What do you wear to a Christening? Help!

[Lessfatmorefit]

I'm going to the christening of a family member next month. I'm clearly a heathen because I've realised this is the first christening I've ever been to!

So what do you wear? I am losing weight currently so my wardrobe is basically semi smart workwear, jeans and casual clothes plus a couple of evening type outfits. Im not sure any of that will be suitable?!

It depends on you and your family. To me, any Church Occasion is automatically a Hat Occasion. Some people only wear hats for weddings. I’ve even seen people at christenings wearing jeans.

Depends on the church, the denomination, how dressy the family want it to be. In my experience christenings are several rungs below weddings in “dressiness” but several steps up above jeans and boots. Never seen a hat at a christening but then I’m not catholic nor a royal.

I really don't know - in our family we dont do christenings as a rule...this is a cousins baby, and I dont really know his partner that well, certainly not well enough to ring and ask her what the dress code is. Christening is (going by google streetview) at a fairly traditional looking church. So I feel probably not jeans.

I'd suggest smart wear, a trouser suit with nice top or a conservative dress. I doubt any church would care as you are only a visitor but the baby's parents might be more uptight.

No church should care what you wear. Honestly I've seen every kind of outfit in church and it doesn't matter a bit. The family might like people to dress a little more formally than usual to contribute to the sense this is a special occasion. I'd wear a nice dress. Maybe a work dress with a bright scarf to make it less business-ish?

I'm really surprised at the person who said hats. I'd just dress smart-ish like for church, not something special like for a wedding. Usually the christening is part of the normal service so if you're overdressed you'll look strange compared to the rest of the congregation. Maybe it's different if it's a special service for the christening.

I wear hats at the, er, drop of a hat, but even I wouldn't wear one to a Christening.

Maybe combine workwear * (black skirt maybe?) with a new "prettier" top? It doesn't have to be expensive.

• Assuming you're not a North Sea Oil Rigger.

I'd say similar to a wedding, only slightly less formal.

Though the last one we went to, a few men had jeans on that I don't think the Vicar was overly impressed with.

Just go the safe route and wear classy trousers and a nice formal blouse. I don't think dresses and hats are necessary.

No to the hat.
I just wear what I wear as a guest to a wedding, but I dress quite dressed-down so don't wear high high-heels if you know what I mean.

Smart dress if you have one. A suit if not.
Think 'job interview' rather than wedding.

It does vary between churches and denominations. One of my neighbours is a seventh day adventist, she always looks, to me,as if she is going to a wedding when she goes to church.

The last christening I went to there were a number of children/babies being christened. It was an RC church but the clothes were like an international festival, some fabulous african dresses, lots of men in suits, some women in hats most not.

A dress.

If it were me (Irish, in Ireland) I'd probably go with a midi skirt/tee combination or a midi dress. You don't need to be as dressed up as a wedding and certainly no need for a hat. But formal work/interview wear wouldn't really fit the bill either.

Do you know what time the service is? If it’s on a Sunday morning, it’s likely to be part of the normal Sunday service, and will have regular church goers there as well as people attending for the christening, so perhaps slightly more on the casual side. I’ve seen jeans and fleeces at the types of christenings, even from people who are there especially for the christening. If it’s a day/sun afternoon service, it’s likely to be a service just for the christening, and will only have invited guests, and these tend to be more dressy, but not as dressy as a wedding.

• was supposed to say sat/sun afternoon

Thanks, its in the afternoon.

I have smart dresses but they are work smart. Or evening/going out smart. Neither of which I think is quite right!

I don't have any smart trousers as I only wear dresses or skirts for work/ outside work, or else jeans or leggings.

I genuinely think you can wear whatever but if you feel you need to get something new it needn't be pricey. How about something like this with a cardigan or jacket?

The last 2 christenings I have been to, I was Godmother so wore smart knee length dress, jackets and heels.

Other christenings I have worn smart dresses with a jacket/cardigan, skinny black trousers with a floral pattern shirt and heels & a maxi dress with wedges.

If I was going to a christening I'd wear something like this:
https://www.oasis-stores.com/gb/clothing/dresses/flower-chiffon-skater-dress/069260.html?dwvar0692600_color=58&position=13&cgid=dresses#&start=13&categoryID=dresses
It would be at least knee length on me, and I'd wear it with tights and ankle boots