There is no event more memorable than that of your child's Christening. From the outfit to the cake, every minor detail is carefully thought out and well prepared for your child's special day, the day that they form their first relationship with your chosen faith. 

There are certain steps you can take to make sure your baby’s christening goes smoothly, so we’ve provided a comprehensive guide so that no detail, however small, is left out.

The Ceremony

The christening ceremony is known as a baptism. These usually take place during a Sunday service with a catered lunch afterwards, which means several families might see their children baptised during a single service. You might be able to arrange a private christening if you have close relations to your parish. This is also more likely to be possible in the afternoon with a reception to follow, depending on your church’s timetabled service.

Although most churches will allow photography during a christening service, you should check with the priest first just to make sure. Providing they are happy to permit photographs being taken, a few photos of your baby with special guests including the priest, parents, godparents and grandparents can be a lovely way to commemorate the occasion.

When it comes to choosing an outfit for your baby, white is the firm and traditional favourite in Catholic and Christian traditions, and it’s wise to stick to this. As well as a white gown, consider a white shawl and socks with booties for the baby, especially if the christening is taking place at a colder time of year. A christening outfit really is a one-off, so consider having one made especially for your baby.

Parents and guests can opt for smart dress in light colours, and men may decide to wear a jacket and tie, although overly formal dress is not required. 

Roman Catholic Christening

The Christening ritual is a participatory one, with all attendees rejecting Satan and professing their faith, with parents and of an infant and the godparents and immediate family members of the person being christened being a bit more involved.

Like the Sacrament of Confirmation and the Sacrament of Holy Orders, as a Catholic, you’re baptized just once. These three sacraments confer an indelible mark on your soul. No one can ever be un-baptised or re-baptised.

Godparents

It’s a good idea to choose a godparent based on how you think they will support and relate to your child as he or she goes through life, rather than choosing one for reasons of wealth or status. It’s a rare and special honour to be a godparent, and if asked it’s unlikely the person you choose will say no. It’s not unusual to opt to be godparents reciprocally and this can often work out very well, resulting in stronger bonds between the families.

A longstanding tradition once the christening has taken place is for a godparent to give the baby a present they can keep for the long term, for example jewellery or a financial investment of some kind. A very traditional christening gift will be something made of silver. In addition to the initial christening present, godparents are expected to give birthday and Christmas presents until their godchild’s 18th or 21st birthday, as well as a wedding present if they get married.

The etiquette for the godchild as they grow up is to value and stay in touch with their godparents, and a good way to start this is by encouraging them to write thank you notes for every gift they receive from each godparent, as well as trying to maintaining a good relationship with their godparents through spending time with them when they can.

Invitations

Although many people choose to send electronic invitations or even invite guests to their child’s christening via Facebook, such a special occasion merits a written or printed invitation that you can keep a copy of as a keepsake. This doesn’t necessarily mean the invitation needs to be formal; let your christening invitation reflect your individual personality and attitudes towards parenting. There’s nothing wrong with a fun and colourful christening invitation, for example. Whether you opt for this or prefer to keep things classic, be sure to include the name of the guest you’re inviting, the address of the christening and the location of the reception afterwards, the time, date and the full name of your new baby. Remember to include an RSVP. It’s a nice touch to include a short handwritten note, personalised to the guest, on each invitation. You can design your invitations yourself, or alternatively pre-printed cards are available which have spaces left blank to fill in the names and details required for the day. If you give an RSVP date then you can prepare for the day more easily and well in advance. Keep a guest list to hand and mark your guest’s replies as they come in. Most guests should understand that the tone and wording of their reply should match the tone of the invitation, or you can include an RSVP card which they can return to you with the options of attending/not attending. 

The Reception

Since christenings are more often than not for young babies who need their routine and rest, christening receptions are often kept to no more than a couple of hours. Refreshments should be provided according to your budget and tastes, but most people will wish to include a christening cake. A popular tradition is to save and re-ice the top tier of your wedding cake if kept, but otherwise a cake of any style appropriate to the occasion is fine, whether shop-bought or homemade. It’s not necessary to provide a full lunch; a light buffet with drinks should suffice.

Long speeches are not a traditional part of a christening reception, but you may wish to ask a godparent to say a few words or make a toast to the baby. Keeping it short and sweet is probably best. Similarly, some people will bring a gift, especially godparents and close family, but this is not necessarily expected of everyone. Have an area set aside to keep presents just in case, and be sure to make a note of who gave what so that you can write thank you notes to those who have chosen to give something.

Just like a wedding, a christening is a family affair. Guests of every generation should be invited if possible, and catered to accordingly. That said, you’re not expected to invite everyone you know, and often it’s a good idea to keep your baby’s christening small and fairly low key. Certainly godparents and close family can be included on your guest list, but beyond that it is entirely at your discretion, apart from the vicar or priest who has baptised your baby, and their spouse. Do bear in mind however that they may not be able to come to the reception if they have another church service to attend.

Regardless of the style or size of your baby's christening, it should be a day to remember. Plan each detail carefully and well in advance to alleviate any unexpected stress, which is definately to be avoided when you are already lacking sleep and your little one is keeping you up at night.