I'll try to keep this short. We have an heirloom baptism gown in our family that is close to 140 years old. Everyone on my father's side of the family has been baptized in it, including myself, my siblings, my first son and it goes back to my great grandparents. Obviously, it's very sentimental and has a great deal of meaning to me. It's a very simple gown and for my firstborn, he was a boy so it was perfect for him. I just had a little girl, and I love some of the more girly dresses out there, plus I was wondering if she may want a gown to pass down to her daughter (I can't assume everyone will want to wear the heirloom gown). Her godparents are my brother and sister-in-law and they want to buy her a gown. I already planned to take the heirloom gown off after the actual baptism (mainly to protect anything from happening to it) and change her into something else for the party. Is it crazy to get another gown for the party, that she would then have to pass down if she wanted to? Just wanted to get some ideas from anyone that may have dealt with something similar. Any thoughts or ideas?
I think getting her a gown to change into is a great idea! And maybe you could dress up the original one with a frilly bonnet or something.
I think you have come up with an excellent compromise!
My daughter was baptized in an heirloom gown as well and as soon as it was over I changed her outfit. I totally didn't want her to spit-up all over it. Just make sure the new outfit is comfortable, there are some crazy frilly girly dresses out there that look way too uncomfortable for an infant.
I had an heirloom gown as well for all 3 of my daughters. I changed them as soon as we got home for the party. You never know if something might happen to the heirloom gown, so I think it's a great idea!
I think it is a great idea to have two gowns. I wound't want anything to happen to the heirloom gown either.
I would use the heirloom for the ceremony and then a different dress for the rest of the day. You are right, you don't want anything to happen to that 140 year old gown.
Good luck!
Wow. We don't have baptism services in my family, but a tradition that's been going this long can't be broken. I think that is so awesome. The history behind the gown is amazing. If you want her to have another gown, let her wear both. Make sure you take plenty of pictures in each.
Your daughter is a baby and she won't understand the importance now, but when she's older, she will appreciate all of it.
Obviously at some point in time, the integrity of the original gown needs to be a priority. Let your baby wear it for the ceremony and then change her into to dress of your choice. That way, everybody will be happy.
Congratulations!
That would work--AND make sure nothing happens to the gown during the party, protecting it for her little ones! :-)
I think changing from heirloom to something else for the party is a great way to introduce another baptismal gown... this is also keeping the peace in the famile by wearing the heirloom for the baptism yet also getting another keepsake baptism gown to pass to your daughter.
My daughter wore part of my baptism gown, the under piece (which my mom made for me) AND my mom made a whole new baptism gown top for my daughter because she was longer & thinner then I as a baby and my baptism gown looked silly on her.
Hi, MoM:
Use the traditional gown throughout the day. D.
sounds like a good idea to me!
I think your idea is a perfect solution. When my first son was born I had a gown made for him from the train of my wedding gown. Both of my boys have been baptized in it and I would love if it would become an heirloom gown for their children. I think that is very special. Definitely use the heirloom gown and then change her afterwards into the new gown/dress. I wouldn't change the gown itself by altering it to make it more frilly. Keep it the way it is. That is part of what makes it so special.
I think your idea sounds great. My daughter was baptized in the same gown myself, my sister and so on back were baptized in. It was special so I get that. We have all of the initials of everyone baptized in it embroidered on the under slip part of the gown. Maybe you could start some sort of tradition like that somewhere? I just think it's a cute idea that I wanted to share. :)
We did a similar family heirloom gown at the baptisms. Honestly, it meant so much to my Mom, to know that her grandchild was wearing the same gown that she herself had been baptized in... It was worth it. I would suggest you do exactly as you propose. Wear the family heirloom gown at the Baptism and then change her into a new gown/dress at the party. That way you make your family happy at the ceremony and you make yourself/the Godparents happy at the party. If anyone questions it, you simply tell them that the heirloom gown is so special and so delicate/precious that you would hate for it to be somehow messed up at the party.
