Christians have many rites that mark certain stages or transition in their lives. One of these rites is baptism when water is put on the forehead of the baby to symbolize the baby has joined the Church or becoming a Christian. Parents are free to choose whether they want to hold a grand celebration out of it, or just throwing a simple reception. In early times, baptism has to take place in moving water to symbolize the movement of the Holy Spirit in human life. Nowadays, baptism ceremony normally take place in the church with a priest leading the ritual.

Whether you are hosting the party or being a guest, you must know a thing or two about gifts-giving. As a host, you may wish to prepare thank-you gifts for all your guests. The gift does not necessarily have to be big and expensive; a small thoughtful present is equally appreciated too. As a guest, you may pick gift items that have religious connotations, in line with the baptism theme. Like baby showers, the host and guests must know the importance of gift giving as a sign of gratitude and well-wishes. Once you have decided on the type of ceremony you like to organize, you can proceed to do the necessary matters such as fixing the date, contacting the church and booking the venue for the reception.

Choosing and selecting godparents for your baby should not be difficult as you can pick any of your close or most trusted friends. You can pick two godmothers and one godfather for your child, or vice versa. It is entirely up to you, there is no wrong or right about it. Some parents choose one godmother and one godfather for their child. Ceremonies can be held outdoors, example by the park nearby a lovely stream, or indoors at the community hall pre-booked by the host. Wherever the location is, you must discuss thoroughly with all the people involved such as the clergy, godparents, friends and relatives who help you out with the event. This is to make sure that the location chosen is convenient for them.

Last minute invitations are not always good. It is recommended that invitation cards are sent out to the guests as early as two weeks prior to the event. They will be grateful to the host for informing them early. The guests can make the necessary arrangements and preparation to attend the ceremony. If for whatsoever reason the guest could not attend, he/she may inform the host about it. This also allow the host to make necessary arrangements like confirming seats booking at the restaurant and preparing door gifts.

White has always been the main color for the baby's attire during a christening ceremony, although other shades like cream, silver and gold may be used. The baby's parents may purchase or custom-made the gown for their precious bundle, if they decide they do not want to use the antique gown that was passed down from older generations.

Some baptism rituals can last up to half an hour while others may take up to 45 minutes. Usually they are conducted in less than an hour. After the ceremony, normally the host would hold a simple reception to gracefully end the occasion. Smart host would plan early and make bookings weeks earlier to avoid rushing at the last minute. He may choose a community hall or restaurant to hold the reception.

The food you serve need not be extravagant, it can consist of simple fare such as sandwiches, fried chicken, fruit trays, and packet drinks, or you can also choose to have a catered meal prepared. If you're going to do cook yourself, prepare as much as you can the night before and store it at your chosen venue liaise with family members about helping you to set everything up. If you are cash strapped, consider holding a potluck. Guests will be more then happy to bring along some food and you can be sure that there will be plenty of dishes to eat, without the financial headache.

It is a good idea to prepare a small favor for your guests. These are akin to baby shower favors and can be any small gift or trinket that your guests can take home to remind them of the ceremony. The baptism favors can be given at the ceremony, the reception, or both. It is also a common practice to give a small gift to the godparents. Guest also normally hand out small gifts to the parents, these usually consist of religious items for the baby such as bibles and rosaries unlike baby shower gifts .Last but not least don't forget to send thank-you cards or letters to all your guests to show your appreciation for coming to your child's Baptism.