In short
- Choose the format from the time of the ceremony: late morning points to lunch, afternoon to a buffet reception.
- Guests of all ages: you need seating for older guests, even at a buffet, and a children's menu.
- Rule of thumb: about 12 pieces of finger food per person if the reception replaces a meal, plus a 10-15% margin.
- At home, decide between drop-off only and catering with staff before asking for quotes.
A christening is a family occasion, often on a Sunday, with grandparents, aunts, uncles and plenty of children. The caterer has to do a few things well: simple food, flexible timing and nobody forced to stand. In Italy the party that follows is usually a rinfresco, a light buffet served after the ceremony. Here are the choices to make, in the order that makes most sense.
Time first, then format
Many parishes in Rome hold christenings on Sunday, during or after the late-morning Mass. Others schedule them on Saturday afternoon. Ask the parish priest for the exact time before you call a caterer: it changes everything else.
| Time of the ceremony | Most common format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, late morning | Seated lunch or a meal-sized buffet | Guests arrive at lunchtime |
| Saturday or Sunday afternoon | Sweet and savoury rinfresco | A generous aperitivo with cake is enough |
| Early morning | Brunch | Savoury pies, leavened pastries, fruit, coffee |
Allow some slack: between photos in church and greetings, the ceremony can finish half an hour late. The caterer must be able to wait without hot food going cold or cold food going warm.
Reception at home or in a venue
At home
This is the most common choice for christenings with up to a few dozen guests. The baby keeps to their routine, the cot is close at hand and the grandparents are comfortable.
Check first:
- the space for the buffet and a side table for the caterer;
- the sockets for chafing dishes or a coffee machine;
- access: if you live in the historic centre, Trastevere or another area with a ZTL (limited traffic zone), give the exact address, because delivery times may be restricted;
- the building: a shared garden or terrace means reading the building's rules.
For all the practical details, read the guide to home catering in Rome.
In a function room or venue
Above 40-50 people, or if your home is small, a function room makes sense: restaurants with a private room, farmhouses in the Roman countryside, villas in the Castelli Romani. Ask straight away whether the venue has an exclusive caterer (it works only with its own supplier) or whether you can bring in an outside caterer.
Reception formats
| Format | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Buffet rinfresco | Savoury and sweet trays, guests standing or seated freely | Afternoon, 20-60 guests |
| Meal-sized buffet | Starters, a pasta course, a cold or hot main, desserts | Late morning, large families |
| Served lunch | Courses brought to the table | Many older guests, function room or restaurant |
| Brunch | Leavened pastries, savoury pies, eggs, fruit, desserts | Early-morning ceremony |
The most popular middle ground is the meal-sized buffet with tables and chairs for everyone. People eat at leisure, without the timings of a served meal.
How much food you need
The rough rules you find in trade guides:
- Reception before or after a meal: about 4-6 pieces of finger food per person.
- Reception that replaces lunch: at least 12 pieces per person.
- Buffet with plated dishes: 120-150 g of pasta course, 100-120 g of main, 80-100 g of side dish per person.
- Safety margin: 10-15% on top of the estimate.
Children under 10 eat less, but they try everything. Count the children separately in the quote: many caterers offer a dedicated price. If you need the full calculations, see the guide on how much food you need per person.
The menu: simple and seasonal
At a christening the dishes that work are the ones every age group enjoys, whatever the style of the kitchen. A few ideas, with a couple of Roman classics among them.
Savoury
- Pizza bianca or focaccia filled with mortadella or prosciutto
- Mini supplì (fried rice balls with a mozzarella centre) and potato croquettes
- Tramezzini sandwiches, savoury pastries, savoury pies with seasonal vegetables
- Baked pasta or lasagne in a tray, easy to portion
- Seasonal vegetables: in spring, small frittatas with broad beans and peas or artichokes; in winter, Romanesco broccoli and chicory
Sweet
- The christening cake
- Mini pastries, cream puffs, small maritozzi (sweet buns) with cream
- Ricotta and sour cherry tart
- Seasonal fruit, already cut
For children
- Pasta with tomato sauce, breaded cutlet, margherita pizza in squares
- No hard, round, whole foods for the youngest. The Italian Ministry of Health's guidelines on preventing choking on food in children list grapes, cherries, mini mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes among the risky foods: ask the caterer to serve them cut.
Collect allergies as the RSVPs come in. EU Regulation 1169/2011 requires caterers to give information on the 14 allergens even for unpackaged dishes: ask for the menu's allergen matrix.
Cake, sugared almonds and favours
Who brings the cake? The caterer, a trusted pastry shop or a relative? Decide early, because it affects plates, knives, fridge space and sometimes a cake-cutting and serving fee.
By tradition, christening confetti (sugared almonds) are pink or pale blue and are packed in odd numbers. If you want a confettata (a table of loose sugared almonds for guests to help themselves), ask whether the caterer sets it up or whether it has to be organised separately.
Drinks
Plenty of water, soft drinks for the children, a white and a red wine, prosecco or sparkling wine for the toast, coffee after lunch. Ask whether drinks are a flat rate per person or charged on consumption. If you bring your own, ask whether there is corkage (a fee for serving bottles brought from outside).
Drop-off only or with staff
| Choice | When it makes sense | What is left to you |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-off only | Up to 20-30 guests, informal party | Setting up, refilling, clearing |
| Delivery plus one waiter | 30-60 guests at home | Very little: the waiter looks after the buffet |
| Full service | Function room or venue, served lunch | Nothing, you enjoy the party |
At a christening the parents have a newborn in their arms and guests to greet. Even a single waiter for the central hours makes a difference.
How much it costs
There is no standard price for a christening reception. The indicative ranges found online give a sense of scale: about €15-20 per person for an aperitivo, €20-50 for a simple lunch or dinner, €35-70 for a full menu. These figures are indicative: in Rome quotes vary with guests, format, staff, area and day of the week.
To read a quote line by line, use the guide on how much catering costs in Rome.
Questions to ask the caterer
- How late can you wait if the ceremony runs over?
- Is there a different price for children? From what age?
- Do you bring tables, chairs, table linen and crockery, or are they extra?
- How many waiters are included, and for how many hours?
- Can you give me the allergen matrix for each dish?
- How do you serve choking-risk foods for the youngest children?
- Do you make the cake? If I bring it, is there a cutting fee?
- Are drinks a flat rate or charged on consumption? Is there corkage?
- Who takes away rubbish and crockery at the end?
- By when do I need to confirm the final number of guests?
Before asking for a quote
Write to two or three caterers with the date, the time of the ceremony, the number of adults and children, the address and the format. The quotes will be easier to compare. You will find caterers that do christenings in the christening catering section and, once you have decided, you can request a quote.
Sources
- Italian Ministry of Health, "Linee di indirizzo per la prevenzione del soffocamento da cibo in età pediatrica" (guidelines on preventing choking on food in children), Publications section of salute.gov.it: https://www.salute.gov.it
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, EUR-Lex: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/IT/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32011R1169
- Roma Mobilità, ZTL and permits: https://romamobilita.it/it/servizi/ztl
