Organising a christening can be pretty stressful, especially when you’re trying to look after a newborn, but they are worth it. Christenings are a special event that brings together your friends and family to celebrate your child and welcome them into the world.

 

We’ve put together all the different aspects of a christening you’ll have to organise to help make the planning stages a little easier.

 

Although we are discussing organising a christening, the basic plan can be used to arrange a naming ceremony or another alternative.

 


 

What is a Christening?

 

A christening is a Christian ceremony where a baby is welcomed into a church congregation. The service features a blessing known as a baptism where the baby is marked with or submerged in water. Promises are made by the parents and godparents stating the child will be brought up within the Christian faith. Prayers are also said for the child and their sponsors in their religious life.

 

Christenings are usually held in a church and often followed by a party or reception. This gives you an opportunity to celebrate the commitments made and catch up with family and friends.

 

There’s no set timeframe in which a baby should be christened. Traditionally, it was in the first couple of weeks of their life, but it’s much more common to wait at least a few months in the modern day.

 

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Christening Infographic

Before getting into the nitty gritty plan for your baby's christening, check out our infographic checklist for the key points.

 

christening infographic

 


 

What You’ll Need to Organise

 

Below, we’ve broken down each aspect you’ll need to arrange for your child’s christening. Each christening varies according to what the parents want and the budget, so don’t worry if you don’t need to have every feature.

 

The Church

 

Christenings are usually held at the church you attend or the closest to where you live. However, if there’s a particular church where you have a special connection such as a family church, you may be able to arrange a service there.

 

Contact the priest, vicar or the church office to discuss the christening, what’s required and the potential dates.

 

In the UK, christenings are usually following the Sunday service, however, this will vary from church to church. Specific ceremonies can sometimes be arranged with a private audience.

 

Some churches may ask you to attend a class before the christening. The church office or victor will confirm this before you arrange the service. You may also be expected to attend regular services before booking. Even if you’re not expected, it is polite to attend a couple of Sunday services so try to spare a few hours to do this.





The Party Venue

 

Following the christening, it’s common to arrange a reception or party. As we mentioned, this gives your friends and family the opportunity to celebrate with you and your child.

 

Your party venue should be close to the church with plenty of room for all of your guests. Venues usually include church halls, social clubs, pubs, restaurants or the family home.

 

Check what each venue has available in terms of seating, tables, PA system etc. before booking. If the venue doesn’t have everything you need, you may need to look into hiring things in or consider an alternate venue.

 

Try to have your number of guests in mind before you look at venues as this will give you a better idea of your requirements.

 

It’s also worth checking the cleanup obligations as you may have to head back fairly early in the next morning to clear away any mess.



Choose the Date

 

For the date, you’ll have to work with the church and venue to find a day and time that they’re both available. Services will usually take place in the morning so you should look to immediately lead into the reception with a small gap for travelling. Avoid adding a break in between as this can be awkward for many guests, especially those who don’t live nearby.

 

Once you have a couple of preliminary dates in mind, check the date with any christening VIPs including grandparents, close family and the godparents. This will ensure the most important people will be free before you book.



The Ceremony

 

The majority of the service will be arranged by the church, however, there are options you may need to decide. This will usually include a choice of hymns or readings. You may also have special requests you want to make.

 

Before the service, the parents are usually invited to speak to the priest or victor to discuss the child, their faith and any preferences. Each appointment will vary for each denomination as will the flexibility of the ceremony.





Choosing the Godparents

 

Your child’s godparents should be someone who will be in your child’s life for many years to come and who are dedicated to the church. They act as a guide and role model, providing support to your child throughout their life. It’s best to select an old friend or family member for the position.

 

A minimum of three godparents is required unless agreed with the church. Two godparents of the same sex as your child and one of the opposite sex. You can choose more than three but four is usually about the limit.

 

Some denominations of Christianity are more stringent on who can be a godparent, however, the Church of Englands asks the godparent is christened and in some cases confirmed.

 

Once you’ve made your decision, make sure to ask the person with plenty of time to spare. This means you’ll be able to find a replacement if they decline the offer.



The Invites

 

Your christening invites should be sent around six to eight weeks before the day. You should include the time, date, names and addresses of the church and party venue as well as an RSVP date for final numbers.

 

If friends and family are being invited from out of town, it’s polite to give them a courtesy message when the date is booked. This will help them with preparations and make attending easier. You could also include any recommended hotels or B&Bs in the area. Also, make sure to mention if you have any specific dress code for the day.

 

If you do have any gift preferences such as money for a university fund rather than presents, add a tactful line with any requests. This can help to prevent your baby from ending up with duplicate gifts.

 

Remember to invite the priest or vicar to the afterparty. This is common practise, even just as a courtesy.

 

Food & Drink

 

Depending on the venue you choose for the reception, you may have to arrange food and drink. If the venue doesn’t provide catering or a bar, you will have to outsource this to a catering company or provide it yourself.

 

Christening food is usually buffet food rather than a sit-down meal. This keeps the event more informal and everyone can choose what food they want.

 

If you opt to make your own food, make sure you buy everything you need a few days before the christening. Enlist help from close family members and friends to make your life a little easier.





Christening Cake

 

Christening cakes are on the rise. They make a nice feature at a christening party and are ideal if you’ll have lots of children attended. The cakes aren’t required but can add to a special day.

 

Unless you have a close friend or family member who’s a baking enthusiast, you will usually have to order the cake from a bakery or cake maker. Orders should be given a couple of weeks in advance of the christening.





Christening Decor

 

Although some venues do offer decor, most places will expect you to provide your own. A few banners, balloons and bunting can transform a room and create a party atmosphere. Flowers are also a popular choice, especially on a table where the family are sitting.

 

Try to keep the decor ideas simple to make it easy whilst providing a classic look. Setting out a clear theme can help create the perfect look.





The Christening Outfit

 

Babies are traditionally donned in extravagant christening gowns to look special during the service. Gowns are usually white or cream and can be passed down as a family heirloom.

 

Although gowns are still a popular trend, especially in traditional services, many parents now choose to dress their children in simple smart clothes. The decision is down to the parents.

 

As well as what your baby will wear, you’ll also have to think about what you are going to wear for the special day.



Arrange the Transport

 

Although you likely won’t be hiring a car to get your baby to their christening, it’s worth knowing how you’ll get to the church on the morning and to the party venue after the service. Organise whether you will be driving, getting a lift or any taxis.

 

If you are booking a taxi, book it the day before the christening with plenty of time to spare.





 

Photographer

 

If you’re looking for a special way to capture your baby’s christening, you could hire a professional photographer or videographer. Photographers come with all sorts of different portfolios and pricing so have a look around for someone who’s right for you.

 

Before the christening, speak to the photographer either face to face, by phone or email. Let them know of any specific photos you want including group shots.

 

If you don’t want the expense of a photographer, why not set up an online folder for all the guests to share their photos from the day. Social media channels like Facebook allow you to do this.



The Entertainment

 

For entertainment, like at most parties, music is both simple and free. This is usually enough for the adult guests who will likely speak to friends and family.

 

For the children attending, you can keep it basic by supplying colouring supplies and some board games. If you’re looking for something a little more extravagant, you can hire in entertainment such as a clown, bouncy castle or soft play.





A Guestbook

 

Passing around a guestbook for your baby lets your guests write a heartfelt message for your baby to read when they’re older. This is sure to become a beautiful memento that’s great for a tight budget.



Christening Favours

 

Christening favours are small tokens of appreciation for your guests. They come in all shapes and sizes including goodie bags for children and plants or seeds for adults. For the godparents, you could get them a personal gift as a thank you.

 

Like the christening cake, favours aren’t a requirement but can add to the enjoyment of the day.





 

Thank You Cards

 

After the christening, a personalised thank you card is a nice touch to thank people for attending. You could feature a photo of your baby from the day with a heartfelt message inside.

 

Thank you cards are especially recommended for those who are involved in the planning and setup of the day and anyone who brings a gift.

 


 

Alternatives to Christening

 

If you love the idea of getting your friends and family together to celebrate your baby but don’t want to make the religious commitments, a Humanist naming ceremony may be better for you. A naming ceremony is a non-religious celebration where your baby is officially named by a Celebrant. Each ceremony is different and written for the individual baby and parents.

 

The basics are still the same just without any mention of God or Christian promises. You can still have appointed adults to support your baby, usually referred to as Guideparents.

 

The service is much more flexible than a christening and you can add in whatever you would like in terms of readings, speeches etc. Just discuss with the Celebrant what you want from the service.


To find a Celebrant for your naming ceremony, visit the Celebrant Directory.

 


 

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