Parents spending up to €750 on Communion outfits

Parents are spending up to €750 for Communion outfits for their child with more a third sourcing the clothes at specialist boutiques.

A survey by MummyPages.ie has also found that one in seven families (14%) are prepared to spend between €1,000 and €3,000 on the day, almost half (48%) will spend between €500-€1,000 while 38% will keep their outlay to less than €500.

The website surveyed more than 1,200 mothers on all aspects of their child’s First Holy Communion, including a complete breakdown of costs including catering, entertainment, and transport.

“Over half of parents report feeling the strain when it comes to paying for their child’s First Holy Communion with the average family spending €703,” the website said.

“Most of the MummyPages mums feel that the First Holy Communion celebrations can be a bit excessive with 89% of mums saying that the parties, gifts and fuss surrounding the communion day, dress or suit often drowns out the meaning of the special sacrament that the child is to receive.”

When it comes to clothing their child for the big day, the website found the amount being spent on a the child’s Holy Communion outfit varies from zero spend for those who choose to borrow an outfit to those who spend up to €750.

“Overall, the majority or 61% of mums spend up to €199 on their child’s Holy Communion outfit including shoes and accessories, 37% of mums spend between €200 and €500 and 2% of mums spending up to €750,” it said.

It said a third of mothers surveyed opt for specialist boutiques for their child’s communion outfit, followed by 18% who buy in Debenhams, with TK Maxx the second most popular store for 5% of mothers.

“A growing minority of mums choose to borrow a pre-loved outfit from a friend or extended family member while 10% hire their child’s outfit,” it said.

As to what happens to the outfit after the day, the survey found:

46% pass their child’s Holy Communion outfit onto a younger sibling;

36% keep it as a memento of the day;

11% of mums sell it online;

7% of mums give it to a charity shop.

The website said mothers were calling on primary schools to implement cost saving initiatives to help parents cope with the Holy Communion costs with 63% of respondents agreeing that children should instead wear their school uniform on their special day.

When it came to celebrations after the ceremony, half of the respondents said they chose to keep celebrations low key by having a party at home, a third of mothers made a reservation in a restaurant while the rest chose to visit family and relatives.

“The celebrations will cost 26% up to €150, while 62% of mums will spend between €200 and €750 and 12% of mums will spend between €750 and up to €1,500 on catering in celebration of their child’s First Holy Communion,” the website said.

“Surprisingly, 51% of mums will spend no money on entertainment for their child’s First Holy Communion after-party allowing children to entertain themselves, 23% of mums spending up to €100 and 26% of mums spending between €100 and €200.”

READ MORE: Guess which of these Communion dresses cost €300 less?