Christening Invitation Wording and Planning Guide (UK)

In short: A christening usually takes place in a baby’s first year, arranged with your church, followed by a reception with family and close friends. Invitations should make clear whether guests are invited to the service, the reception, or both, and give the practical details. Below is wording for every version, plus a guide to planning the day and handling gifts.

A christening is one of the more formal days in family life, and it comes with a few conventions that a birthday party does not. There is a religious service to coordinate with a church, godparents to choose, and a mix of generations to bring together. None of it is complicated, but the invitation carries a little more weight, and it helps to get the wording right.

This guide covers the invitation wording, the planning around it, and the etiquette people most often ask about.

Christening or baptism

The two words cause some confusion, so briefly: a baptism is the religious sacrament of welcoming someone into the Christian faith, while a christening is the ceremony at which a baby is baptised and named. In everyday use people tend to say “christening” for a baby’s ceremony and “baptism” more broadly. For invitation purposes they are interchangeable, and you should use whichever word your family and church use.

If your ceremony is a non-religious naming instead, our separate naming ceremony guide covers that.

When to hold a christening

Traditionally within the first year, though there is no strict rule.

Many families christen a baby somewhere between one and six months, when the baby is settled but still small. Others wait longer, and some christen toddlers or older children. The timing is really down to the family and the church’s availability, so the first practical step is to speak to your vicar or priest, who will guide you on dates and what the ceremony involves.

Churches often have preferred Sundays and may fold the christening into a regular service, so their calendar shapes yours. Book early, particularly for spring and summer, which are the popular seasons.

Choosing godparents

Godparents are a defining part of a christening, and the choice deserves thought.

Traditionally a child has three godparents, though families vary and many are more relaxed about it. Churches set their own expectations of who can stand as a godparent, and those expectations differ from one to the next, so ask your vicar or priest what yours involves before you ask anyone.

Beyond the formal side, godparents are people you are asking to take a lifelong interest in your child, so choose people who will actually be present in their life. Ask them well before the day, and ask properly, since it is a genuine honour and most people are touched to be asked.

What to include on the invitation

A christening invitation needs to be clear on one thing above all: what exactly the guest is invited to.

Some guests are invited to the church service and the reception, others to the reception only, and the invitation must make this plain to avoid confusion on the day. Include the child’s name, the date, the time and location of the service, the time and location of the reception, and a clear RSVP. If the service is at a church and the reception elsewhere, give both addresses.

Add any practical notes: parking at the church, whether there is food at the reception, and anything guests travelling from a distance need to know. If you have a preference on gifts, a discreet line at the bottom is the place for it.

Wording for the invitation

Christening invitations are traditionally a touch more formal than a party invitation, but warmth matters more than formality.

For the full day:

We would be delighted for you to join us at the christening of Theodore James on Saturday 16 May, at 12 noon at St Mary’s Church, followed by lunch at the Old Rectory. Please RSVP by 25 April.

A warmer, less formal version:

We’re christening Isla on Sunday 14 June at 11am at St Andrew’s, and we’d love you there. Do join us afterwards for food and drinks at ours. Let us know if you can make it by 24 May.

For guests invited to the reception only:

Following Sophia’s christening, we’d love you to join us for a celebration lunch on Saturday 3 May from 1pm at the Grange. Please RSVP by 12 April.

Planning the reception

The reception is usually relaxed, a lunch or afternoon gathering rather than an evening party.

Christening receptions tend to be gentle affairs suited to a wide age range, since there will be elderly relatives and small children in the same room. Afternoon tea, a buffet lunch or a light spread all work. A christening cake is traditional, and some families repurpose the top tier of their wedding cake, which is a lovely old custom.

Keep it calm and unhurried. The day is about welcoming the child and gathering the family, and an over-produced party can miss the tone.

The gift question

Christening gifts have their own traditions, and the etiquette is worth knowing.

Traditional christening gifts are keepsakes, something to be kept and treasured rather than played with. Silver items, a piece of jewellery, an engraved keepsake, a children’s Bible, a personalised gift, or money put towards the child’s savings. The idea is a gift that marks the occasion and lasts, rather than a toy.

Increasingly, families ask for contributions towards savings for the child instead of physical gifts, which fits the keepsake spirit perfectly. If you would like to do this, keep the request understated, since the day is not about gifts at all.

Please don’t feel any need to bring a gift. If you’d like to mark the day, we’re putting contributions towards Theo’s savings.

A shared pot is the simplest way to gather that, and you can set one up on Planiit with amounts kept private. Our guide to asking for money instead of presents has more wording if you need it.

Making it easy to organise

A digital invitation suits a christening well, because it lets you manage a guest list split between service and reception and track replies cleanly.

On Planiit you create the invitation, share it by WhatsApp or text, and guests RSVP from the same link. If you are collecting towards a savings gift or splitting the cost of the reception, you can do so in the same place, with contributions handled by Stripe and kept private.

Common questions

When should you have a christening? Traditionally within the child’s first year, often between one and six months, though there is no strict rule. Speak to your church first, as their calendar and preferred dates will shape yours.

What’s the difference between a christening and a baptism? A baptism is the religious sacrament, and a christening is the ceremony at which a baby is baptised and named. In everyday use the words are often interchangeable, so use whichever your family and church use.

What should a christening invitation include? The child’s name, the date, and the time and location of both the service and the reception. Crucially, make clear whether each guest is invited to the service, the reception, or both.

How many godparents should a child have? Traditionally three, though families vary. Churches set their own expectations of who can stand as a godparent, so ask your vicar or priest before you ask anyone.

What is a traditional christening gift? Keepsakes meant to be treasured rather than played with, such as silver items, jewellery, an engraved gift or a children’s Bible. Contributions towards the child’s savings are increasingly popular and fit the spirit well.

Can you ask for money at a christening? Yes, and it is increasingly common, usually framed as a contribution towards the child’s savings. Keep the request discreet and optional, as a christening is not really about gifts.

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Create a free christening invitation, manage your guest list and collect towards a savings gift at planiit.io.