Planning a christening

Tiziana and Tamara from Cake and Confetti Events (link to www.cakeandconfetti-events.ch) are absolute professionals when it comes to organising special occasions. In today’s guest article, they share valuable tips and advice for planning and celebrating a baptism.

Not sure what to expect when planning a baptism? Here are the dos and don’ts of organising a baptism.

First of all, there is no right or wrong when it comes to the baptism celebration itself, because it should reflect your family and your personal needs.

The Christian baptism ceremony, however, follows clearly defined traditions and rules. Baptism is one of the most important acts of the Church. It is considered a sacrament, meaning a sign through which God establishes a connection with humanity. According to Catholic belief, anyone may be baptised, even if the parents belong to another religion. In the Protestant Church, however, it is generally expected that at least one parent is a member of the Protestant Church.
If you do not belong to a religious denomination but would still like to hold a ceremony or celebration for your newborn, there is the alternative of a so-called "naming ceremony". Similar to a civil wedding ceremony, you are completely free to choose the location and format. During this celebration, friends, relatives and acquaintances gather to welcome the new life. Just as in a church baptism, you can also appoint godparents. The role of the godparents is to accompany the child throughout life until adulthood and to serve as additional trusted adults and role models.

As experienced event planners, we have put together some helpful tips and a checklist to help you prepare:

• Choose the godparents
• Register the baptism with the local parish/church and set a date
• Select or define a baptism verse, quote or meaningful motto that reflects what you would like to express
• Determine the number of guests
• Select and confirm the venue for the ceremony
• Select and book the venue for the celebration
• Book a photographer
• Design invitation and thank-you cards – send invitations early. Our tip: order the thank-you cards at the same time so they can be personalised by hand after the event
• Plan and book the food, music and entertainment
• Choose the baptism outfits for the parents and the baby
• Select a baptism candle or another symbolic item that will accompany the child throughout life

Here are a few additional tips:

• Only begin the detailed planning once the baptism date has been officially confirmed. This saves unnecessary rescheduling and extra work
• If you plan to host the celebration at home, involve friends, relatives or neighbours to help with preparations and especially with tidying up afterwards
• For guests travelling from further away, consider reserving hotel rooms so they can fully enjoy the celebration without worrying about accommodation

Here are some creative ideas for the ceremony and celebration:

In general, a celebration becomes truly memorable when guests are actively involved. It is important to engage all the senses. This also helps children feel included and prevents them from simply sitting through the event feeling bored.

When selecting music or songs, consider choosing pieces that can be visually interpreted. For example, incorporate simple movements during the chorus (pointing upwards to the sky, downwards to the earth, or left and right with hands and arms), or create posters and masks that match the song and allow guests to act it out like a small theatre performance.

At the celebration itself, elements such as a bubble machine can delight both parents and children. You could also set up self-service snack bars, candy bars or popcorn stations. One feature that always works wonderfully and also helps entertain guests is a photo booth. Costumes that match your baptism theme can be provided for guests to use. A photo booth has the added advantage of creating beautiful memories of the day. If you place a guest book nearby, guests can also leave personal messages alongside their photos.

Have you already read our article about baptism gifts? Continue reading here!

Tiziana & Tamara Cake and Confetti Events