Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

Just curious to see most people's opinions on this. We're honestly not really in a position to throw both a Christening party AND a big 1st birthday party. We're trying to decide which one we should do. We would have a total of 70+ people. The plan is to either do a big Christening with everyone in February and then keep the 1st bday to just immediate family, OR do the Christening with just immediate family (Godparents who are our siblings, her grandparents, and us) and then do a big 1st birthday party next October with everyone.

So, I guess I'm curious which is more common. The bigger Christening or the bigger 1st bday.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

I think a 1st birthday would be more fun. By that point, LO is so interactive. I also feel like a christening should be more of a family affair, maybe a few close friends. I'm planning DD's christening now and as much as I'd love to invite all my friends and cousins and everyone, it's just not feasible.

Message edited 8/18/2016 3:20:12 PM.

Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

Christening. That's when you are welcoming a new life into your religion.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

Most of the people I know have bigger christenings. Actually, I can't think of anyone I know who had a bigger first birthday than christening.

As far as which one is more important, I think that is a very personal answer. To me, the christening is...it is a sacred event that welcomes a baby to a faith.

Message edited 8/18/2016 3:22:35 PM.

Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

I agree with the pp, but if you do choose to do the baptism it could make your life easier. All those family and friends who are just itching to come and see the baby -- you can tell them "great, we will see you at the baptism". BAM done.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

For my DD, we did a bigger christening and smaller 1st bday.

ETA wanted to add that timing had a lot to do with the decision to have a smaller 1st bday- we were going on vacation the following week, so I didn't want to spend thousands on the 1st bday party. I had it in my backyard and hired children's entertainment for an hour and invited close family only.

Message edited 8/18/2016 3:29:27 PM.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

We did a bigger first birthday because like a previous poster said, it's more fun with the child being older and more interactive. The Christening we did just immediate family and very close friends.

Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

We didn't do a christening, so the birthday was the big party for my son.

However, if I were deciding between the two, I would consider the gifts. Christening typically means monetary gifts, while birthday means a million toys. I know you're not supposed to think about the gifts, but I think it could be a factor to consider if you're torn between the two.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

Message edited 8/18/2016 3:38:48 PM.

Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

I think it depends on your family. We're not religious so birthday would be more important.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

We did a bigger Christening. Our immediate families are pretty small so the party got big quickly in inviting aunts, uncles and cousins.

Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

They're both important and I don't think choosing a smaller celebration for one means it's the less important occasion.
I would choose birthday because it'll be more fun for the baby. At 3 months, she'll probably sleep through her Christening party.

Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

Christening. We had a 70 people christening. Small 25 person bday.

Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

Personally I wouldn't do either.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

LO turns one in January and we have no indoor space for a lot of people, so we made the decision to go big for his Baptism this past June. We had a big party outdoors and it was great. We will do a smaller, immediate family only birthday in Jan.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

Oops never mind

Thought maybe you could combine them but I just realized the birthday is in october

To answer your q, I'd do the bigger christening

Message edited 8/18/2016 5:06:29 PM.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

For us, first birthday. We don't do the God thing.

Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

We chose to have just immediate family for the Christening and did a bigger 1st birthday in our yard (July) with family and friends.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

I don't think the size of the party reflects how important one is

We had a party for both. 1st birthday was much bigger. Didn't make the baptism less important

In fact for us their baptism was extremely important

We just kept it friends and close family bc kids were still very young

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

My godson's younger brother had his christening case to his 1st birthday and it was basically a combined party.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

It comes down to how religious you are. If you're a very religious, practicing Catholic then I would say the Christening is far more important than the first bday.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

It depends on the family and how religious they are.

Re: Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

Which is bigger/more important - Christening or 1st bday?

I would say the Christening is more important. But, you can choose to have either as big or small as you want.