Heartwarming Baptism Party Ideas for Your Little One

A baptism party is a celebration that happens when someone gets baptized and officially joins the Christian family. It’s a really special occasion where we get to welcome a new member, most often a newborn, with open arms and celebrate their journey of faith. The party is typically held after the actual baptism ceremony, which is usually conducted in a church or other religious institution. This party is a special occasion in a family’s life and there are many baptism party ideas to help make the day memorable.

Create baptism invites in minutes

Browse gorgeous invitation designs for baptism!

Baptism invites

Create baptism invites in minutes

Browse gorgeous invitation designs for baptism!

Baptism invites

The party is usually organized by the parents or guardians of the baptized person. The celebration may involve family members, close friends, and members of their church community. Festivities usually include food, drinks, and baptism decorations, and follow many of the same party planning tips as other celebrations. Baptism parties may also feature religious elements such as prayers, blessings, and hymns.

What do you do for a baptism party?

The purpose of the party is to celebrate this significant milestone and to provide an opportunity for their loved ones to come together and offer their congratulations and support. It is also a chance for the family to thank the guests for their attendance and participation in the religious event. This event is often held in a warm and joyous atmosphere, with plenty of food, drink, and good company. Keep reading for all of our favorite baptism party ideas. We’ll share suggestions for decoration, baptism invitations, gift-giving, and food and drinks perfect to share with friends and family on this momentous occasion.

Christening and Baptism Party Ideas

While baptism is the welcoming of someone into the church and is seen as an initiation into faith, christening is a ceremony where a baby is given a name and often baptized at the same time. Baptism parties or christening parties can be held to honor either, or both, of these milestones.

Whether your family is honouring a baptism, christening, or both, there are a lot of party ideas to create a memorable celebration.

Where To Host a Baptism Party

When it comes to location, there are several options to consider depending on the size of the party, your budget, and your personal preferences. Here are some popular location options to consider:

• Home: Hosting the baptism party at home is a popular choice because it is affordable, convenient, and allows for a more intimate gathering with family and close friends. You can decorate the space with balloons, streamers, and religious-themed decorations to create a festive atmosphere.
• Church or church hall: Many churches have halls or meeting rooms that can be rented out for events like baptism parties. This is a great option if you want a larger space to accommodate more guests or if you want to incorporate religious elements into the party.
• Restaurant: Hosting the party at a restaurant is another popular option because it eliminates the need to cook and clean up, and allows guests to order their own food and drinks. You can choose a restaurant that has a private room or book a large table for your party.
• Park or outdoor venue: If you prefer an outdoor setting, you can consider hosting the party at a local park or outdoor venue. This option is perfect for a summer baptism party and allows guests to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery.

Ultimately, the location of the party will depend on your personal preferences, budget, and the size of your guest list. No matter where you choose to host the party, the most important thing is to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere where everyone can celebrate this special occasion together.

Baptism and Christening Decorations

There are many different themes to choose from, such as religious or floral and the baptism and christening decorations will depend on whichever theme you choose. You can also choose decorations based on the season or time of year, such as a spring theme with pastel colors or a winter wonderland theme. 

These are some popular baptism decorations you may want to consider:

• Welcome sign for outside the venue to greet guests.
• A baptism banner hung as a focal point inside the venue.
• Gift table cover and a decorated card box. 
• Photo backdrop for guests to get pictures with the newly baptized baby.
• A collection of pictures in frames in the shape of a cross.
• Table runners or coverings if there are tables for a meal being served. 
• Real or faux flower arrangements on tabletops.

Outdoor Garden or Floral Baptism Theme

A garden theme can incorporate elements like flowers, greenery, and natural textures to create a fresh and vibrant atmosphere. You can bring those elements by selecting an invitation with a floral cross or other floral accents. Hosting it in an outdoor setting provides ample space for guests to mingle, and children can play games or enjoy outdoor activities. Classic games for adults and children like capture the flag or a scavenger hunt are perfect for outdoor entertainment.
Additionally, simple DIY decorations like potted plants or homemade flower arrangements can add a personal touch. These can also serve as gifts to send home with important family members. If your climate or season doesn’t favor an outdoor garden theme, you can bring all the elements of a floral part indoors! Overall, a garden baptism party theme is a lovely choice that can provide a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for all guests.

Baby Animal Baptism Theme

A baby animal party theme is an adorable choice for a baptism celebration. Incorporating baby animals creates a charming and playful atmosphere that is perfect for a young child. Use lambs, bunnies, chicks, and ducklings in decorations, invitations, and party favors, the fluffier the better! We love this colorful rabbit baptism invitation for this cute party theme. 

Allow adults and kids to work on entertaining games together like word searches or matching baby animal names to their parents. Stick to pastel colors and fuzzy textured, baby animal decor that evokes warmth and coziness. Overall, a baby animal baptism party theme is a charming and whimsical choice that is sure to delight both children and adults alike.

Religious Baptism Theme

Religious party decor is a meaningful and appropriate choice for a baptism party and it honors the religious significance of the occasion. Consider a simple invitation with a cross and gold accents. The religious baptism decor can include symbols such as crosses, angels, doves, and baptismal fonts, and can also feature verses or quotes from the Bible. This decor can create a reverent and sacred atmosphere that is fitting for such a significant milestone in a person’s spiritual journey. 

Have guests write some of their favorite verses and quotes from the Bible onto little notecards that can be used to build a book for the baptized baby. Guests can also take photos with an instant camera to use alongside their favorite scripture so that the baby can place a face with a quote as they grow.

Games To Play at a Baptism Party

Playing games at the party can provide a fun and interactive way to bring guests together and celebrate the occasion. Since baptisms are often a family affair, there are likely to be children on the guest list, and having games scheduled can help keep them busy and entertained.

Play active games like pin the dove on the cross where guests can take turns getting blindfolded and trying to pin a dove cutout onto a cross. The closest to the center wins. Or another option to get everyone up and moving is musical chairs. It’s a classic game and can be played by all ages. You can even use your favorite hymns to play.

If you’re hosting an indoor party and want to keep things quiet, you could play bible trivia to test guests’ knowledge of bible stories and teachings. Bible Pictionary where guests take turns guessing scenes from the bible and name that hymn are two more interactive games that your guests can enjoy.

The Best Food for a Baptism Party

Oftentimes baptisms are held during morning mass and so the baptism party also serves as a brunch party or a luncheon where guests can eat their mid-day meal.

Here are some ideas for the best foods to serve:

• Finger foods: Finger foods and appetizers are a great option for a baptism luncheon, as they are easy to serve and eat. Consider serving mini quiches, cheese and crackers, fruit skewers, and deviled eggs.
• Sandwiches and wraps: Sandwiches and wraps are another great option that can be made ahead of time and are easy to transport. You can offer a variety of options such as chicken salad, turkey and cheese, and veggie wraps.
• Salads or pasta salad: Regular salads and pasta salads are crowd-pleasers that can be made in advance and served at room temperature. You can add a variety of vegetables, cheeses, and dressings to create a unique and flavorful dish.
• Casseroles: An egg casserole with potatoes is satisfying for guests and is very easy to prepare and bake ahead of time. They’re tasty even when served at room temperature.
• Beverages: Don’t forget to offer a variety of beverages such as lemonade, iced tea, water, and coffee.

Baptism Cake Ideas

We can’t forget dessert! A baptism cake is a great dessert choice because it can be customized to fit the occasion and your overall theme. The cake can be decorated with religious symbols such as crosses, doves, or angels, and can also be personalized with the name and date of the baptism. 

Simple white cakes are gorgeous and fit any theme. But you can also ask your local bakery to fit little bits of your theme into the design. If you are hosting a garden baptism party, ask for a few fresh flowers or some faux flowers to be piped with icing. You can find baby animal cake toppers very easily online and can ask your baker to incorporate those into the cake. 

If you’d prefer not to slice and serve an entire cake, you could also opt for cupcakes, cookies, or even mini tarts or cheesecakes!

Baptism Party Invitations

Even if you don’t have a designated theme for a baptism party, there are still a variety of baptism party invitations for the special day. When choosing an invitation, there are a few factors to consider. Even without a theme, you’ll want to decide whether your party will be traditional, modern, or religious and you’ll want to choose an invitation that matches the overall style of your celebration. Additionally, think about the color scheme of the party and select an invitation that complements it. 

Consider a personalized baptism invitation with a photo, special message, or the name of the child being baptized. We also recommend that you choose high-quality paper or card stock to ensure that the invitation looks and feels professional. Be sure to also consider how you’ll deliver the invitation, whether it’s through email or traditional mail, and plan for enough envelopes or stamps if you choose the latter.

Thank You Cards 

While picking out the party invitations, you should also browse some options for baptism thank you cards. It’s customary to send out thank yous to your friends, family, and community that attend your child’s event. There are designs with crosses, personalized photo thank you cards, or even simple and elegant text thank yous to choose from. We recommend finding one that fits your overall style and tone and filling it with a heartfelt thank you message. With quite a few style options to choose from, it won’t be hard to find just the right card to show your gratitude.

Baptism Party Ideas for Guests

Being invited to witness this significant event in the child’s life means that you are considered an important member of the family’s community and are trusted to support them in their spiritual growth. It is a time for celebration and rejoicing as the child is welcomed into the Christian faith. Additionally, baptism parties often include elements of joy, love, and fellowship, which can create meaningful memories and strengthen relationships with loved ones.

Here are some suggestions and advice if you find yourself invited to a baptism party in the near future. 

Baptism Gift Ideas

Gifts to celebrate a baptism are absolutely not required, but if you’d like to give a little something to help commemorate the day, there are several options. A classic gift is a Bible, which can be personalized or decorated with the child’s name or baptism date. Other religious gifts include a cross necklace, rosary beads, or a religious figurine. 

If you’re looking for something without religious meaning, consider a personalized blanket, photo album, or keepsake box. You can also give a gift that encourages spiritual growth, such as a devotional book or children’s Bible stories. Alternatively, a gift that is sentimental, such as a piece of jewelry or a personalized picture frame, would also be appropriate. Whatever you choose, make sure it is meaningful and something that the child and their family will cherish for years to come.

What To Wear to a Baptism Party

When deciding what to wear to a baptism party, the key is to choose something comfortable yet respectful. For men, dress pants or khakis paired with a collared shirt or polo are appropriate choices. A suit and tie may also be appropriate if it’s a more formal event. Women can opt for a dress, skirt, and blouse, or dress pants paired with a blouse or dressy top. It’s best to avoid anything too revealing or showy. As for shoes, dress shoes or flats are a good choice for both men and women. Ultimately, the goal is to dress modestly and show respect for the occasion while also being comfortable.

Choose the Baptism Party Ideas That Best Fit You and Your Family

Whether you’re hosting a religious-themed party, luncheon in your family’s church or a casual barbeque in your backyard, celebrating your child’s baptism is a joyous and memorable occasion. The friends and family that you invite are bound to be some of the most important people in your and your child’s life and ensuring that they have fun and eat well is a big part of the party planning process. Choose decorations that fit your family’s style and plan a few entertaining games to keep your guests occupied while you mingle and greet everyone. 

Be sure to select an invitation that gives guests a good sense of the style of the party they’ll be attending so they know how to dress and what to bring. And don’t forget to send out thank you cards to show your appreciation to those who attend your child’s milestone day.

^{Photo Credits: Kristine Cinate, Ekaterina Pichukova, DebraLee Wiseberg, Daniel San Martin, Elis_Blanka, Kristine Cinate, dylan nolte, Kateryna Hliznitsova, Foad Roshan on Unsplash}