Why Can Communion Planning Become So Stressful?

Communions are lovely family occasions, but there can be an awful lot to organise.

The outfit. The food. The guests. The photographs. The house. The garden. The weather. And then there is the small matter of keeping a garden full of very excited children entertained.

Most First Holy Communions take place during April and May, which means lots of families can end up looking for the same things on the same weekends.

Anyone who has organised a Communion before will probably recognise how quickly the guest list can grow.

Then you remember the cousins.

Then the neighbours.

Then their friends from school.

Then somebody asks what happens if it rains.

Before long, you are trying to work out where everyone is going to sit, how much food you need and how you are going to keep ten or fifteen children entertained while also trying to enjoy the day yourself.

The entertainment side of things does not need to add to that stress.

Getting it organised early simply means there is one less thing on the list as the big day gets closer.

When Do Our 2027 Communion Bookings Open?

We will begin taking bookings for the April and May 2027 Communion period on 9 November 2026.

If your school or parish has already confirmed the date, there is plenty you can do before then.

Have a look through the different inflatables, measure your garden and think roughly about who will be there.

You do not need an exact guest list.

Even knowing something as simple as that gives you a much better starting point.

You can then shortlist the inflatables or activities you like and be ready when bookings open.

Think About All the Children Coming to the Party

It is natural to plan everything around the Communion child.

It is their day, after all.

But when it comes to choosing entertainment, think about everybody else who will be there too.

You might have an eight-year-old Communion child, a couple of ten-year-old cousins, a six-year-old brother or sister and a four-year-old cousin all in the same garden.

They may not all want to do the same thing.

That is why we recommend thinking about the group as a whole, rather than simply choosing the first bouncy castle your child likes.

For some families, one inflatable will be absolutely perfect.

For others, a combination of activities works much better.

Should You Hire More Than One Item for a Communion?

If you are having a smaller celebration, one inflatable may be all you need.

But if you are expecting a bigger group of children, or a mixture of ages, having more than one activity can make a big difference.

It gives children some variety throughout the day and somewhere else to go when one attraction is busy.

It does not have to turn your garden into a funfair.

Sometimes adding one extra activity is enough to make the whole setup work much better.

It can be especially useful for Communion parties because people tend to arrive and leave at different times throughout the day.

And if you are not sure what combination would work, just ask us.

We are happy to help you figure it out.

Are Obstacle Courses Good for Communion Parties?

Obstacle courses can be a brilliant choice for children around Communion age.

At that age, many children want something a little more active than simply bouncing.

With an obstacle course they can climb, crawl, race each other and make their way through the different sections.

That tends to keep them coming back throughout the day.

If you have the space, an obstacle course can work really well as the main attraction, and you can always add another inflatable or game alongside it if you are expecting a larger group.

Browse Obstacle Courses →

What About Younger Brothers, Sisters and Cousins?

This is one of the things that can easily be forgotten.

The Communion child might be eight or nine, but there could be much younger children at the celebration too.

A large obstacle course might be exactly what the older children want, but it may not necessarily be the right choice for everybody attending.

Sometimes that is where having two different options makes sense.

You can have something more adventurous for older children and another suitable attraction for younger ones.

It means everybody has something they can enjoy rather than one age group dominating the entertainment.

Is Multi-Day Hire Worth Considering for a Communion?

It definitely can be.

Communion days have a habit of disappearing very quickly.

There is usually an early start, the ceremony itself, photographs, visitors coming and going, food to organise and children who somehow still have endless energy at the end of it all.

With a multi-day hire, everything does not have to be squeezed into one afternoon.

The main Communion day can be busy enough without feeling like the children have to get every minute possible out of the inflatable before the day is over.

So when you are looking through the options, it is worth comparing the available one-day and multi-day hire choices rather than automatically assuming one day is the best fit for your family.

Measure the Garden Before You Fall in Love With Something

This is probably one of the most useful things you can do before bookings open.

Measure your garden.

We know how easy it is to browse through the website, see a huge obstacle course and immediately decide:

Then you look outside and begin wondering whether the shed could somehow be moved.

A quick measurement beforehand can save a lot of trouble.

Remember that the inflatable itself is not the only space we need.

There also needs to be enough room around it for us to install and operate it safely.

If you are unsure whether something will fit, send us the measurements and ask.

We would much rather help you choose something suitable from the beginning.

What Happens If It Rains on Communion Day?

April and May can give us beautiful sunshine, pouring rain and sometimes both within the same afternoon.

Unfortunately, nobody can control that.

The best thing you can do is build a little flexibility into your plans.

Try not to make the entire celebration dependent on everything happening outdoors. Have somewhere inside where people can eat, chat and escape the weather if necessary.

As the date gets closer, keep an eye on the forecast.

And when it comes to inflatable use, safety always comes first, particularly where wind or other unsuitable weather conditions are concerned.

Don't Put Yourself Under Pressure to Make Everything Perfect

This is probably the most important thing.

When you are organising a Communion, it is very easy to feel as though every little detail has to be perfect.

You want the house looking well.

You want everyone fed.

You want the decorations right.

You want the weather to cooperate.

And most of all, you want your child to have a brilliant day.

But children probably will not remember whether the napkins matched the decorations.

They will remember racing their cousins through an obstacle course.

They will remember going down the slide for the twentieth time.

They will remember laughing with their friends in the garden.

Those are the moments that make the day.

And hopefully, by getting some of the organising done early, you actually get the chance to enjoy them too.

When Should I Book My 2027 Communion Inflatable?

If you already know your Communion date, there is no harm in planning early.

Our April and May 2027 Communion bookings open on 9 November 2026.

Before that date, have a look through the range, measure the space available and make a shortlist of the options you like.

That way, when bookings open, you are not starting from scratch.

You will already have a good idea of what suits your garden, your group of children and the type of celebration you are planning.

Planning Your 2027 Communion With Us

We have been helping families celebrate Communions, birthdays and special occasions since 2004, and we know that every party is a little different.

Some families want one bouncy castle in the garden.

Others want a big obstacle course.

Some have a handful of children.

Others seem to discover another cousin every time they count the guest list.

That is why there is no single “best” Communion package.

The right setup is simply the one that works for your space, your family and the children who will actually be there.