It isn’t usually expected that you will necessarily buy a gift for a Christening. However, many people choose to because they don’t want to turn up empty handed to the event. It is, after all, a cause for celebration, and often you will want to celebrate with the parents and the child being christened in order to mark the occasion.

To buy a thoughtful gift isn’t the same thing as buying an expensive gift. If you can buy something that has sentimental value, this will go down very well with the parents. Perhaps think about buying something personalised that has the date of the christening on it, so that they can always remember the occasion. Alternatively, you could buy something for the baby that will be useful and pretty, such as a baby grow or outfit – any parent will tell you they never have enough clothes for their young babies!

A christening is all about the child being christened, of course. However, as a guest at a christening, you will also need to think about what you are going to wear. This is especially difficult if it is your child being christened – you will need to consider something practical and comfortable for a long day, as well as something that will look fitting for the occasion.

Have you got anything you could wear already? Often, wedding and christening outfits will be similar, so you may be able to reuse something. However, if your baby is still very young, chances are you might have changed shape since giving birth, in which case, it might be time to choose a new outfit.

Think about something pretty and floral, with muted tones so that it looks fitting for a church environment. Often traditional dresses will be below the knee, and you might go for a prom style to give the dress some flair.

Lots of photo frames will be freestanding, so they will come with a supportive arm to make them suitable for standing on tables, sideboards etc. If you prefer, you can choose a photo frame that can be mounted on the wall. Here are some things to look out for when purchasing:

• Make sure the frame is suitable for wall mounting. It should be flat on the back, unless there are screws and hooks for handing. Otherwise, you will struggle to fit it flat to the wall.
• Choose an appropriate size. A photo that it wall mounted will be a little further away, so you need the photo to be big enough to be visible.
• Select a colour that goes with the walls. If you have very bright walls, you will need a neutral frame, like metal. If the wall colour is going to detract from the photo, you might want to consider a freestanding photo instead.

A christening in the summer is going to be warm, crowded and busy. But you will still want to look lovely and, importantly, you will still want your baby to look lovely as well. If you choose the right outfit for your baby, this can really make a christening come together and you can feel much more ready for it ahead of the event.

Make sure you take the temperature into account. It will most likely be warm, but the weather is unpredictable, and you might also find that it is very cold inside a church. Dress you baby in layers, so have their christening gown as well as a jacket, and accessories like socks and shoes if you like. If they are very young and might get cold, you can also make sure they have a blanket for some additional warmth. As for your outfit – go for smart casual, with some layers for you as well!

If your business doesn’t sell photo frames, you could be missing out on a big opportunity. As people are feeling more strapped for cash in the UK, they are looking for low cost ways to enhance their homes, without making major design changes. And photo frames are giving people a great way to do this.

Photo frames are often low cost and will help people to personalise their homes without having to spend a lot of money. This is why they are proving so popular, and could be a great product for your business to stock. Look into the different options, and think about stocking photo frames that you can buy in bulk. This will make the cost per unit less, meaning that you can make more money per sale.

Choose frames that fit in with the other products you sell and that will appeal to you target market. It could even help you widen your audience and bring in new customers.

Christmas is often spent with lots of friends a family members, especially when there is a new baby in the family. You will want your baby to be looking his or her best for everyone, as well as feeling comfortable so that they are able to enjoy the day.

It can be hard to know what to dress your baby in for the best. Perhaps think about layers – it will probably start out quite cold, then as the day goes on and gets more and more exciting and your baby meets more people, they may begin to get warmer. Choose a babygro or romper or outfit with a jumper or cardigan over the top that can be easily removed.

If you would like your baby to be looking their best, make sure you choose an outfit in advance. Baby clothes will sell out quickly over Christmas and you will need your outfit sorted.

A personalised gift shows that you have really put thought into a present. The person receiving it will know that you have chosen something especially for them and will appreciate the thought that has gone into it. There are plenty o options for personalised gifts so it should be easy to get something that the recipient will love.

Personalised gifts are especially good for big events in someone’s life, like a christening or a wedding. They will give the person something to remember the day. Parents especially appreciate personalised gifts at a christening, as it is something they can keep forever and show to their child as they grow up.

Most people choose to buy personalised presents online. Orders will usually be processed very quickly and there are lots of bargains on the internet. You can also use a local business, especially if you are getting something like clothing printed.

A christening is a special event that you are going to want to remember forever. If you are going to take some photographs to keep the memories, here are some things to think about:

• You could buy a camera yourself. If you have a good quality camera, you may be able to take your own photographs and might not need a professional.
• Hiring a professional could still result in the best photographs, though. Professionals will know exactly what they are doing and will produce high-quality, beautiful images.
• Buy some disposable cameras to give out to your guests. You can get some really fun photographs this way. You won’t know what people are going to be taking photographs of, so it’s exciting to get the films developed afterwards.
• Ask a friend to take photographs. You may not want to pay them as much as a professional but if you offer them a small fee, they may be willing to accept.

Christening gifts aren’t quite like wedding gifts – it won’t be the expectation that people in attendance should bring a gift. It is a very nice touch though and it will show that you are grateful to have been invited and to be able to attend the event. It will also give the child and the family something to look back on to remember the day.

It can be difficult to know what to buy for a christening. Should you gift be religious, for example? Not necessarily, especially if you are not religious yourself, as the family would probably rather you bought a gift that you will enjoy giving and that means something to you.

You may prefer to buy something like a personalised gift, or something that will help the child’s development such as a book. It is usually the expectation that gifts will be presented after the church ceremony, so bring your present with you and give it to the family then.

If you are having your little one christened, it’s important that you have everything you need for the event to run smoothly. Start planning what you need ahead of time to make sure your christening is just as beautiful as you would have hoped. Here are some things for your shopping list:

• It is important that you are happy with both your baby’s outfit and your own outfit. You may even decide to have something handmade to make it completely personal.
• Make sure you have everything you need for the perfect party. Your friends and family will want to spend some time afterwards eating, drinking and spending some time with your little one.
• Speak to your vicar about the christening as soon as possible, as churches can get very busy. If you attend a church regularly, you should be able to easily organise a meeting with your vicar.