Invitation Help

I would say something like: "Please join us for a picnic at XYZ Park. We will be celebrating Joseph's Christening. A barbeque lunch will be served, with cake and ice cream afterward." Or something like that. That way people know that your picnic is to celebrate a specific event and can bring gifts if they like.

Is there a reason you would not also invite them to the christening? Even if they are of a different religion, most people do enjoy going to these types of events (since the guest of honor is so darned cute!). Then you could issue the invitation to the christening with "picnic to follow at XYZ Park."

My sister had this when she baptized my nephew years ago. She had dinner for the immediate family but only cake and coffee/juice for extended and friends. On the invite, she just put on to please join us for cake and coffee at such and such time to celebrate the baptism of our son, etc. The person can decide if they want to bring a gift or not.

I'd just do O. invitation "Join us for Jake's christening at ABC at XYZ o'clock. Picnic and lunch immediately following at HIJ Park."

If there's some reason you do NOT want some people at the ceremony, just word theirs as "Join us in celebrating Jakes christening with lunch at ABC Park at 1:00"

Hi, C.:

Why aren't you inviting everyone to both. Everyone invited is not going to
show up.

Just want to know. D.

If you really don't want a lot of gifts, you could consider a donation instead. For our boys' birthday party, we asked people to bring canned goods for the local food bank in lieu of gifts. If that interests you, the invitatation could simply state "To celebrate this special occasion, please bring ..." or "The only gifts we ask for are..." Since you are providing the picnic, I'm sure everyone would like to bring something. This gives them a way to do so within whatever $$ range they'd like... Just a thought :)

On the 4th of July??? Just invite them to a barbecue! When they ask or if they ask, about the gifts you can smile and say Oh, we had his christening this morning too! But, like others said, go ahead and invite them, its the 4th of july alot of people will be at parades instead!!

Hi C.-

I would just say:

Please join us
July 4th, 2010
For a picnic to celebrate
Independence Day
And [your son’s name]’s christening

[time]
[location]
RSVP info

Or if you want to downplay the christening aspect of the party, say:

Please join us on July 4th
for an Independence Day picnic.
[start time] to [end time]
at [location of party].

We will also be celebrating [child’s name]’s christening.

RSVP info

Don’t mention gifts on the invite, if people want to bring them they will bring them. It will be more awkward if you tell them not to and then when they get there they see that other people have.