Are christenings always this extravagant?

[Princessofshoreditch]

Met my friend today. She is currently organising her DD's christening, her first baby who will be about 5 months old on the day. I can't believe the extravagance! She's having standard Sunday service then an afternoon tea at the vet grand country house she got married in for about 50 people (they have large families to be fair). She is also having a professional photographer because she doesn't want to rely on other people to take them. I am also planning my DS christening which will be a small affair with a party at our house afterwards! Now worried this will be a bit crap! Are christenings huge affairs now or is my friend insane?!

Does anybody that gets their children christened these days actually attend church regularly? Or even believe in God? The ones I've been to recently seem to demonstrate that it's just another present-receiving/party-giving initiative with no religious connotations at all. I feel really sorry for the vicars that I've seen give these services, knowing full well that they will never see most of the congregation ever again.

I'm an atheist so find it all highly hypocritical and bonkers!

Does anybody that gets their children christened these days actually attend church regularly? Or even believe in God? The ones I've been to recently seem to demonstrate that it's just another present-receiving/party-giving initiative with no religious connotations at all. I feel really sorry for the vicars that I've seen give these services, knowing full well that they will never see most of the congregation ever again.

I'm an atheist so find it all highly hypocritical and bonkers!

Sorry, didn't mean to post twice

Marzipan
I think it's to do with school admissions.

I'm joking of course.....

None of you are wrong. Big or small christening as long as everyone has a nice day, either is fine.

If your friend can afford to flash out a bit why shouldn't she? I know I did a ds naming ceremony.

None of you are wrong. Big or small christening as long as everyone has a nice day, either is fine YesYes to this!
I like pink splashed out at DD naming ceremony but I've been to small ones that were lovely too

I think it often depends on budgets, sometimes a party package at these hotels can be cheaper than having people in to cater a buffet and room hire to be honest. When we were looking for dd's christening room hire alone at the local pub was £500!

Again, if she wants nice pics to remember it by then it makes sense to pay a professional. I wish I had had one! I literally have 3 pics from dd's and they are awful!

MarzipanDildo We are regular attenders. But yes, loads of parents turn up for the baptism and then never cross the threshold again. Until they want their school/church attendance forms signed. (Then get annoyed when the vicar cant/won't sign.)

We had a cathedral christening and a buffet at the golf club for ds

And cathedral christening and Sunday lunch at nice hotel for dd

Sunday lunch was way nicer and all the kids ran around in the garden.

Photographers are quite common in catholic baptisms.

People just have the christening they can afford. I love a christening!

All this reminds me of the naming ceremony thread-anyone remember that one?

Not all vicars mind, marzipan. I suppose it depends partly on your view of the meaning of baptism - grace and all that. Though obviously the vicars would prefer the family to attend services afterwards! But it doesn't make a baptism pointless if they don't.

(I think - there are many mn vicars who can comment more knowledgeably than i!)

Are they Catholic? Baptisms are often a big big deal for Catholics.

No it's a CofE christening