I'm in the process of organising my son's christening invitations and I want to ask our guests NOT to go to any trouble with a present. The gifts we received when he was born were many and varied and totally overwhelming. I suppose the religious folk will know what to buy but I really don't want those stuck for an idea to go out and buy toys or anything like that(might sound a bit forthright but there is such thing as overkill when it comes to toys as I'm sure you're all aware!) Any ideas on how to word a little note to go in with the invitation? Thanks in anticipation!

Hi Nicole

What about a note slipped into the invitation requesting that people donate to a children's charity (maybe Children's Hospital, SIDS or the like) in lieu of a christening gift.

Maybe you could have a book for people to sign with a special christening day wish for your son and they could include information about which charity they have chosen to donate to on your son's behalf?

Sorry just thinking off the top of my head here, but I know what you mean about too many toys. Letting people know that "their presence rather than the presents" is more important to you is a great idea!


Have a great day

Thanks, a charity is exactly what I had in mind. This is what I came up with ...

'The gifts which I received when I was first born were many and varied and all of them are very much appreciated. I have all the toys and joys I could ask for right now and would ask that if you really want to give something, why not make a donation to the Starlight Children's Foundation or just come along empty handed so you can raise your glass and toast to me wearing a dress! (hahaha I can’t say that dad’s particularly fond of that idea).

That sounds great Nicole.

I personally don't have a problem donating to a charity when requested, in fact I prefer it. My only personal preference is that I can make sure the donation is made in the person's name who I would be donating in lieu of IYKWIM.

What you have written sounds terriffic - love the bit about Dad and the dress!

Hope you have a lovely day, best wishes.

Billy

What you have written is great! Mayeb on the note you could tell them how to donate as well because I wouldn't know where to begin.

I.e website address & phone number, plus if there is something else they need to put down like in the name of XXXX...

i just had my son's naming ceremony and i wrote on the invite;

Instead of gifts, cards are welcome.

Unfortunately we still ended up with lots of gifts.

When DD was christened I really didn't want people to feel they had to bring presents, she was only a few months old at the time and we had received so much when she was born. On the Christening invitations I wrote in bottom right corner:

"Following everyone's generosity when DD was born, we request no gifts please"

However, like the above post, a lot of people still bought presents anyway. TBH it ended up a bit awkward, as the people who had not bought anything ended up feeling embarrased as they didn't bring a gift.

To the OP - I like the wording you have made re the charity, I think it reads very well. Hope your guests read it!

Hope you have a fantastic and very special day at the Christening.

Luci

Thanks all for the advice!!!
This is what was also suggested ...

In lieu of presents we would like donations to be made to the Starlight Children's Foundation. Starlight exists to brighten the lives of all seriously ill and hospitalised children and their families across Australia. Their innovative distractive therapy programs help give these children what they desperately need; a reason to smile

We tried a similar line for our childrens naming ceremony, and everyone still got them a gift... so although I completely understand your thought process, some people won't listen.

I contemplated putting on our daughters invite something along the lines of "since H has so many things and others have so few, any gifts will be donated to XXX charity", but DH thought that was too rude. Can't remember how I thought to word it, but that was the gist.

JennyH