Holidays & Cultural
Medellin Elite Catering caters baptism and christening celebrations in Medellín, with brunch, lunch or a light reception waiting for the family and godparents when they arrive from church. We serve homes, salones sociales in residential towers, parish halls and fincas across the Aburrá Valley.
Most of our baptism clients are local families, alongside mixed couples whose relatives fly in from abroad and need the day planned in two languages. Our coordinators handle both, from the first quote to the last slice of cake.
Christenings have been part of our work since our first year in 2019. We plan around parish timetables, the role of the padrinos and the white and pastel style families expect, and we have catered these mornings in nearly every part of the valley.
Plan your event
A baptism celebration is usually a brunch or lunch for 20 to 80 guests, held right after the ceremony at a home, a salón social or a finca near the parish. The padrinos (godparents) often share the hosting with the parents, and the meal is the moment the whole family sits down together.
We cook for parishes all over the valley, from Laureles and Belén to Envigado and the hillside churches of Itagüí. If your ceremony is in the south, our page on catering in Itagüí shows delivery times from our kitchen.
Our quote covers the menu, cooks, servers, chafing dishes, plates, flatware and glassware, setup and cleanup. Tables, chairs, linens and decor come from partner suppliers and appear as separate lines, and if you are planning several family milestones in one year, our celebrations catering covers the rest.
A staffed buffet for 30 guests runs with 2 servers, and one for 60 guests with 3. For a family christening under 15 guests, a drop-off brunch ordered 48 hours ahead is the simpler option, delivered hot in insulated carriers and ready to serve.
Parish baptisms in Medellín usually happen on a Saturday morning or on Sunday, during or after Mass, and the ceremony itself takes 45 minutes to an hour. Our aim is simple: hot food and a set table when the first car pulls up.
We confirm the ceremony time with you, add the drive from the parish to the venue and plan service from that moment. Our team arrives 2 to 3 hours before service to set up, and hot dishes sit above 60 °C in chafing dishes, so a ceremony that runs 20 minutes late does not spoil lunch.
Sunday baptisms are common and we cater them by arrangement: the event runs as normal, but our office is closed on Sundays, so final details are settled by Saturday afternoon. Group baptisms with several families can run longer, and we build an extra 30 minutes into the timing for them.
Families choose between three formats: a brunch buffet, a traditional Antioquian lunch or a light cocktail reception. Brunch suits ceremonies that end before 11:00 a.m., lunch suits midday, and a cocktail fits an afternoon baptism followed by cake.
Huevos pericos (scrambled eggs with tomato and spring onion), mini arepas with quesito, pandebono and almojábanas, a fruit platter, yogurt with granola, and fresh juices with tinto, the small Colombian black coffee. Add a baked ham for heartier appetites, or see our brunch catering menu for more ideas.
Frijoles antioqueños with chicharrón, white rice, ripe plantain, avocado and arepa, served as a buffet rather than one heavy plate per guest. A lighter version swaps the beans for chicken in mushroom sauce, potatoes au gratin and a green salad.
Eight to ten bites per guest: mini empanadas with ají, plantain cups with shrimp, caprese skewers, small ham and cheese croissants and fruit skewers. A glass of cava for the godparents' toast rounds it off, and if you prefer to bring your own bottles, our servers chill and pour them for you.
A christening dessert table is styled in white, ivory and soft pastels, with the cake at the center and smaller sweets arranged around it. It is usually the most photographed corner of the day.
We bake a two- or three-tier vanilla cake filled with arequipe or soaked as a tres leches, decorated with sugar flowers, a dove or the baby's initial. Around it go iced sugar cookies with the baby's name and date, white meringues, mini tres leches cups and chocolate truffles, about 3 to 4 pieces per guest.
Many families also give recordatorios, the small keepsakes guests take home, and we can make an edible version: a boxed cookie or a pair of chocolates tied with ribbon. The full table is quoted as a separate line, and our dessert catering has more options for larger spreads.
Questions and answers
Yes, we cater in parish halls as long as the parish allows outside caterers and gives us access before the ceremony ends. Most halls have a small kitchen with a sink and a fridge but no oven, so we cook at our own kitchen and bring the food hot in insulated Cambro carriers, with chafing dishes and our own tableware. Please confirm the access time and any rules on alcohol with the parish office before booking.
Yes, we offer a children's menu in smaller portions. Options include breaded chicken strips with potato wedges, mini burgers, pasta with tomato sauce and fruit with yogurt. For toddlers we can plate plain rice, shredded chicken and steamed vegetables without added salt.
Reserve your date
Share the ceremony time, the parish and your guest count through the quote form, and we will send an itemized quote within 24 hours. Questions are welcome at info@medellincatering.com.