By Siobhan O’Neill White

Whether you have a small budget or a bit more to spend there are so many options. Charity shops are amazing, with almost new Communion dresses for around €15 - €20. Mr. Price has Communion dresses from €17.99 which are lovely. Watch out for sales; we picked up our daughters Communion dress for €50 in the sale at Alexander Bridal Parnell St. Dublin. For boys, Bestwear in Drogheda has 3 piece suits for boys for €69.99, they are so smart! For girls and boys, Fields Jewellers have a beautiful range of Communion jewellery such as holy cross pendants, bracelets, necklaces, watches, earrings and tie pins. One of our favourites is the watch and necklace set for only €50. Top Tip Jewellery makes a memorable gift from a Grandparent or Godparent! Hosting a party at home can be overwhelming so getting food from your local deli takes the pressure off. We love the catering options from Relish cafes. From savoury foods like lasagne, chicken & broccoli bake, beef bourguignon (my favourite) with creamy mash, savoury tarts and curries to divine desserts. Check their menu out! We got our daughters personalised Communion personalised cake here for only €30.A Pinata is great fun for the kids. Check out Pinatas Pinatas colourful and personalised Communion Pinatas for only €30. For Mums: On Communion days, us Mammies want to look our best! We adore the dresses, blazers, skirts, trousers, tops & jumpsuits from Ontrend.eu They currently have a huge sale (prices start at €5!) with many ideal pieces for dressing up! For the Daddies: Best Menswear is a great spot for smart/casual wear. They have nice suits but also, other options like chinos & shirts, while smart, are a little less formal. They often have sales on so watch out for deals! For siblings: You can’t go wrong with Penneys. They have wonderfully priced special occasion wear like pretty dresses, fancy shoes and hair accessories for girls and chinos, shirts, braces and bow ties for boys. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get the siblings looking their best for the special day!Siobhán O’Neill White tel: 087-9978418 siobhan@mumstown.ie - web: www.mams.ie - Shortlisted for Golden Spider Award & Infant & Maternity Award - As seen on RTE and Virgin Media Ireland & Weekend AM As heard on : Today FM’s Ian Dempsey & Dermot & Dave; RTE’s Ray D’Arcy Show, 98FM, LMFM Late Lunch, WLRFM & Shannonside FM