Writing a baptism invitation
A baptism brings together family, godparents and often a few friends who have not been inside a church in a while. A good invitation tells them where to go, when to arrive and what happens after the ceremony. Here is what to include, with four examples.
The essentials
Guests need the child’s name, the date and time of the ceremony, the name and address of the church, and what follows: a lunch at home, a meal at a restaurant, or nothing at all. If the baptism takes place during Sunday Mass, say so, because guests will need to arrive for the start of Mass, not for the baptism itself.
Some parents also name the godparents on the invitation. It is a nice touch and it helps guests who know only one side of the family.
- The child’s full first name, and the family name if guests may not know it.
- The date, the time and the parish, with its street address.
- Whether the baptism is during Mass or a separate ceremony.
- The gathering after: where, at what time, and whether it is a meal.
- The date by which you need an answer.
Choosing the tone
A baptism invitation can be written by the parents, or in the child’s voice, which many families enjoy for a baby. Both work. The child’s voice suits a relaxed family gathering; the parents’ voice suits a larger celebration or an older child.
Keep religious language in proportion to your family. Some guests will appreciate a line about faith or a short blessing; others will simply come to celebrate the child. A single sentence is usually enough.
Four examples
Adapt the names, the parish and the times. Each text fits on a phone screen without scrolling, which is a good test for any invitation.
- From the parents: “Marie-Ève and David are happy to invite you to the baptism of their son Antoine, on Sunday, September 20, at 11 a.m., at Sainte-Odile-du-Ruisseau Parish in Boucherville. A family lunch will follow at their home. Please reply by September 6.”
- In the child’s voice: “I’m Rose, I’m six months old, and I’m being baptized on Sunday, September 20, during the 10:30 Mass at Saint-Joseph Church. Come celebrate with me afterwards at Grandma’s house. My parents need your answer by September 6.”
- With the godparents: “With joy, Sophie and Karim invite you to the baptism of their daughter Léonie, with Julie Bergeron and Nabil Haddad as godparents, on Sunday, September 20, at 2 p.m., at Saint-Anselme-de-la-Rive Church. Cake and coffee to follow in the parish hall. Kindly reply by September 6.”
- An older child: “Our son Gabriel, who is seven, has asked to be baptized. We would be glad to have you with us on Saturday, September 19, at 3 p.m., at Notre-Dame-des-Vergers Church, and for supper afterwards. Please tell us by September 5 if you can come.”
Planning the gathering after
The church part is short. The gathering after is where most of the planning goes, and the invitation is how you get the numbers you need. Ask how many adults and how many children are coming, since a lunch for twenty adults and a lunch for twelve adults and eight toddlers are not the same lunch.
If you are serving a meal, ask about dietary restrictions in the reply form rather than by phone afterwards. On invitesyou, guests give the number of adults and children and their restrictions when they reply, and you can add a question of your own, such as whether they need a high chair.
When to send it
Send the invitation four to six weeks before the baptism, and set your reply-by date about two weeks before. That leaves time to confirm the number of guests with a restaurant or to plan the shopping. If godparents or grandparents are travelling, tell them the date by phone well before the invitation goes out.
When everything is ready, create your invitation, choose a baptism template, and send it by email or text. Each guest replies from a personal link, and you see the answers arrive in one place.