It’s that time of year when wide-eyed children take an integral step in the Church by receiving the sacrament of First Holy Communion. These occasions only happen once in a lifetime for your children, so why not celebrate big? Big celebrations don’t have to break the bank or be excessive; you can still throw a wonderful party to celebrate your kiddo on a budget. I’ve curated a lovely spring-inspired menu with tips and tricks, as well as decorating and hosting ideas to make your First Communion party a smash!
Menu
Appetizers
Whipped Ricotta: Creamy and light whipped ricotta cheese topped with fresh herbs and a drizzle of honey. Serve with warm toast for a simple crowd-pleasing dip.
Fruit Platter and Veggie Platter: These are no-brainers: Use premade trays from the grocery, or get creative and make them into cute cross designs using the links for inspiration.
Caprese Skewers: Think caprese salad in bite-sized form.
Main Bites
Ham and Cheese Sliders: Kid-friendly and crowd favorite, warm ham and cheese on Hawaiian rolls.
Italian Pinwheels: Zeale Lifestyle recipe for Italian Pinwheels. Everything you love about an Italian sub rolled up into the perfect bite-sized rolls. These are a great finger food that can be made ahead of time. Tip: Make these the night before or you can always opt for store-bought pinwheel trays.
Mixed Green Salad: Fresh and light salad with a red wine vinaigrette with your choice of toppings. A customizable salad recipe that complements just about anything. Tip: Store bought salad kits are great shortcuts.
Desserts and Sweet Treats Ideas
First Communion Cake: Here’s your chance to get creative whether you bake at home or purchase a white frosted cake from the grocery store, Costco, or Sam’s Club. You can add a cross and name topper (Etsy is great for this). You can even add pearl sprinkles or baby's breath to really bring the cake to life (click the links to see the inspiration on Pinterest).
Iced Lemon Loaf: A Zeale Lifestyle favorite, Iced Lemon Loaf Cake. Zesty, sweet, and a slice of sunshine.
Chocolate Covered Rice Krispies Treats and Pretzel Rods : Simple two-ingredient treats Add some white chocolate or almond bark to Rice Krispy Treats or pretzel rods. Decorate with another drizzle of chocolate and add some sprinkles for some extra flair. Tip: Follow this video for an easy clean-up hack using a piping bag or a ziplock bag.
Communion Cupcakes: Try these adorable communion cupcakes. Either use store-bought or homemade cupcakes, and top each with a vanilla wafer cookie with a cross to symbolize a Communion host.
Drinks
Limoncello Spritz: Light, refreshing, and the perfect bubbly compliment to the celebratory lunch.
Strawberry Lemonade Punch: A delightful twist on a strawberry lemonade perfect to make ahead and have an alcoholic and non-alcoholic version. You can also opt for store bought lemonade mix if you’re in a pinch.
Decor Ideas
Color Palette Ideas:
White and gold
White and greenery
White and soft blue, pink, or yellow
Flowers:
Decorating with fresh flowers is always an easy go-to decorating tactic. My mom likes to get flowers from Sam’s Club and make bouquets herself. We love buying flowers from Sam’s, as you can get big bunches of flowers and make several bouquets from only a few types of flowers.
For a First Communion, I suggest white flowers (or white with soft colors), such as baby’s breath, roses or spray roses, hydrangeas, lilies, or tulips, and some greenery. You can put the flowers in vases on your table, in the kitchen, in the living room, etc. You can also add cross floral centerpiece picks to the vases. Tip: If you decide to decorate your own First Communion cake with the suggestions above, save some baby’s breath or other florals for the cake.
Budget Décor Ideas
White tablecloths
White or other soft color table runner
Homemade bouquets for the table and throughout your space
Gold or clear candle votives
White, gold, and clear or pearl balloons (pearl white balloons with pearl adhesives)
Add simple label cards for food and drink (they double as décor and help with allergies).
Framed photo(s) from their baptism — frame a photo or few of your little communicant’s baptism. A sweet way to look back at the beginnings of your child’s journey in the Church.
Invitations
Of course you can’t forget about sending invitations. There are great low cost options such as Evite or Canva. Both have free and premium options and are great for sending email invitations. If you choose Canva, you can save your design as a pdf and print it off yourself or send your design via text.
Hosting Tips & Tricks
Set up your buffet so it “flows”
Start with plates and napkins (and small appetizer plates if you have them), then move into mains, then salad, then desserts on a separate surface if possible.
Put tongs/spoons at every dish
Create a drinks station away from the food
Keep beverages on a sideboard/kitchen counter so the buffet line doesn’t jam.
Offer two clearly labeled sections:
Family-friendly: strawberry lemonade punch (NA), sparkling water, coffee
Optional adult: limoncello spritz setup (keep glassware + alcohol on the adult side)
Set out canned/bottled drinks in a large tub or cooler lined with a towel so condensation doesn’t puddle.
Make store-bought look intentional
Decant everything: Move fruit/veg trays, pinwheels, and sliders onto your own platters or boards.
Make it kid-friendly without “kid décor”
Put fruit, veggies, sliders, and cupcakes at a lower “kids’ end” of the table.
Add a small basket of napkins and wet wipes nearby (parents will thank you).
First Holy Communion is a celebration of something far greater than a beautiful table or a perfectly timed menu — it’s a sacred “yes” to Jesus, received with wonder and grace. The goal is to create a warm, joyful space where family and friends can gather, give thanks, and honor your child’s growing faith. With a simple buffet, a few thoughtful shortcuts, and springy touches, you can host a gathering that feels both meaningful and effortless. I hope this guide helps you celebrate your child’s next sacramental milestone of First Holy Communion with ease and joy.