What to wear
What to Wear to a Christening
A church rite and then photographs on the steps. Covered shoulders for the building, something that still looks like clothes in daylight.
Updated 6 Jul 2026 · 6 min read · what to wear to a christening
Sanctuary first
Catholic, Orthodox, and many Anglican christenings are during or after a service. Shoulders covered, hem at the knee when you sit, matte cloth, quiet soles. A $90–$180 crepe or cotton dress, or a navy blazer over an oxford. Men: jacket, often a tie. Carry a scarf if the room might want one.
Then the steps
Daylight on stone is harder than pew light. Mid-saturation colors hold a face: cream, navy, dusty blue, sage. Pale nude washes out. A wrap you can keep on in wind. Sunglasses off for the group shot. Godparents and grandparents will be in the frame; guests at the edge can be simpler.
- Covered shoulders in the church, a wrap that is not a puffer for photos
- No white column against a white christening gown
- Shoes that do both pew and a stone step — block heel, loafer, oxford
- Jewelry that does not snag a baby’s lace
Lunch after is still not a cocktail party
A restaurant or a house lunch can drop the jacket, not the sense. You may hold the child. Washable cloth. A bag that is not a suitcase of maybe outfits.
Questions, answered
- Is a hat appropriate?
- In some British and Caribbean traditions, yes. In most US Catholic churches, no, unless you already wear one. Off in the pew if it blocks a view.
- What do godparents wear?
- One notch above guests: pressed suit or a dress you would wear to a conservative wedding, photographable, modest.
- Can I wear black?
- Daytime black with a cream or colored layer is fine. A funeral column is the wrong rite.
