First Communion Week {Looking Your Best} Invitations, Clothes & Printable
Welcome to First Communion Week at Team Whitaker!
This is the second of a five-part series:
Preparing Your Heart (What the Sacrament Means)
Looking Your Best (Invitations and Clothes) + FREE Printable & Veil GIVEAWAY
Preserving the Memory (Pictures and Gift Ideas) + Rosary GIVEAWAY
Feeding the Troops (Flowers and Food) + FREE Printable
Saying Thanks (Notes and Godparents) + Bowl GIVEAWAY
INVITATIONS
Most of you know I’m a graphic designer. You may not know that about 80% of my clients are Catholic. Talk about marrying two loves. I kinda sorta love invitations. Sometime around 2025 I’ll narrow down my choices for my daughter’s upcoming first communion. When it comes to invitations for friends and family on your child’s big day there are as many options as hairs on your head.
Pinterest has a plethora of fabulous invitation ideas (I’ve even pinned a few on my First Communion board).
There are great resources, like TinyPrints, where you can purchase pre-made first communion invitations and just add the details. They’re a bit pricier than some places, but the quality is great and they often run customer appreciation sales ($20 credits, free shipping or a percentage off) just for signing up for their emails.
If you’re crafty or your budget doesn’t allow, you can DIY them. Getting the kids involved can be fun, depending upon the day and how much wine you have in the fridge. Your call.
Whatever you choose to do, my best advice is to do it with love.
I’ve created a FREE printable for you to use, if you are short on ideas, time or money. You can download the FREE 5×7 files: First Communion invite GIRL or First Communion invite BOY Below, I show them personalized, but the files are mostly blank so you may insert your own text. After cutting them down, I used a simple corner cutter to round the edges. For reference, I used this script font and this serif font.
My only request? Don’t go selling it like it’s yours. I mean it. It’s yours to use for personal use only. Don’t make me call on yelly Kathryn.
CLOTHES
Boys
Ah, the clothes. Let’s start with boys, I think they’re the easier side of the equation.
We’ve opted to go the white shirt, tie, khakis and jacket route. We decided to buy the jacket, knowing we’d have a kid or two to wear it down the road. But, borrowing or thrifting one is just as good. They don’t wear it long anyway. For ties, I’ve always bought the boys at JCPenney, but recently I found this lovely store on Etsy, Petite Peanut. She not only makes beautiful ties, but her story hit home with me. Her shop is definitely worth a stop.
For those that prefer suits, I’ve heard great things about JCPenney and Burlington Coat Factory. There’s also something to be said for Facebook and Twitter. I’ve found all sorts of clothes from other closets on there!
Shoes are an easy one around here. Enter: the black school uniform shoe. We got ours at Academy for less than $20 and it serves as the go-to Mass shoe the other 51 weeks of the year.
Girls
Alrighty, shall we open the pandora’s box of girls? So many options! Make it. Buy it. Thrift it. Borrow it. Those are your big four.
Dresses are everywhere: Nordstrom, JCPenney, Dillard’s, bridal shops, Pinterest, Etsy – you name it. I’ve had some friends make one using their wedding dress which can be a fabulous idea. I had a crazy dream that I would make Anna-Laura’s and then January came and went, sports started up and I realized I was cra-zee. Anna-Laura’s dress is coming from a lovely shop in Poland, via Etsy. I opted to buy it because I knew Clare would be able to sport it in a couple of years. And, because I’m a convert and Scott only has a brother, I really wanted a dress to keep in the family. We went with a modest, sleeveless dress. I can probably put a jacket with it, if needed, but I suspect we will leave it as is.
Ah, the shoes. Speaking as a lady here, choose a pair for your daughter that she can walk in without tripping. I mean, yes, vanity is important. But, let’s make them practical. My go-to places are Stride Rite, Target and other people’s closets.
To veil or not. I say, YES! Go on, keep reading. There is sweetness in store.
DAINTIES BY DENISE GIVEAWAY
I found a jewel for you. Denise from Dainties by Denise makes stunning and well-made veils. I think it’s so fitting she’s the mom of three daughters and has been making veils for over 30 years. You can see the love in her final products. Her shipping is lightning fast, too. One lucky reader will win the veil of her choice, the rest of y’all can enjoy 10% off anything in her shop now through March 15, 2013. Enter the coupon code “TEAMWHITAKER1” at checkout. I told you it was a sweet deal! Here’s a bit about Catholic artisan Denise:
I started creating hairbows when I had my first daughter over 30 years ago. Time really flies by. Two more girls, and a grandaughter and many, many more hairbows later, I still enjoy spending time in my workroom making bows and First Communion veils.
The giveaway ends March 12, 2013 at midnight.
TOMORROW: Preserving the Memory (Pictures, Gift Ideas and a GIVEAWAY)
I was going to try to make Brooklyn’s veil from my wedding veil, and I made a MESS of it. Hope I win the giveaway instead! 🙂
Oh Christy S.,
I had to laugh out loud at your comment! Please know I was not laughing AT you, but WITH you! You see, I had this grand idea to use my wedding gown to create Mary’s first Holy Communion gown…then when those plans feel through, I thought about creating her veil from my veil. Only I CAN’T FIND my veil. (No, it did not get preserved with the dress! aarrgh!) I’m certain it’s torn and yellowed by now anyway, but I can totally see myself making a huge mess of the project!!!
Blessings to you,
Valerie
Yay – beautiful Etsy shop. LOVE your veils – hope my daughter picks the beaded one if we win 🙂
What a fun thing! I can’t wait and am soooo glad to have a friend lay out the essentials, the fun, the glory. Gorgeous veil! Hope we win. 🙂 And- You’re so darn creative, I love it.
I love the headband veil. Not sure what Victoria is going to pick, but I’m excited to go shopping with her and her Godmother. Special times.
Hi Kathryn!
What beautiful veils that Denise creates!!! I really love the pearl headband one, but have something else in mind for Mary’s veil! I have already contacted Denise to see if she can do a custom design on the veil!!!
But here’s the part that gives me goosebumps…in yesterday’s email, you gave me the heads up about today’s veil topic. So, imagine my surprise when I read your post and clicked on Denise’s Etsy website…and discovered that she lives in my childhood hometown…where my sister and her husband and boys still live???!!!
Only one word can sum this up…
PROVIDENCE!
Thanks, girlfriend, you totally made my day. I can try to “love” KC all I want, but I will ALWAYS be a SAINT LOUIS girl at hear! LOL
Blessings,
Val
One more comment…thank you so much for the link to the shop for the boy’s ties!!! Store bought is fine…and my son LOVES when mimi buys him ties from Nordstrom or Dillards (yes, he’s 6…odd, no?!!!), but how awesome to have custom designed ties! Yes, there’s so much out their for girls, but as mom to two boys I’d love more design choices.
Beautiful veils! Looking forward to all the First Communion ideas!
I like the Satin Flowered Headband veil. I’ll have to ask my biggest which one she likes!
Love all your creative ideas for first communion! Your invites are precious! Wish I would have found your website sooner. It is an answer to my prayers.
Her First Communion Wreath with Rose Lace Edged Veil is just the sweetest thing I have ever seen!
[…] is the first post of a five-part series: Preparing Your Heart (What the Sacrament Means) Looking Your Best (Invitations and Clothes) + Printable & Veil […]
Very beautiful headbands and veils. I love the pearl-headband veil. Though I also like the headbands that have the satin and organza flowers with pearl centers – they match the waistband of my daughter’s dress perfectly!
Thank you for the opportunity!
I get all excited when I see beautiful handmade religious stuff- these rosaries are gorgeous! Definitely cast my name in the ring on this one- thanks for sharing your beautiful tips!
This headband veil is absolutely gorgeous- thanks for sharing your photos and tips with us!
i love all her veils- so affordable too!
great series. i don’t have a first communicant this year but i still enjoy following. i do have a baptism coming up. also, i host a perpetual first communion linky – http://joyfilledfamily.blogspot.com/2010/05/join-party-share-your-first-communion.html
AD JESUM PER MARIAM
I love the First Communion Headband Veil attached to a Satin Flowered Headband
Thank you for the recommendation on where to get veils. They add a special touch and a visible sign of reverance for the Sacrament.
Loving these posts as my daughter will be celebrating her First Communion in May. The veils are beautiful – love the headband one with white satin flowers on it as it reminds me of the flowers in my wedding. But the headbands with bows may go better with her dress…so many lovely options!
[…] heart, to choosing clothes, to finding the perfect gift. All the giveaways are still going on, a lovely veil from Dainties by Denise, a rosary from Trendy Traditions and a First Communion bowl from Clarey Clayworks. Make it a great […]
Beautiful veils! I love the headband with pearls, organza, and rosebuds. My sweet first communicant will receive in 4 weeks!
They are all beautiful, but I think I like the simplicity of the White Satin Bow Headband with Edged White Tulle Veil the best.
[…] Veil: Victoria Rosary: Laura First Communion Bowl: Jill Check your inbox for all the details, ladies! […]