Christening tomorrow

Orla K

I completely forgot about it, it's my friend who I've known since primary school, when the child was born I had crocheted a baby blanket.

I'm in a bit of a panic now because 1. I've no idea what to wear (may throw something in the washing machine now 2. Do I give her/her child a gift 3. I have never been to a christening before and I've no idea what to expect or how long it'll last 4. I have to figure out where the church is too.

Can anybody tell me what to expect? I'm at a loss here and from now until them I'm going to be legging it around.

Mods I posted it here because I need answers quicker than what I would get if I posted it in a more suitable forum.

Stupid crap memory!

sam34

i'd wear something smart. not dressy like a wedding, but smart nonetheless.
steer clear of jeans, or anything very casual.

i would bring a gift. anything from a photoframe, photoalbum, other baby trinkets you get in gift shops, soemthing like that. no need to get a big present unless youre godparent.

it'll last about half an hour, maybe a bit less. you wont have to do anything other than join in communal prayers (assuming youre not godmother)

theres no communion or anything.

cant help on the location of the church im afraid!

Stheno

sam34 wrote: »

i'd wear something smart. not dressy like a wedding, but smart nonetheless.
steer clear of jeans, or anything very casual.

i woould bring a gift. anything from a photoframe, photoalbum, other baby trinkets you get in gift shops, soemthing like that. no need to get a big present unless youre godparent.

it'll last about half an hour, amybea bit less. you wont have to do anything other than join in communal prayers (assuming youre not godmother)

theres no communion or anything.

cant help on the location of the church im afraid!

Exactly as sam said :P) If you are near Kildare you can pick up lovely clothes/gifts for baby in Kildare Village in Petit Bateau for around €15 as it's an outlet.

Definitely wear something dressy, especially if it's a first baby, it's a big occasion for a family.

Enjoy yourself

Orla K

All I think to have is unwashed jeans and dresses, going to have to search the depths of my wardrobe for something.

Also what I thought for a gift is take a photo of the child in it's christening stuff and print it out large for them (I'm good at photography) but this will take time.

I'm not godmother (thank god!) I'd really be freaking out then.

I've found out where the church is, it's not far but it's out the country a bit and I couldn't even remember the name of the place (I know what my memory is like so I actually wrote it down)

One more thing, what should I expect afterwards, what would be the norm thing to do after the christening?

sam34

afterwards most people have a meal, either in a hotel or at home, if its at home it tends to be buffet style, clod meats and salads, quiches etc, in my experience.

Stheno

Same as sam again, the afters tend to end early (six/seven/eight) and tend not to be very boozy affairs at all, what with children being there, and people travelling.

Orla K

I've found my black dress, I'm going over to someones house tomorrow to get shoes. I'm going to get a photo frame and also give her a photo of her child about a week later. Now all i have to worry about is the cat coming into contact with the dress (it attracts hairs and the cat is shedding them)

banshee_bones

Hey all!

Sorry not to derail this thread but its got me a bit concerned! My best friend has had her baby and i am Godmother, I am just wondering (after reading this thread!) what am i supposed to give as a present!?? and i also have nothing picked out to wear! A shopping trip is in order! eeek! Its on in about 3 or 4 weeks!

Stheno

Usually for a christening it's a baby related gifts, like clothes (every new mother I know appreciated babygros with the buttons on the back around the bottom, apparently they are easier for nappy changing), or photo frames for the baby or baby related things, there is a pretty big choice.

Dress wise, it is better to err on the side of caution and go more dressy than casual

iguana

banshee_bones wrote: »

Hey all!

Sorry not to derail this thread but its got me a bit concerned! My best friend has had her baby and i am Godmother, I am just wondering (after reading this thread!) what am i supposed to give as a present!?? and i also have nothing picked out to wear! A shopping trip is in order! eeek! Its on in about 3 or 4 weeks!

If you are godmother it's nice to give a gift that will be kept for the future and mark your relationship. If the baby is a girl something like a charm bracelet would be nice and then you could give her a new charm for important occasions of her life. Prize bonds are also popular.

Chinafoot

I got my goddaughter a beautiful silver jewellery box with the date of her christening engraved on it. Its something she can keep forever (I hope!!)

banshee_bones

Thanks guys! alas its a boy im afraid! so no jewellery or jewellery boxes! when he was born i got him baby gros,bibs and a soft rattle. I also started a guess how much i love you baby book which i gave to his mamy to write in all the daily growing up stuff in!
Im thinking maybe of do up a boy-ish hamper? (I have a guess how much i love you bunny&book coming from canada but canada post sucks a$$! and i dont think it will be here even thought it was already sent a few weeks ago!)

His first baby ireland rugby kit! maybe some very cute tshirts, a few toys...struggling to think of other stuff after that!?!

toadfly

I got a silver picture frame for my godson Sean for his christening, it was on that his name, DOB and date of christening could be engraved. was lovely and something that can be kept forever.

its nice for the godparents to give a "forever" gift IMO

chuckles30

You can get little christening jugs & you could get his name & the date of the christening engraved on it. If you gave it before the christening it could probably even be used for the actual baptism. Or you can get silver money boxes in the shape of trains or cars.....again you could get it engraved. Jewellry or gift shops tend to be a haven for things like that.
I tend to agree that christening gifts from godparents should be something that can be kept....and there's nothing to stop you giving him his first Ireland kit for Christmas or his birthday again.....trust me there's plenty of occasions for things like that......and you'll be stuck for ideas or not wanting to give him more toys!!

rockchik

banshee_bones wrote: »

Hey all!

Sorry not to derail this thread but its got me a bit concerned! My best friend has had her baby and i am Godmother, I am just wondering (after reading this thread!) what am i supposed to give as a present!?? and i also have nothing picked out to wear! A shopping trip is in order! eeek! Its on in about 3 or 4 weeks!

One of my best friends had a baby recently, I was'nt godmother but I gave her baby presents when the baby was born, all the clothes were so cute I bought a good bit so she was delighted with them, for the christening I decided I would get my friend a present for herself instead of the baby so I got her a voucher for a spa to get a treatment for an all over body massage for new mums and she was so thrilled with it! She could do with it at this stage! The next day she was opening so many presents for the baby I was delighted I got her something for herself. Although I know as Godmother you probably want to get the baby something aswell though, the engraved braclets are gorgeous or you could get something engraved like someone mentioned earlier, my friend got a lovely silver photo frame engraved with her babies name and the date of the christening and she put a photo of them on the day of the christening in the frame and she loves it! Enjoy the day anyway!:p

banshee_bones

Hey guys thanks for all the ideas, im actually going to go with a framed picture of the baby and with it is a cast where you can mould the babys foot or had when they are still tiny at that age! So in this big wooden frame theres a picture part and the framed moulding part!
I think its a really cute idea and i had seen reaaaly nice ones in Brown Thomas where you could do the two hands or feet but when i went in the last day they werent there

I did want to get her something but shes so not into spas or massages so at the christening im going to give her something for herself away, funnily enough its shaping up to be Backstreet Boys Tickets! Shes all about the nostalgia!

Chinafoot

banshee_bones wrote: »

(I have a guess how much i love you bunny&book coming from canada but canada post sucks a$$! and i dont think it will be here even thought it was already sent a few weeks ago!)

Slightly off-topic but can I ask why you're getting the book from Canada? It's widely available in this country, there are even seasonal editions of the book, as in 'Guess how much i love you in the Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter".

Edit: Just copped the bunny bit.