Baptism and proper dress...Ladies Help!

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Holy Saturday is coming fast and I will be baptized this Easter Vigil. I asked my priest if I needed to wear white and he said anything is fine…what I usually wear to church is fine to wear to my baptism. The thing is I always wear slacks and I do not want to be baptized in slacks. I want to be a little more dressy for the Lord and I think special occasions calls for special clothing so I bought a dress.

At first I was happy with my dress choice but now I feel that it may not be the very best for church, and especially for baptism. My dress is a sundress… a really nice one. Its just what I wanted - something not too formal and also not too causal. It is white with large black flower print, along with a fusion pink sash. It is sleeveless but I plan to wear a white cardigan with it. Plan to wear black tights with black heels…not very high. Tried on my outfit and I think it looks really nice and not very casual at all. But I just can’t shake this feeling that it isn’t the best choice. The large, black print, the black tights. Is this appropriate for baptism?

I’m not being immersed and my priest already told me I will receive a stole, not a robe.

I could really use some advice because I don’t want to go to my baptism having all the people thinking whats wrong with her for wearing that! Does my outfit sound appropriate?

And to add, it’s not short and nothing will be on display on top.

And also is it ok that my dress isn’t all white?
 
cccw2009 said:
Holy Saturday is coming fast and I will be baptized this Easter Vigil. I asked my priest if I needed to wear white and he said anything is fine…what I usually wear to church is fine to wear to my baptism. The thing is I always wear slacks and I do not want to be baptized in slacks. I want to be a little more dressy for the Lord and I think special occasions calls for special clothing so I bought a dress.

At first I was happy with my dress choice but now I feel that it may not be the very best for church, and especially for baptism. My dress is a sundress… a really nice one. Its just what I wanted - something not too formal and also not too causal. It is white with large black flower print, along with a fusion pink sash. It is sleeveless but I plan to wear a white cardigan with it. Plan to wear black tights with black heels…not very high. Tried on my outfit and I think it looks really nice and not very casual at all. But I just can’t shake this feeling that it isn’t the best choice. The large, black print, the black tights. Is this appropriate for baptism?

I’m not being immersed and my priest already told me I will receive a stole, not a robe.

I could really use some advice because I don’t want to go to my baptism having all the people thinking whats wrong with her for wearing that! Does my outfit sound appropriate?

And to add, it’s not short and nothing will be on display on top.

And also is it ok that my dress isn’t all white?
Click to expand...
I think that sounds great, I mean I was confirmed in a white dress with a black flower print, black cartigan with ruffles, and some strappy heels. Maybe I wouldn’t go for the black tights, mainly because it’s spring and that might be a little much for spring, those are normally good for fall and winter. maybe try some nude ones if you want to wear them. But honestly if the dress is modest and feminine it’s perfect! Congrats on your Baptism!

-Jeanne
 
Well, you’re obviously not three weeks old, so a christening gown isn’t going to work–LOL! And you don’t want to look like a First Communion kid–age seven. You’re an adult. You chose a spring dress. Just a little tweaking might make you happier with your choice for this occasion.

I think the black tights might look too heavy for springtime, you might want to consider sheer hose with the black shoes. The big black floral print works otherwise. You might want to consider a white unstructured bolero or jacket, they’re a versatile summer piece and you will be able to use it with other outfits. I think that would look a little more chic than a white cardigan sweater.

I don’t know how long your hair is, but if it’s longish, you might want to put it in an updo. Otherwise, the ends are going to get dunked in the font during the actual administration of the sacrament. So watch out, too, for long necklaces. Similarly, if you are being confirmed as well, you want your hair off your forehead for the imposition of chrism. Otherwise, you will have greasy bangs for the rest of the day.

Smart move to choose a lower heel, you’re going to be standing for awhile. You want your mind on the Lord and the big step you’re taking, not on your aching feet!

About eight years ago I was confirmation sponsor to a coworker of mine who converted. Holy Saturday occurred in very early April that year, and the weather was still pretty cold. She wore a light grey plaid sheath dress with a light grey jacket, dark shoes, and looked wonderful.
 
I think this sounds great but I would go for nude tights or no tights. I’m getting confirmed and receiving first Eucharist on Holy Saturday and I’m wearing a halter sundress that is white with yellow and brown flowers, with a small white shrug, and probably some type of brown wedge shoes. And a brown mantilla 🙂
Around here, a late April Easter is likely to be HOT, so you can’t wear too many layers. Tights, a cardigan, etc would not be fun.
 
You don’t want to wear all white before the baptism. I know that in many, if not most parishes, people dress their babies in their gowns before the baptism, but that’s not what the Church envisions.

In our preparation with parents we ask them if they put their wedding bands on before they left home to go to the church to get married. They usually look confused and say, “Well, no, the exchange of rings is part of the marriage rite.”
“Exactly, and the “Presentation of the White Garment” is part of the rite of baptism and it’s done after you’ve been baptized. So as soon as your children have been presented with their white garments, you’ll take them to the side where change tables are prepared, you’ll dress them in their new clothes and then and bring them back for the “Presentation of the Light” and the “Ephpheta Rite”.”

So enjoy your new dress and don’t stress about it not being all white. You are wise to wear a cardigan over it to keep it modest. Enjoy receiving the white stole as a symbol of having put on Christ in baptism.
 
cccw2009 said:
Holy Saturday is coming fast and I will be baptized this Easter Vigil. I asked my priest if I needed to wear white and he said anything is fine…what I usually wear to church is fine to wear to my baptism. The thing is I always wear slacks and I do not want to be baptized in slacks. I want to be a little more dressy for the Lord and I think special occasions calls for special clothing so I bought a dress.

I could really use some advice because I don’t want to go to my baptism having all the people thinking whats wrong with her for wearing that! Does my outfit sound appropriate?

And to add, it’s not short and nothing will be on display on top.

And also is it ok that my dress isn’t all white?
Click to expand...
the outfit sounds fine assume it is modest in the proper areas, no cleavage, no bare shoulders or bareback, at least knee length

as the priest said, white is not required, but here, a dress or skirt, not slacks, for ladies is required. Most halter style dresses I have seen would required a shrug or jacket if I were in charge (and I am).
 
I would also skip the tights and go for plain nylons, maybe you would like to make an appointment with a hairdresser for a french braid or some other elegant, but not too fussy hair do?
 
dont spend a lot of money on a hairdo as your head will be getting wet. just clip it back or twist it up so it does not drip, and keep it off your forhead for the anointing of confirmation. watch the makeup, you don’t want your mascara to run if Father gets carried away.
 
I was baptized in an all white dress suit that came down past my knees with white pumps and skin colored nylons I also wore a white mantilla afterwards 😃
 
Depending on how they baptize, if you are going to get seriously wet beware that white has a tendency to become transparent when wet.

When I ran RCIA, and still in our parish, the elect go down into a shallow pool and have three pitchers of water poured on them - they get very wet. They wear casual clothes under a brown robe for baptism; then change to their finery and receive the candle and a white robe.
 
Big or really dangling earrings wouldn’t be good, either.
 
My niece was immersed so she had a tee shirt, shorts and bathing suit under her church provided robe (she was 7 at the time, and I am Godmother to her & her older brother). After that was done, she was given a large towel then went to change to a pretty mostly white dress with light colored flowers on it for the other parts of the Baptism ceremony after immersion followed by Confirmation then later on in the Mass, First Holy Communion.
 
You’ve gotten lots of good advice.

I would just ask the people in charge how wet you are going to get based on previous years experience. It would seem that baptism is by pouring just over the head at your parish. (If it was by immersion or you will be in a pool and fully doused you would be getting special instructions.)

Parishes vary greatly in how much water is used. In some places you’ll barely get damp. In others you might be in serious need of a trip to the restroom to blow dry your hair. In any case, you wouldn’t want to be baptized while wearing something
which you wouldn’t want to get wet. In fact if you wear a sweater, bolero, etc… you might even consider wearing one prior to baptism and then have a white dry one to change into afterward. Then if the first one gets wet it won’t be a problem for the rest of the evening.
 
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