CHRISTENING.
DRESS. The mother wears an elaborate reception gown to the church, with white gloves and a light hat or bonnet.
If the ceremony is at the house, she can wear an elaborate tea-gown.
The guests wear afternoon or evening dress, according whether the ceremony comes before or after 6 P.M.
FLOWERS. A christening ceremony offers a good opportunity for the guests who desire to present flowers to the mother. This is not obligatory, however, and must remain a matter of personal taste.
GIFTS. A christening ceremony offers a good opportunity for the invited guests, if they desire, to send a present to the baby.
These should be sent a day or two before the ceremony, and if of silver should be marked with the child's name, initials, or monogram.
GUESTS. The invitations should be promptly answered.
At a church ceremony the guests, as they are few in number, assemble in the front pews.
At a large house christening the affair is conducted somewhat like an afternoon reception. Wine is drunk to the child's health, and the guests take leave of the hostess.
INVITATIONS are issued by the wife only to intimate friends, and should be promptly answered.
If the christening is made a formal entertainment, to take place in the drawing-room, the invitations may be engraved.
MEN. If the ceremony is in the afternoon they
wear afternoon dress, but at an evening
affair evening dress.
At an afternoon ceremony in the summer it is allowable for the men to wear straw hats and light flannel suits.
At a large house christening the affair should be conducted somewhat like a reception, and men on departing should take leave of the hostess.
WOMEN dress as they would for an afternoon reception
if the ceremony comes in the afternoon, and if it comes
after breakfast or luncheon, as they would for a breakfast
or luncheon.
At a large house christening the affair should be conducted like a reception, and women should take leave of the hostess on their departure.
CHURCH. A man usually follows the woman, who leads to the pew, and he enters after her, closing the door as he does so.
He should find the places in the service
book for her.
This same courtesy he should extend to a
woman who is a stranger to him.