In any Filipino family, once someone has a baby, the next question then becomes “When is the binyag?” That’s because most Filipino catholic homes practice this right of welcoming little ones into the Christian community early on, when the baby is only a few weeks old. However, it’s normal to feel confused or tired after dealing with the stress and planning of your child’s birth, and it’s easy to not be ready to think about the “after” just yet.
That’s where we come in. You can rest your tired and worried heads for we’ve got all things binyag covered in this article. We’ve listed down all the things you should note before and after planning for your little one’s baptism and all the other helpful tips you should know. Read on to find out more!
1. Finalize The Church, Date, And Time Of The Baptism
Some mamas have a particular church in mind when it comes to the baptism of their children, whereas other mamas look for churches that are more convenient or within their immediate area. But, whatever the choice may be, you might want to ensure that you lock in the church as well as the exact time and date of your baby’s baptism before you go ahead inviting anyone to the baptism.
So, when it comes to planning your baby’s baptism, you may want to ask yourself how you want the day to go so you know your priorities and you know how to work around it. That way, you can narrow down which churches you can choose from and see which of them can work with your schedule the best. Knowing about the church’s price, parking and convenience for you and your guests is as important as knowing the church’s availability as this also helps you narrow down the choices.
After all, as much as we all want a picturesque moment for our little ones, it isn’t all that worth it if the venue isn’t convenient for you or your guests. Your little one is the star of the day and, as much as possible, you want the day to go as smoothly and calmly as possible. One way of doing that is rooting out your priorities and sticking to them.
2. Choose The Godparents
Ninongs and Ninangs are often difficult to choose, especially if you have a lot of trusted family and friends to choose from. This is one conversation that you should have with your partner as the people you choose will end up standing in as second parents to your baby whenever they’re needed. People often forget that the point of having a godparent is so that their child is cared for and loved no matter what - so picking a good godparent isn’t about choosing the one you’re closest to or choosing the richest ones, or even the ones who are likely to give the best gifts. By choosing ninongs and ninangs for your children, you choose trusted individuals who will be there when you need help with your kids, and ones who share the same or similar values as you who you trust can raise your children in the way you want them to be raised. These people can be your siblings, your friends, or even one of your titas or titos.
3. Invite Your Guests
In a Filipino setting, it already goes that everyone in the family and all the friends are invited to important gatherings such as a binyag. However, mamas, you should remember that it’s more than okay to only invite those closest to you or to only invite a small, close group of people to one of your baby’s most important milestones. At the end of the day, what’s really important is that you, your close family and the godparents are present for the baptism of your child.
So, when you make a guest list, take note of how many people you want there and whether or not you want particular people present only at the reception or if you’d prefer them to be present all throughout the event. Some mamas prefer to only have the godparents present at the church while the other guests just come and join them at the reception, and some mamas prefer to have all the guests (godparent or not) to be present throughout the entire event. Once you’ve made a final guest list, you can go ahead and send out invitations. Now, these can be online on Facebook, or a physical invitation, or even just an email. The choice is yours!
4. Look For A Reception Venue
After locking down the church and deciding on your guest list, you can now go about looking for or securing a reception venue. Now, mamas, it doesn’t always have to be some flamboyant affair. There’s nothing wrong with going the simple and easy route by choosing to hold the reception at home. However, if your homes cannot hold the number of people you want to invite on the day, or if you want to avoid the hassle of having to clean up after the party, then consider venues that can host the amount of people in your party and consider a venue that’s not that far from the church so it’s easy for your and your guests to get to.
Now, baptism reception venues can be anywhere from a Jollibee events space, a country club or hotel function room, or even a restaurant! The possibilities are endless. You may just want to consider the distance, convenience, and the cost of the venue to see if it all aligns with your budget, schedule, and plans.
5. Make A Gift Registry
A gift registry may not be a common practice in the Philippines when it comes to baptisms, however, it is quite helpful especially since most Filipinos give gifts to the newborn anyway during any celebration that has to do with that newborn. But, sometimes, the gifts that parents get for their little ones aren’t all that useful or helpful. So, one solution to this is having a gift registry that your guests can consult!
It can be anything that you immediately need for your baby, or it can be educational toys that can help with their development. If you don’t know where to start though, you can check out these suggestions:
6. Decide On The Party Suppliers and Favors
While baptisms are more religious in nature compared to other parties, it is still a celebration and one most mamas would like to remember. So, when planning a baptism, you may want to get a photographer who can capture the key moments of the day, a good caterer to supply you and your party with delicious food and snacks, decorations to help liven up the venue, and a memorable favor that your guests can take home. All these little details may sound like a lot, but it can be as simple as you want and, no matter how small or grand they may be, they definitely help the day become just a little bit more special and memorable for you and your guests. It’s a day to celebrate your baby becoming part of the Christian world after all. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate that?
Now, when it comes to choosing a gift or souvenir for your guests, just remember that it should be something to help commemorate the special day. Some mamas opt for plants or succulents, other mamas opt for baby bottles that are filled with candy, others make use of a photo booth, while other mamas make DIY bespoke gifts. The possibilities are endless. So, choose one that fits you, your style, and your budget. Your guests will surely enjoy whatever you give. You can also check out these options if you need ideas:
7. Get Baptism Clothes
Many parents use a christening outfit that has been passed down through the generations, but these days, many parents prefer to just buy a new one. In the Philippines, mamas often go the traditional route and get a baptism gown made of soft piña fabric or barong fabric, while other mamas opt for something more breathable and comfortable like cotton. But, whatever you end up choosing, just make sure the gown fits properly and is cozy for your little ones. Since your kid could grow, we advise that you get the baptism gown a few weeks rather than months before the occasion. That way you can ensure that it fits and you won’t have to go out to buy a new one. Ensuring that you get a good, quality gown not only makes your baby more comfortable, but it can also possibly be used by any other children you may have in the future!
Now, having a baptism gown is essential, but your baby won’t be wearing this the entire time. So, you’ll need to make sure that they have a comfortable change of clothes that they can wear after the baptism (and before as well). Here are some options you can try out:
8. Confirm The Attire Restrictions For Guests And Godparents
Different churches have different rules when it comes to the approved attire for guests. Some churches are quite strict about the length of skirts and such, while others are a little bit more lax. When planning your baby’s baptism, make sure that you know all the church’s restrictions before you go about deciding on what colors or attire you’d like your guests, ninongs, and ninangs to stick to.
One of your child's first significant public occasions will probably be the baptism. It takes time to organize such events, especially since planning this significant event for your child so soon may feel a little intimidating as you're probably still getting used to your new lifestyle as a parent. But, with a little bit of help and some time to plan, you will undoubtedly get through planning a great binyag for your little ones. We hope our checklist helped you figure out your binyag priorities and helped you figure out what you need and want for your baby’s upcoming baptism.
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