Christening receptions fall into two formats: home garden party and hired venue. This guide covers the furniture, catering equipment, and glassware needed for both, with quantity guides for 30 to 80 guests.
Christening receptions fall into two formats: home garden party and hired venue. This guide covers the furniture, catering equipment, and glassware needed for both, with quantity guides for 30 to 80 guests.
Christening receptions come in two main formats: a home garden party and a function at a hired venue. The equipment needed differs between the two, and planning around the format early avoids last-minute gaps.
\n\nA home garden reception relies almost entirely on hired equipment. There is no venue infrastructure to fall back on, so the furniture, catering equipment, and cover for wet weather all need to be planned in advance.
\n\nFor a garden reception, outdoor tables and chairs form the core of the setup. Round tables seat groups well and give the garden a sociable feel. Folding tables are a practical option where the garden has uneven ground or limited flat space.
\nFor 40 guests, five 5ft round tables with eight chairs each is a comfortable layout. Leave around 1.5 metres between table edges to give guests room to move between tables throughout the afternoon.
\n\nA gazebo or small marquee is essential for any outdoor event in England. Expo Hire gazebos give a covered area for the food and drinks table and a dry spot for guests if it rains. A 4m x 4m gazebo covers a buffet setup with room for guests to circulate underneath.
\nIf the garden is large, two smaller gazebos at opposite ends of the space work better than one central structure, as this spreads guests across the garden rather than concentrating them in one spot.
\n\nMost home garden receptions include a buffet and drinks table. A hot water urn covers tea and coffee for guests who want a hot drink. A trestle table alongside the urn is enough for a self-service drinks station.
\nWine glasses and tumblers are straightforward to hire in the quantities needed for a home event. For 40 guests, 50 wine glasses and 40 tumblers with a small buffer covers the afternoon without over-ordering.
\n\nA function room reception has the venue's existing infrastructure in place, including tables and sometimes chairs. Check with the venue what is included before placing a hire order to avoid ordering what is already there.
\n\nWhere the venue provides only bare tables, tablecloths and napkins transform the look of the room at low cost. White or ivory linen is the most common choice for christening receptions.
\nIf the venue does not supply chairs, or if their chairs do not suit the event, chiavari chairs are a clean, formal option that transport and store well in function rooms.
\n\nCrockery sets for a venue christening include a dinner plate, side plate, and dessert plate per person. If the caterer is using their own crockery, confirm this before ordering to avoid duplication.
\nGlassware is needed regardless of whether the venue supplies crockery. A wine glass and a water glass per person on the table is the minimum for a sit-down meal format.
\n\nChristening receptions often host 30 to 80 guests. Here are quantity guides for the two most common sizes.
\n\nGarden receptions involve glasses and plates moving between surfaces and guests throughout the day. Expo Hire's minor damage waiver covers accidental breakages during the hire period for a small addition to the order cost.
\n\nExpo Hire delivers across England and Wales. Christening receptions are weekend events, and delivery the day before allows time for setup without rushing. Check the carriage page for delivery rates. Collection is arranged after the event, and same-day collection is available for venues that need the space cleared on the day.
See also: afternoon tea hire guide and celebration of life hire guide.
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