake. Best of luck. C.

I think it is not right to ask people to bring a side dish for a party you are hosting for your child. If it was a general family event/get-together, that's fine. But when your child is the guest of honor, you should provide all food and drink.....especially when most guest will also be bringing a gift as well.

If we host a big holiday like Thanksgiving, we always ask people to help by bringing a side dish. But, if we are celebrating birthdays or other religious sacraments (baptism, Holy Communion etc), we always do the entire meal and don't ask for help even if they offer. I feel like if I am bringing a gift for someone, I shouldn't have to bring a side dish too. That is just how have done it.

S.,

I don't see anything wrong with asking people to bring a side dish. We have such a large family we always ask people to bring a side dish, whether its for baptisms, birthdays, Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas get togethers. We are usually asked to bring a side dish or even paper plates, cups, utensils, napkins etc. We have no problem with it and neither does the rest of our family. Its just what we do and what we have always done. It will help you out a lot!

L.

S.,
It really depends on who you are inviting. If it is just family and "close" friends, then by all means, ask them over for a "pot luck BBQ". Tell them what you are providing and let them bring what they feel comfortable bringing. If you are sending out invitations and inviting a lot of people from church, etc. then I think you should provide the whole lot. The main thing is to be together celebrating this decision of your child's.

Baptizm is really for the partners at this point because your daughter is so young. It's time to celebrate and having a party is great. So go ahead and ask for side dishes if family member are attending but if it's just other kids make simply. It really a sign of new birth when a child is presented back to God who giveth good things. CONGRADULATION!!!!!

Personally, I wouldn't ask people to bring something. They will likely already be bringing a gift so I wouldn't ask for a side dish. If you want to keep it cheap you could always make potato salad, and get chips and dip. For our daughters baptism we had sandwiches, chips and dips, potato salad, veggies, and an assortment of pickles and olives. Good luck!

We have a friend who asks us to bring something to her childs birthday party every year, and every year it drives me nuts. I personally feel like it's rude to plan an event and then expect people to bring something. (And I mean people other than immediate family...usually immediate family wants to help with that stuff.) Just my opinion though...

Yes, it would be wrong to ask guests to provide food for your party. If you are having a party for a specific celebration, it is inappropriate to ask guests to bring a side dish, especially if it is an occasion where gifts are generally given. If you cannot afford a large spread, then just keep it simple and have cake and punch.

If a gift is involved it is wrong to ask for help with any kind of celebration. If someone offers take them up on it ...but don't ask. Pam L.

It depends on the situation. If it's all family, I'd say OK. When we do family activities, like this, the family just offers to bring something. Not sure about yours. I'm sure you could figure out a way to word the invitations to ask everyone to bring a side dish??