10 Things To Consider When Organising A Christening

*note: this is a collaborative post in with baby clothing brand Teether. So you’ve not long welcomed your new addition into the family when questions from close family members, relatives and friends start to enquire about the possibilities of a christening. Then it dawns on you… how does one actually go about organising such an important day? Do not stress! I’ve curated 10 Things To Consider When Organising A Christening which you can read below…

Decide Weather You Want A Traditional Christening Or Blessing Ceremony

The most important thing you would want to consider when organising a christening is if you would rather have a traditional christening or a more relaxed ceremony in the form of a blessing.

The difference between the two is that a christening usually takes place if the parents already have Christian beliefs or want your child to be brought up as a Christian whereas a blessing is a family celebration that acknowledges the safe arrival of the baby into this world.

Choose The Godparents Wisely!

Once you have decided on which ceremony you would like for your little bundle the next step is Choosing The Godparents.

One would recommend giving serious consideration and plenty of thought as you would ideally choose those with strong Christian beliefs if going down the traditional route or someone who can play an active role and have a positive influence in your child’s life should you consider choosing close friends as Godparents.

Ask yourself if you are a likely to remain friends with that person for the next 10 years or so.

It is worth mentioning that it is traditional for girls to have two godmothers and one godfather and boys to have two godfathers and one godmother, although it is very much a personal choice on how many you have nowadays.

Choose and Book The Place of Service

If you have decided on having a traditional christening and the church you would like the service  to take place, you would need to speak with the vicar /priest about your plans.

If you are not regular church goers some clergy may request to see the child and parents regularly at Sunday service before and after the christening.

Once you have your vicar’s approval you’ll next need to ask weather you can have a special service of your own or if the christening will be part of a public Sunday service.

Should the vicar agree to a special service of your own it is advisable to ensure your guests turn up at least 15 minutes before the service is due to start.

Bear in mind there maybe other events happening that day so sticking to the allocated time slot is a must out of common courtesy.

Give Ample Notice To Guests!

Ideally you would want to give your guests and chosen Godparents as much notice as possible (4 weeks minimum) so that they can comfortably put the important date in the diary and arrange to take time of work etc.

On the subject of guests, decide how many people you are going to invite, if children are welcome to attend and send official invites out by post or email making sure those attending RSVP so you can keep track of actual numbers.

Christening Gown Or Vintage Dress?

Whilst it is traditional for either boy or girl to wear a long christening gown, many parents are now considering purchasing vintage or antique clothing and specific christening outfits like these gorgeous christening dresses from British Baby Brand Teether.   

Pack A Spare Pair of Clothes For The Star Of The Show

This might be stating the obvious here but by packing a spare pair of clothes for your little one (and indeed yourself) will reduce your stress levels from rising in the unfortunate instance they have an accident all over their/your outfit. 

Have The Reception Within Close Proximity To The Service

Having experienced this myself as an attendee of a christening, there is nothing worse than having the main service in one area only to drive or be transported to another part of town more than 30 minutes away!

This can lead to guests getting lost en route with many people turning up late so it is best for everyone if a venue to host the reception is within close proximity to the place of service.

Ensure Your Reception Venue Has A Dedicated Child Friendly Area

Clubhouses, church halls or community centres are usually common venues for the after party of a christening / blessing ceremony.

If children other than your own are welcome to attend the special day then one would strongly recommend choosing a reception venue that is child friendly.

Kids often get bored very quickly at day long functions so make sure you have a safe dedicated corner or outdoor area for toys, bubbles or anything else that will keep their little minds occupied. 

Ensure You Cater For Specific Dietry Requirements or Food Allergies

Your guests (especially those travelling from afar) will likely be hungry after the initial service so you’ll want to make sure that all food served on the day is catered for everyone in attendance (babies and toddlers included).

To make this easier include a tick box sheet along with your invites and ask your guests if they have any food allergies or special dietary requirements.

By ensuring you offer food and beverages for everyone you’ll have happy guests and happy guests = a successful after party/ gathering!

Hire / Appoint A Photographer

This goes without saying but is something that can be easily overlooked when organising such a big day in your littles life.

If you do not have a budget to hire a professional photographer do ensure you appoint someone (can be a family member or friend) to capture those special moments and they day as it unfolds so you can look back on this very special day over the many years to come.

So there you have it, that’s my list of 10 Things To Consider When Organising A Christening. I hope you found this article useful and has helped take the guess work out of planning such an event.

Are there any other important points I may have missed that you feel should be added? If so, please leave a comment in the box below and I will consider adding it.

Photo Credit In Order of Appearance: Getty Images, Pixabay, Teether, Pixabay