| When planning your baby's christening, at the top of | | | | other than on the altar. The reason for this is not |
| your baby christening ideas "to do" list should be to | | | | only that burning candles present a fire hazard; the |
| decide how to decorate the church, hall or whatever | | | | melting wax from the candles has a nasty way of |
| venue you have chosen. Altar decorations are | | | | ruining carpets and the finish of antique wooden |
| important as all eyes are on the family gathered | | | | church pews. |
| there for the ceremony so a lovely floral | | | | To avoid paying for damages, perhaps the best |
| arrangement or other suitable decorative items are a | | | | option for subdued lighting would be to dim the lights |
| given. But, if you really want your celebration to be | | | | using the dimmer switch if one exists or to use |
| shine, the decoration of the pews, the entryways | | | | strings of twinkle lights creatively arranged along the |
| and windows are details that should be addressed. | | | | aisles or in floral arrangements in which case you will |
| By this time you may be mentally ticking over your | | | | need to know the location of electrical outlets. |
| available budget. The purpose of this article is to tell | | | | HOW MANY PEWS SHOULD WE DECORATE? |
| you that it's possible to decorate the entire | | | | The first order of business will be to ascertain how |
| sanctuary in a tasteful (and affordable) manner so | | | | many pews will actually be filled. You can guess at |
| that the entire area is made festive, not just the | | | | this figure by the counting the number of RSVP's |
| few square feet where the actual dedication will be | | | | that have been received. If the number of loved |
| performed. | | | | ones and family that will be attending will only occupy |
| I have a few baby christening ideas that are not | | | | a row or two, decorate those pews and use the |
| expensive that can guide you in your efforts to | | | | rest of your budget to decorate the sidewalks and |
| decorate the church for your baby's dedication | | | | doorways leading into the church. |
| ceremony in an elegant and reverent manner without | | | | INEXPENSIVE PEW DECORATIONS |
| stressing your budget to the breaking point. | | | | If your goal is to keep it simple, you can't go wrong |
| HALLS and ENTRYWAYS | | | | with pink satin bows for a baby girl, baby blue for a |
| Decorating the entry to the festivities gives the | | | | boy or green or some other gender neutral color for |
| ceremony a sense of place and importance and we | | | | fraternal twins. To save time you can have a florist |
| have some tips on how to get the job done without | | | | tie the bows but position them yourself to avoid |
| buying expensive items that you will never use again. | | | | additional service charges. If you have the ability to |
| Landscape lanterns taken from your own home can | | | | design a professional looking bow, you will only be |
| be spaced along the sidewalks and decorated with | | | | out the cost of the satin ribbon. |
| bows for an inexpensive treatment. Borrow large | | | | Dressing up the satin bows that you made for pews |
| potted plants from a friend to place on each side of | | | | is easy to accomplish with pretty nosegays of |
| the door and drape yards of pink or blue fabric on | | | | flowers. For an informal gathering, you can attach |
| the handrails. For an informal gathering, arrangements | | | | some balloons filled with helium in your colors to the |
| of helium balloons are not out of the question. | | | | bows positioned at the ends of the church pews. I |
| LIGHTING | | | | have seen balloon arches used rather than flowers to |
| One of my favorite (and cheap) baby christening | | | | decorate the front of the church as well as the pews |
| ideas is to have the baby's christening ceremony | | | | to take the ceremony in a lighthearted yet still |
| performed by candlelight. Candles at the altar and | | | | respectful direction. The upside is that balloons are |
| hurricane lanterns with burning candles along the aisles | | | | frivolous and fun and much less expensive than fresh |
| will provide just enough light and create an | | | | flowers. |
| atmosphere that is amazingly spiritual and inspiring. | | | | These are just a few baby christening ideas for |
| The only problem with this is that some churches | | | | decorating your venue in a unique yet inexpensive |
| frown on open flames used as decorations anywhere | | | | manner. |