For Communion children there is no need to spend a fortune on a dress or suit. They will only wear this for a few hours so don’t feel pressure to spend hundreds of euros. We had a ramble around Ilac SC and found that TK Maxx have very affordable dresses, Dunnes Stores, has a wonderful Communion collection for boys and girls and Dealz are great for decorations, plates, paper cups, balloons etc. Charity shops are a treasure trove for dresses and suits; with amazing outfits from as little as €15! For Mammies who want to dress without spending a fortune, Mykindofdress.com has a huge range of dresses at their flagship store Unit 1, Fashion City Ballymount. Open 11-4, Mon-Sat and no appointment needed. I picked up a beautiful dress on their website for my daughters Confirmation and used discount code MAMS30 for 30% off. The dresses are reasonably priced already but the discount code, makes them even more affordable! For Dads and siblings, Penney’s is great. From cute dresses for girls to snazzy chinos, shirts and waistcoats for boys and Dads. As always, plenty to choose from and budget friendly. On the day itself, if hosting family and friends at home, don’t be afraid to ask family members to bring a dish or dessert along. We always do this in our family. My sister-in-law brings her yummy homemade profiteroles, and my aunt brings her famous lasagna. It eases the burden on parents a little. If you would rather go out; look for well-priced Communion packages. Bracken Court Hotel Balbriggan have a few different Communion menu options to choose from, depending on your budget and you can rest assured the food, service and atmosphere will be great. We have had many family events there throughout the years and always find them accommodating. Most of all, enjoy the day and try not to stress. The most important thing is that the child enjoys their special day! For more helpful tips, go to mams.ie