What do you wear to a baby's christening?

Created 5. sep 2022

Dress appropriately for a baby shower.

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A baby's christening is a big day for the parents, so it's important that you make something special out of your outfit for that memorable moment, but what kind of clothes do you actually wear to a baby's christening?

In this post, we provide some good advice and inspiration on what you can wear to a baby's christening, and what you should avoid.

Dress code

What are female guests allowed to wear to a christening?

As a general rule, your attire should be neat, but can it be too neat?

It's probably a bit of a controversy, because some people believe that there are no specific rules for how exactly you should dress for a christening. Others believe that similar rules apply to christenings as to weddings; that is, you can't wear white or black, etc.

In our opinion, you can easily afford to wear awhite dress , as long as it is not completely solid in color, but what about wearing black to church? We would advise you to avoid outfits that are too black, as it is often associated with funerals and can quickly send the wrong signal to some. This does not mean that black is completely out of the question, but you should still create a little contrast with a colored blazer or stilettos . Of course, how the family of the christening child will react to a black outfit varies greatly; some will take it casually, while others will probably find it a bit inappropriate, so it is best to be on the safe side.

Find your nice clothes.

Of course, you don't have to come in your nicest outfit, but it shouldn't be too simple either.

A good idea for a nice outfit could be a nice blouse combined with a skirt or a pair of nice suit trousers . If it's a little too simple for your taste, you can always style your look with some jewelry and accessories.

If you want to look more adorable, you can wear a midi dress , but avoid party dresses and the like, as this is not always appropriate and you will probably stand out from the crowd. Think of it as if you were going to a birthday party, where the guests are usually more well-dressed than usual.

Avoid casual outfits

Be careful not to dress too casually.

You should focus on the nicer selection from your wardrobe and avoid anything called hoodies, sweatshirts, t-shirts, sweatpants, jeans and shorts. Now the list is probably longer, but these are just a few examples so that you roughly know what we are talking about.

In church, your shoulders should be covered, for example with a light sweater or short jacket. You should also avoid thigh-length dresses and dresses with bare backs or deep necklines.

What should you not wear to a baby's christening?

A bit roughly, one can start from the following;

Avoid wearing white in church

Avoid wearing all black clothes in church.

Limit loud colors

Don't wear overly revealing clothing.

The specific rules will depend on the type of party being held. If you are attending church, it is considered good practice not to wear bright colors, as they can be distracting at such an event. In addition, You should avoid overly revealing clothing such as anything with low cut, short or tight clothing. You should also avoid wearing white dresses, as white is traditionally a color reserved for the godchild and brides. Black may also be considered inappropriate, as it is usually associated with mourning and funerals. Additionally, you should avoid overly exaggerated or flashy clothing and accessories, as this can be disruptive in a church or ceremonial setting.

In general, it is better to choose a more conservative and elegant outfit that is appropriate for the occasion and not too over the top or flashy. You can consider a dress or skirt with a nice blouse or shirt and add accessories like jewelry or a scarf to give your outfit an extra touch of elegance. Remember that the purpose of your attire for a christening is to be appropriate and respectful of the ceremonial event and its participants.

The attire for the mother and godmother

If you are the mother or godmother of the child being baptized, you play an important role, and you should therefore be dressed extra nicely. For that, the dress is a sure winner – adorable and elegant.

A long maxi or midi dress would be a good choice if you want to take your outfit a step further. Of course, you can also keep it a little more classic and wear a nice blouse and style it with a skirt or a pair of pants.

You should stick to light colors, as they are more eye-catching and encouraging than darker colors given your role. Are there any specific colors that should be avoided besides black and white? Not really, but some people still have the opinion that there are boy and girl colors. To avoid confusion, pink should be avoided if the christening is for a boy. Similarly, you should avoid light blue if the christening is for a girl. If you want to dress more traditionally, we recommend blue dresses for boys' christenings and pink dresses for girls' christenings.

Click here to see our recommendations for the baptism party .

Go-to

If you are going to a christening, Astrid Frank recommends that you do the following;

Stick to plain, nice clothes like nice blouses, tops, skirts, and suit pants.
You can wear white and black as long as your outfit is not completely monochromatic.
Feel free to wear jewelry and style your look with some accessories.
If you are the mother or godmother of the child being baptized, you should go a little extra in your attire.

No-go

If you are going to a christening, Astrid Frank recommends that you be careful with the following;

As a guest, you should not wear overly fancy clothes, such as prom dresses and evening gowns.
Ditch casual clothes like hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts, sweatpants, jeans, and shorts.
Avoid wearing bare shoulders and dresses with a low neckline in church.
Avoid all black and white outfits.
If you are the mother or godmother of the child being baptized, do not wear pink if the baptism is for a boy and avoid light blue if the baptism is for a girl.

That was a bit about how to dress properly for a christening. We hope this post has been inspiring and given you an insight into the dos & don'ts regarding a christening. Would you like to be prepared when you go to the party? Then read our post about the actual christening day .

Enjoy 🤍

With love,
The girls from Astrid Frank