Baptism outfit: what to wear as the person being baptised, godparent or guest

The right outfit for a baptism is one step dressier than everyday wear and one step below a wedding: muted colours, an extra layer and cuts you can stand and move in. If you are the one being baptised, you mainly need practical clothes that don't turn see-through when wet. Godparents and guests take their cue from the style of the church.

Youth and adult baptisms in particular tend to be more relaxed than a traditional church christening. The baptism usually takes place during a service, sometimes outdoors at a lake or river, and is followed by a meal or coffee together. At Good-Natured in Dresden we have put together what matters for the person being baptised, for godparents and for guests.

"The best test for a baptism outfit: do you feel comfortable in it when all eyes are on you for a moment, and still over coffee afterwards?"

1. What outfit suits a baptism?

One step dressier than everyday, one step below a wedding. In practice that means trousers with a shirt, blouse or knitwear, a dress, or a simple top under a good jacket. If the person being baptised or the church explicitly invites you to a relaxed celebration, a T-shirt with a message is perfectly fine too.

In many churches, white belongs to the person being baptised on this day. If you are unsure, choose blue, green, grey, beige or black as a guest. And if you are also looking for something for the person being baptised, our Baptism gifts collection has bundles, cards and shirts that suit the occasion.

2. The outfit for the person being baptised

Anyone baptised as a teenager or adult is fully immersed in many churches, in a baptismal pool or in a lake. Then what counts most is clothing that doesn't turn see-through when wet and doesn't cling uncomfortably. Dark or strong colours and a T-shirt made of sturdy cotton have proven themselves. If you want to wear white, test beforehand how the fabric looks when wet. Some churches also provide a baptismal robe.

Either way, bring a complete change of clothes: underwear, trousers, top, socks, plus a towel and a bag for the wet things. For the time after the baptism, a favourite piece is a lovely choice, such as a shirt with a message that suits the day, from the Christian clothing by Good-Natured. Many people later wear exactly this piece on days when they want to remember their baptism.

3. What do godparents and sponsors wear?

Teenagers and adults often have godparents or baptism sponsors too, who stand at the front, say a prayer or bless the person being baptised. Whether there are godparents depends on the church: in some they are required, in others optional, and in free churches friends or mentors often take this role. Whoever does will be photographed and, at an outdoor baptism, may even stand on the shore or in the water. Two things follow from this:

Something that moves with you. Tight cuts and delicate fabrics are the wrong choice when you bend down, step into the water or hug someone who is soaking wet.

Something that doesn't show stains and water straight away. Muted colours instead of light linen. What godparents can give alongside their outfit is covered in our guide Baptism gifts from godparents: 12 ideas for teens and adults.

4. Outfits for guests: festive but relaxed

Here there is more freedom. Trousers with a shirt or blouse, a dress, something warm on top, done. More important than any single piece is matching the tone set by the person being baptised or the church: if the baptism is deliberately casual, being overdressed is more awkward than being underdressed.

5. The cold question: always one layer more

Churches are cool even in summer, it is often windy by the lake, and with the service and celebration a baptism usually lasts longer than you think. An extra layer is therefore the most useful decision of the day: a cardigan, a blazer or a Creation Knitwear Half-Zip (68 €), knitted in Portugal. You can take it off when it gets warm, and it saves the mood when it doesn't.

For an outdoor baptism you also need shoes that work on grass, sand or gravel. Fine leather soles and high heels are more of a hindrance on the shore.

6. And at a child's baptism?

The same rules apply to guests. Anyone holding a child, as a godparent or parent, is best off with comfortable cuts and muted colours, because burp cloths and small hands show no consideration for your wardrobe.

Conclusion

A good baptism outfit is festive enough for the photos and practical enough for the rest of the day. Muted colours, an extra layer and cuts that move with you, that is all it takes. If you are looking for a gift as well as an outfit, Good-Natured has fitting ideas in the Baptism gifts collection and in the guide What to give for a baptism. We present three particularly thoughtful ideas in Baptism gifts: 3 ideas with conviction and substance.