what to wear to a christening as the godparent?

[bananapeanutbutter]

I've only ever been to a couple of christenings and none recently. but now I've been asked to be the godparent of my SIL's baby. It sounds like it will be a nice do - church and then cake and champagne at my IL's place. Please help, I really have no idea and everything I own is black.

You can wear black, as long as you accessorise, I wore a black wrap dress to DD christening and put a large red flower from accesorise on it and red stiletto's....looked and felt great.

Have you a black dress you can do the same with? I think dresses /smart trouser cardi combo are the way ahead at christenings..

formal but not too formal iykwim..

I second the formal but not too formal approach.
I can't bear the strapless dresses worn by parents & godparents. Definitely not cuitable in a church & they always stand at the front self consciously pulling up the top. I think fascinators can be a bit OTT for them too.

Thanks for the replies! Formal but not too formal ... hmm. So jeans is out - skirt and nice top okay though? And black really is okay?

Would def not do strapless dress nor fascinator - way too OTT.

I'd just wear what I'd normally wear if I was a christening guest and not a god parent.

Skirt and nice top would be fine.
You could always wear black/navy trousers and nice top and little cardi.

I'd wear layers as churches can often be surprisingly cold and the IL's house will be nice and warm. As a broad rule of thumb in a church, I'd always make sure shoulders and knees were covered, and not go for bare arms. Personally I'd avoid stilettoes as many churches, especially if old, have uneven or slippery floors in places but I am the sort of person who would go arse over tip in front of the font . If you are brilliant in heels, then ignore. Boots would definately be warmer. No need for a hat (unless you are normally a hat wearer). Nothing wrong with black, after all the vicar will be wearing it. An elegant scarf and gloves can add colour (and that vital warmth).

I am going to be a god parent to my best friends son in February, I have bought a red dress to wear I am 18 and not sure if I should wear it or not ??? www.polyvore.com/red_silver_crystal_one_shoulder/thing?id=70695802

As my name suggests, it's a free country but I wouldn't recommend wearing that dress in a church. Maybe because its not very covered up.

A nice polka dot dress. Sleeveless and fairly high necked.

However, other godparents for another christening were dressed up like the only way is Essex! All fake tab, tight short skirts and strapless at the same time! That child had 9 godparents!

I would wear what you would wear to a religious wedding ceremony, ie formal-ish and modest. Personally would be smart dress and stylish cardigan or jacket, or trouser suit if you prefer.

I'd say dancer's dress is a bit OTT whatever your age for a Christening, although it is very pretty it is more of a party dress than suitable for church.
Sorry!

Seen your reply now - I think skirt and nice top would be ok.

I was godparent recently - I wore a navy, peach polka for dress - high neck, sleeveless with banded waist and loose skirt from Oasis with a peach cardi from H and M, nude tights and peach ballet style shoes. It was a relatively informal christening. Most people tend to wear a jersey or nice dress with a cardi - not loads of cleavage, not too short, you don't need a big hat.

Dot dress!

Dancer your dress is beautiful - and I bet you have the figure to pull it off but I wouldn't wear it for a christening unless you've got a big cover up. I wish I could get into that dress! ( lifts bottom from the floor.)

In our church ( Church of Scotland ) baptisms are fairly low key. God parents etc would tend to wear regular clothes
All eyes on the baby and quite often small siblings and cousins so no one really looking at adults.
I would say avoid heels because you will have to hold baby and may have to walk down steps.

I wore a fitted black jumper (quite a nice one - slight cowl neck and some detail on the sleeves), a royal blue embelished knee length skirt and black knee high boots to the Christening where I was a god parent (also Church of Scotland, and mid winter). It was the same sort of thing that I'd usually wear to church, maybe marginally more "special" but not much. Grace makes a good point about heels - I wore medium heels, and holding my large 7 month old godson during the service was hard work! In retrospect flat shoes would have been a good idea.

I would be wearing this with black wooly tights and flat shoes with a black cardigan and it looks more dressed down to what it looks in this photo