When your little one reaches a milestone, take photos of them with the matching card! It's a perfect way to look back at those special memories.

Welcoming a new child into the family is such an exciting time. If you have had a baby, you may be thinking about baptising or christening your child. What are the differences between these religious rites?

Baptism

Baptism is a ceremony dating back before Christianity. It is one of the traditional sacraments that admits a person into the Christian community. Unlike a christening, a baptism is for all ages (apart from some religious groups that don't practise infant baptism). Featured Design: 'Boys Foliage Wreath'

Christening

Christenings are a more recent ceremony, originating around the 14th century. A christening is similar to a baptism, but it focuses on the child's naming ceremony. The baby will be 'christened' with their name, and gifts are usually given to the parents. Because of this, christenings are for small children only. Many people today also view christenings as a more symbolic occasion than a strictly religious one. Featured Design: 'Cute Pink Church'

The Differences

~ A baptism is a traditional sacrament. A christening is a more modern rite. ~ A baptism is for any age. A christening is for babies and young children. ~ A baptism celebrates coming into the faith. A christening celebrates the child's naming ceremony.

Other Options

Some parents may not want a christening or baptism because it symbolises a commitment to a religion. If you feel the same way, you could choose to have a church blessing instead. This will allow you to host a special occasion for the child while leaving baptism for a date in the future when your little one can appreciate what it means. If you would prefer to have a non-religious occasion to formally welcome your baby into the world, you can always choose a humanist naming ceremony or 'naming day' instead. Naming ceremonies don't contain religious content, and you can hold them in any venue you want. People hold them for children of all ages, too, making them popular for welcoming an adopted child into the family.

If you can't think of a gift suitable for a christening, then you may wish to give them money instead. But how much money should you give? It's a tricky question! Here is how much money you're really expected to give as a gift:

Family

For your family members, you may wish to spend a little more than you would for anyone else. A cheque or some money for a savings account is a great gift for your younger family members. We think up to £100 makes a great christening gift, but you shouldn't feel the need to spend more than you can afford.

Friends

If it is your friend's child getting christened, your budget can change massively depending on how close you are with them. The general rule when it comes to friends is to spend the same amount on their child's christening as you would their birthday, so whether that's £10 or £50, it's completely up to you. If you are struggling financially and worry that you won't be able to bring a present to the christening, be sure to discuss this with your friend. A true friend will understand, and shouldn't expect lots of gifts anyway!

Money Presentation

However much money you decide to give, you'll need to make sure it is nicely presented. It will make your gift unforgettable. Here are some of our favourite presentation ideas: Card Pop your money in a lovely christening card. Alongside a thoughtful message, it will make a great gift. Piggy Bank A money box (or a traditional piggy bank) makes a lovely gift, and can be kept for years to come.  

If the child getting christened is older, it's also a great way to teach them about saving. In a Bottle You may also want to pop some cash into a bottle. Add a letter to make it the perfect keepsake, too. With a small rustic tag and some ribbon attached, your gift will look amazing.

We hope you've found this blog useful! For more advice, head over to our other blogs - we have so many for christenings.

At the end of your little one's christening, you'll want to thank guests for coming with christening party favours. Here are some of our favourite favours to inspire you:

Handmade Soap

This makes a lovely unique gift that is also useful. There are so many different shapes and scents that you can create to suit you, and it makes for a fun day of crafting. You could also get your family or friends involved in creating the soap - it's so much fun!

Candles

Another cool idea is a personalised candle - you could hand-make them for your christening party favours. Alternatively, buy some pre-made candles and add a lovely personalised sticker. Choose a homely scent that will remind them of the amazing time shared at your baby's christening.

Cookies

Who doesn't love cookies? Send guests home with a delicious cookie - they're sure to appreciate it! We are loving this cookies from Pretty My Party, they're both super smart, and look so tasty, too.  

Featured Image: Pretty My Party

Whatever type of cookies you decide to have, they're sure to be amazing. Plus, this is a good environmental option as there's hardly any waste involved.

Seed Packets

If you are trying to be more environmentally conscious, then seed packets also make an ideal favour. They let everyone go home and plant something which is really special. Plus, the plant will always remind them of your baby. How sweet!

Sweet Cones

Sweet cones are super popular for birthday parties, and also make great christening party favours. You fill your sweet cones up with delicious treats, and then add a personalised sticker. It's a great way to say thanks!

 

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Our sweet cones come with a range of multi-coloured ties making them perfect for colourful christenings, too.

Key-rings

A key-ring is another lovely gift to receive, and will remind guests of your little one every time they use their keys. There are so many different types that you can buy - whether that's an engraved message or just a cute animal key-ring. For your family, you may wish to have key-rings made with a photo of your little one inside. So cute!

Bracelet

Bracelets make an ideal gift if you're really struggling for ideas because everyone can wear them! Depending on your budget, you can either opt for expensive silver bracelets, or opt for a sweet string bracelet like these:  

Featured Image: HenhouseCraftshop

Either way, it's a lovely and thoughtful gift that your guests are sure to appreciate.

Chocolates

A small box of chocolates for each guest will go down a treat! Many online retailers sell amazing personalised chocolates, so it doesn't have to be boring. You can also add a photo of your little one to the box to create the most adorable favour. If you're looking for something more unique, why not hand-make your own chocolates?

Personalised Pens

Splash out and order each guest a beautiful personalised pen. Every time they use it, they'll remember your child's beautiful christening!

Thank You Cards

Don't forget that you will also need thank you cards!

 

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Here at Dotty about Paper, we have a wide range of thank you cards that are perfect for christenings. Personalise with your own wording to complete - some of our designs can even be personalised with a photo, too!

We hope you have enjoyed this blog, and also thought of some amazing favours for your baby's christening. Comment down below which your favourite idea was!

A christening is a beautiful way to welcome your baby, and the perfect first step in a life of religion. Here is a simple guide on planning an unforgettable christening:

The Church

Your baby's christening should be held at your local church. If you don't attend church regularly, discuss this with the vicar. Some churches will expect for you to be attending religious services before and after the day. Also check with the vicar whether your child's christening will be an independent service or a part of the weekly Sunday worship. Plus, when booking your service, be sure to choose a date that you have checked with your godparents - they need to be there!

The Ceremony

Your child's christening ceremony will be fairly straightforward, and should only take around half an hour. Featured Image: Church of England Christenings It will start with an introduction from the vicar, followed by the promises by the parents and godparents, the baptism, and a reading. However, different churches may have different traditions or orders for this.

The Christening outfit

Consider what outfit your little one will wear. Do you want to stick to tradition, or do something more modern? If you want to follow tradition, dress your little one in a long white or cream gown. This is a popular choice for both boys and girls, and can be reused in the future if you have more children in the family. Alternatively, dress your child in other smart clothes, such as a smart shirt and chinos. It's completely up to you! Featured Image: One Small Child Don't forget how fast your little one grows! Don't buy clothes too far in advance of the day, as you may find that they don't fit.

Godparents

Before the christening, decide who your child's godparents will be. Choose people who are actively involved in your child's life, and will continue to be for years to come, such as your sibling or your closest friend. If you are choosing a new friend, ask yourself whether they will definitely be there for your child throughout the next eighteen years. It is generally seen that you should have three godparents, with two of them being the same sex as your child. But it's up to you! If you are particularly religious, you will also want to choose godparents who are dedicated to your religion, so that they can act as a religious guide to your child. Plus, you should check with your church what their requirements are. Some churches will expect for godparents to attend regular services at the church, whilst others will be much less strict - the only requirement being that the godparents should be baptised.

The Reception

After the ceremony, you'll probably want to host a reception. This is a great place to socialise with friends and family, as well as receive gifts for your baby. The size of your reception is completely up to you. Some people will only want a small event, whilst for others this will be a major celebration. Venue First, choose your venue. Popular venues include church halls, pubs, and restaurants. You could even host your reception at your house. Decorations You will usually be expected to provide your own decorations for your venue. Popular choices include balloons and bunting in shades of pink, blue, or cream. Featured Image: Cherie Kelly For more formal christenings, expect to see a lot of flowers. Food and drink Christenings will rarely have a sit-down meal, and will usually have a buffet. This is mainly as they are held at around lunchtime, so people probably won't be hungry. Plus, if any of your guests have specific dietary requirements, it makes it much easier for them to have something to eat. Some parents will also choose to have a christening cake. Much like a wedding cake, these can be very professional (and expensive!). However, these aren't essential. Gifts You can also expect for your child to receive gifts at their christening. Popular choices include silver spoons, bibles, framed prints, and jewellery. If you are after something specific, such as money for your child's savings account, be sure to mention it on your invitations.

Invitations

There won't be any party without your invitations! Choose some beautiful invites, and send them to guests six weeks before the event. Remember to extend your invitation to your vicar! Featured Product: Christening Invitations - Boys Church & Bunting - A6 Postcard Important things to include are your baby's name, the time, date, and location (of ceremony and the reception), and your RSVP details. If you are having a specific dress code or theme, be sure to mention this, too.

After the Day

Once the christening is over, there's still some things to consider. Thank You Cards You should definitely send out a thank you card to all of your christening guests. It's only polite! Featured Product: Thank You Cards - Dusky Pink Photo Typography Thank them for attending, as well as any gifts that your little one received. You may wish to choose a thank you card with a beautiful photograph of your baby on. It makes a wonderful keepsake. We hope you have enjoyed this blog! For more advice on throwing an amazing christening (and so much more!), head over to our other blogs.

A cute poem? A lengthy formal paragraph? Something short and sweet? How exactly do you word a christening invitation?

Choosing pre-made christening invitations

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In most cases, you'll just have to add details like names and addresses to create the perfect christening invitation.

What wording should be included?

Usually, christening invitations follow a fairly standard format.

Start with "(Name) and (Name) invite you to celebrate the christening of (Child's Name)".

Or, go for a more simple "You're invited to celebrate the christening of (Child's Name)", which is also ideal for single parents.

Below your introduction, provide details of the christening venue and the date and time of the christening. Don't forget to add details of the reception or celebration after the ceremony, if this is at a different venue.

Follow up with RSVP details, including your own contact number or email address.

Christening invitations only need to be simple. Most people already know roughly what to expect.

Should invitations be formal?

You have a choice. Will you go for formal invitations with beautiful fonts and elegant stationery design, or something more fun and colourful? It's really up to you and is a choice that should reflect your family.

You could choose custom christening invitations with a picture of your child, or something bright and colourful that's perfect for a baby or toddler.

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Alternatively, choose a design that's beautifully elegant with space for all of the details.

Who invites the guests?

Often, the parents will be the ones to write the invitations and send them out to family and friends. Sometimes, this is a job for the new godparents acting on the child's behalf. Again, this is personal preference.

Choosing a suitable font

For more formal invitations, try your hand at calligraphy. If you don't want to do this by hand, you can purchase custom printed invitations that use very elegant fonts.

If you're opting for something less formal, you can write with your usual handwriting or have some fun with your font choice. Whether you choose traditional or contemporary, remember that the invitation is simply a method of formally inviting your guests - as long as you're getting the right details to the appropriate people, the rest is really your choice.

A celebration of your child, and a promise to raise them in faith, a christening is an important celebration. But when you're writing the guest list, who should you invite to the christening?

How many people to invite

Often, a christening is held as part of a normal church service. You'll be around strangers and members of the church. Inviting 100 family members and crowding into the pews may not go down as well as you think. To you, the christening is a wonderful personal celebration. To other people, this is a standard Sunday at church and a sudden influx of guests might intimidate.

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Keep invites to the ceremony to close friends and family. They might include the child's grandparents, aunts, uncles, first cousins, a few friends and of course their selected godparents.

If you're hiring a venue for a celebration after the ceremony, you have the option to open up the guest list. This is where you can invite 100 people if you choose to. More distant family members and the rest of your friends can be included in this celebration.

Who to invite to a christening

Often, people invite the same people to the christening that they might invite to their wedding. This means that many family members will be included, along with friends of the child's parents. In most cases, children are christened when they're too young to express guest list preferences. But, if your child is older, it's important that their friends are in attendance.

Some children won't happily sit through a church service. If you're inviting children to the christening itself, think about each child's temperament. Will they be comfortable sitting quietly, and are they used to a church environment?

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Holding a christening party on the day of the christening, or another day of your choice gives you the freedom to invite as many people as you'd like. Stock up on christening invitations, and be limited only by the size of your venue.

What might factor into your decision

Are you catering? The price per head of food can quickly begin to add up. Christenings don't need to be lavish and expensive celebrations, and often they're best with a party food buffet and plenty of room to mill around. After all, most people are there simply to coo over your baby.

If you're on a tight budget, hiring a hall is the best way to keep costs down whilst inviting lots of people. Once you've paid for the room, you can invite as many people as you'd like.

If you're instead choosing a formal venue and paying a per-head price, don't be afraid to whittle down your guest list.

Why send invitations?

What should you write on a christening invitation?

How soon should you send invitations to a christening?

What about invitations for non-religious baby ceremonies?

Photographs

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Birth details

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Personal messages

Following tradition?

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Get creative

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Do it early

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Decide on your style

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Keep it simple

Example Structure