Though different, preparing for a Christening has a lot in common with planning a wedding – There are invites to consider, a reception to prepare for, and outfits to pick. The main difference is that people seem to have a lot of expectations for a wedding but not for a Christening. Because of that, people tend to put even more pressure on themselves and become overwhelmed with all of the smaller tasks.
Choosing an outfit tends to be the most stressful. Whether you’re dressing the baby or you still need to find a dress for yourself, it shouldn’t take you an eternity. To save yourself time, decide the color palette and the style for your dress before you start dress shopping or Baby outfit shopping. There are no hard and fast rules, but generally, soft and neutral colors tend to be the most appropriate for Christenings. If you’re shopping for the baby, prioritize comfort over style.
Baby outfits and dressing gowns that are beautifully styled are usually heavily decorated and stiff. Spending the whole service keeping an unsettled baby calm is not the memory you want from the occasion. The same applies to guests. People seem to forget that a stylized but stiff outfit doesn’t look smart if you tell them you can’t move comfortably enough to sit down. Dress in something with enough give to allow you to comfortably stand and chat after the service.
Take a moment to consider shoes, particularly if the reception venue has grass or has uneven terrain. If you are able to plan the activities yourself, do not leave everything until the last minute. The little things, like additional seating or the flowers and cake, can wait. The venue and outfits can be arranged well in advance to prevent a last minute rush. Be sure to contact the venue, and the church, to verify that nothing has changed at the last minute, especially about timings.
Are you considering photos in a timely manner? You don’t have to take the formal approach and hire a professional photographer for the day, but be sure to have a plan in advance for someone to take photos, and avoid the rush during the service. Keep it simple. When planning, remember that most people who actually care about the day won’t remember if the flowers and chairs do or don’t match.