Decorations & Centerpiece Ideas for a Baptism

Incorporate images of crosses in the decor.

For Christians, baptism is a joyous welcoming of newcomers to the faith. The baptism of a baby is commonly a major family event that's followed with a party. If you're planning to have your baby baptized and you're putting together a party, let the theme guide you as you decide on your decorations and centerpieces.

Table Settings

Decide on the type of table settings you want. Are you planning a party with minimal cleanup and lots of fun? Choose a paper tablecloths and paper plates and cups. Many party stores sell christening paper plates and cups. You can go with blue for a boy or pink for a girl, but don't feel tied to those two colors. If your baby's being baptized during the Easter season, choose spring colors, such as yellow or green.

If you want a more formal look, rent table linens and china if you don't have enough of your own. White is an elegant choice and suited to the occasion.

Centerpieces

Use the baptism symbols of fire and water in your centerpieces. Float candles in containers of water. Surround the containers with sea shells, which John the Baptist used to baptize followers. Or fill clear vases with sand and seashells and put a pillar candle in the center.

Alternatively, create a cross centerpiece that features photos of the baby. Cut out long and short rectangles from card stock. Glue the rectangles to a piece of decorative paper in the form of a cross. Print images of the baby and cut them into circles. Glue the photos to the center of the cross, and place the completed photo cross inside a decorative frame. Set the frame in the center of the table, and surround it with white tea lights.

Room Decorations

Enliven the room by decorating it with baptism-themed items. Drape white crepe paper streamers, as well as streamers in the other colors you've chosen, from the ceiling. Bunch balloons in your party colors and place them at various spots in the room.

For a different look, suspend white origami doves, another symbol of baptism, from thin filaments attached to the ceiling.

Cake Table

A cake decorated for the occasion is typically a part of a baptismal celebration. Showcase the cake on a special table. Set the cake in the center of the table, and surround scatter cross-shaped confetti or seashells around it. Fill a vase with flowers that coordinate with the color scheme, and put it next to the cake. Place a large matted photo of the baby next to the cake. Put a pen next to the photo, and ask guests to write messages on the mat. This will become a special keepsake.

References

• Catholic Update: Update Your Space