--- title: "First Communion budget: outfit, party and gifts" description: "How to plan a First Communion budget: what the outfit, party and photos cost in a sample budget, how much guests give, and simple ways to save." author: "Wealtie Team" published: 2026-11-13 updated: 2026-11-13 category: "Budgeting" canonical: https://wealtie.com/blog/first-communion-budget --- # First Communion budget: outfit, party and gifts A First Communion budget usually covers the outfit, a family celebration and photos, and it can be planned on a modest amount. A sample budget below comes to 1,200, with the party as the biggest cost. ## Key takeaways - A First Communion budget covers the outfit, the celebration, photos and small extras. - The party is usually the biggest cost, and it can be as simple as lunch at home. - Outfits are often worn once, so second-hand and hand-me-downs work well. - Plan a few months ahead and set aside a little each month. ## What does a First Communion budget cover? First Holy Communion is an important sacrament in the Catholic Church, usually received around the age of seven or eight. The day centres on a church service, and many families follow it with a meal or party for relatives and friends. Traditionally, girls wear a white dress and sometimes a veil, and boys wear a suit or smart clothes. The service itself usually costs little or nothing, though some parishes suggest a small donation or a fee for preparation classes and materials. Most of the cost comes from the celebration around it. A First Communion budget helps you decide what kind of day you want and keeps it in proportion, especially if you have more than one child who'll celebrate in the coming years. The main costs are: - **The outfit:** dress or suit, shoes and accessories - **The celebration:** food, drink and possibly a venue - **The extras:** photos, cake, decorations, invitations and a small gift ## How much does a First Communion cost? Here's a sample budget for a family lunch with about 30 guests, in round numbers that work in any currency: | Item | Cost | | --- | --- | | Party food and drink | 500 | | Outfit and shoes | 250 | | Venue or hall | 200 | | Photos | 150 | | Cake and decorations | 100 | | Total | 1,200 | ![A sample First Communion budget. Party food and drink: 500, Outfit and shoes: 250, Venue or hall: 200, Photos: 150, Cake and decorations: 100.](https://us-1-s3.polodev.net/wealtie-blog-media/posts/2026/11/a-sample-first-communion-budget-party-food-and-drink-500-394e0d9101.webp "Source: Worked example in round numbers") A celebration at home removes the venue cost, and a smaller guest list cuts the food bill. Some families spend a few hundred on the whole day, while others hold a larger party at a restaurant or hall and spend more. There's no right amount, only what suits your family. ## How do you save on the outfit? The outfit is often worn once, which makes it one of the easiest places to save. ### Look at second-hand Many communion dresses and suits are sold in excellent condition after a single wear. Local selling groups, charity shops and online marketplaces often have them at a fraction of the new price. ### Borrow or hand down Cousins, friends and older siblings may have outfits to pass on. Some parishes or schools run swaps for this reason. ### Choose a suit that can be worn again For boys, a smart jacket and trousers can be worn to weddings and other events afterwards, so the cost goes further. ### Buy accessories last Veils, gloves, bags and ties add up. Decide which ones matter to your child and skip the rest. [Kids' clothes budget](https://wealtie.com/blog/kids-clothes-budget) covers keeping children's clothing costs down in general. ## How do you plan the celebration? ### Decide on home, hall or restaurant A lunch at home is the cheapest option. A parish hall costs a little more but gives you space. A restaurant is easiest but usually the most expensive per guest. ### Keep the guest list to close family and friends Godparents, grandparents and close family are the core. Each extra guest adds food and drink costs. ### Cook or share the food Many families cook a simple meal or ask relatives to bring a dish. [How to host a dinner on a budget](https://wealtie.com/blog/host-dinner-on-a-budget) has ideas for feeding a crowd without overspending. ### Keep the cake and decorations low-key A homemade or supermarket cake decorated at home can look lovely. White and gold decorations, flowers and photos of your child are often all you need. ## How much do guests give for a First Communion? Gifts are often money, a religious keepsake or a small present. Close family tend to give more, and friends give a smaller amount or a card. If you're a guest, there's no fixed rule. [How much to spend on a birthday gift](https://wealtie.com/blog/how-much-to-spend-on-a-birthday-gift) covers a sensible way to decide based on how close you are. Parents often put cash gifts into savings for their child. ## How do you save up for the day? The date is usually known months ahead. If you plan to spend 1,200 and start six months before, that's 200 a month. Starting a year ahead halves it. If you have younger children, planning for their communions too, a year or two apart, helps you spread the cost. Remember that the day is about your child and the sacrament, not the size of the party. Children tend to remember the people who came, the special outfit and feeling proud, far more than the venue or decorations. A modest celebration that leaves no debt behind is a good outcome, and it keeps money free for the other milestones that follow in the years ahead. ## How can Wealtie help you plan? Set up a [budget](https://wealtie.com/features/budgets) for the day and log each purchase in its own [expense categories](https://wealtie.com/features/categories), like outfit, food and photos. You'll see how much is left as you buy things, and keep a record you can look back on when the next child's communion comes around. ## Questions people ask ### How much does a First Communion cost? Costs vary. A sample family lunch for about 30 guests, with outfit and photos, comes to around 1,200 in round numbers. ### Does the church charge for First Communion? The service itself usually costs little or nothing, though some parishes ask for a small donation or a fee for classes and materials. ### How can I save on a First Communion outfit? Buy second-hand, borrow from family or friends, look for parish swaps and choose a suit or dress that can be worn again. ### What is the biggest cost of a First Communion? The party is usually the biggest cost, especially food and drink. Holding it at home keeps it much lower. *This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your situation is your own; check the numbers that apply to you before you act on them.*