So you’ve thrown your baby shower, your little bundle of joy has arrived and now it’s time to organise the christening party but you don’t know where to start. Help is at hand from baby celebration experts, mybabycelebration.co.uk. If you’re looking to add some celebrity flair to your baby’s special day then check out these top tips:
Create a sense of occasion
Invitations are key here as they are the first taster of what the guests are to expect from your event. Be sure to send them out in plenty of time so that the christening becomes a firm fixture in people’s diaries. It is also an idea to include a formal style and dress code as this will make the occasion feel more special.
Be aware that guests may have their own interpretation of your dress code though – Liz Hurley turned up at Brooklyn and Romeo Beckham’s christening in a dress with a plunging neckline despite the request from Victoria Beckham for “modest attire”.
Be prepared for the paparazzi
Your guests will inevitably want to take photos of your baby and also of his/her parents on their special day, so it’s important to look your best. Most celebrities choose traditional christening gowns or cute sailor outfits for their babies to distinguish them from other children. Mummy and Daddy need to look smart too, a knee-length dress/coat ensemble for her and smart non-work suit for him works well. Have a change of clothes handy for baby as well, in case of any accidents or spillages, but get someone else to handle this. Find the best way of holding your baby to show him/her off to best effect for the cameras – make sure the position is comfortable as it is likely that you will have to keep this up throughout the ceremony and much of the reception afterwards.
Simple and elegant
Celebrities often choose to have their christening receptions in a marquee on the lawn at home, normally for reasons of privacy. You don’t necessarily have to have a country mansion to do the same –a sit down lunch is a good idea if you have the space.
Decorations should be simple but co-ordinated – use fresh flowers such as peonies, roses or gerberas in simple posies on tables. Linen and crockery looks best in white but avoid the use of paper plates, banners, balloons or streamers.
Be the hostess with the mostest
Get caterers in or buy ready-prepared food and pretend. Don’t do it yourself. You wouldn’t catch a celebrity preparing plates of food in the kitchen or stacking the dishwasher instead of mingling with the guests so hire waiting staff or ask close friends or family to help by doing specific jobs. This way you can be the perfect hostess.
Keep guests entertained
The seating plan is key here – try to arrange it so that each guest can talk to someone they know or are likely to get on with. Make sure that there is an order to the proceedings so that there aren’t any long gaps with nothing to do. If children are going to be present then organise party bags at the table which will help to occupy them during the meal. Whilst your budget may not stretch to a celebrity-style goody bag, one or two well thought out gifts are likely to be appreciated more than a big bag of cheap fillers. After lunch, keep the children amused with a kids’ entertainer so that the adults can have a good chat. Have your event finish at a specific time so that guests go home wanting more rather than letting the party fizzle out.
For more ideas and inspiration visit www.mybabycelebration.co.uk
