I’m often asked for my recommendations on invitations. Over the years I’ve seen enough invitations to develop an eye for spotting the good ones. Let’s say for instance that I’m planning a baptism for a baby boy and I’m looking for the right baptism invitation. So what would I look for in a boy baptism invitation? First, I’d look at the colors, which are usually what stand out at first glance about an invitation. If the baby’s a boy, I’ll likely prefer more boyish colors with blue being my first preference and gray, red, green, or yellow being my back-up choices. Second, I’d look for invitations that convey a religious theme. I want to see that the artist set out to design the invitation specifically for a religious event and not a one-design-fits-all-occasion invitation. Third, I’d check for uniqueness which is relative to the occasion. For a baptism, you’ll probably want to stay away from the off-the-wall kind of uniqueness because a baptism is a solemn event. Fourth, I look at price because everyone has a budget. So based on these four criteria, what are my recommendations for the best baptism invitations for a baby boy?
#1 Blue Ribbon Cross:
Top on my list is this baptism invitation. Looking at this invite on a computer screen doesn’t do it justice. Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping online, but sometimes I wish that can feel what I’m buying. If you don’t look closely you’ll miss the fact that the huge blue cross on the invite is made from real ribbon. The center and ends of the cross are printed with filigree motifs. A simple blue border around the 6″x8″ perimeter finishes off the invitation. This invitation comes with options: You can order this invitation blank, which means you’ll have to assemble the ribbon cross yourself or you can order it personalized and Baby Cachet will do the assembly for you. Pricing for a set of ten invitations starts at $23.53.
#2 Silver Cross:
I like this invite for its simple elegance. It’s a square card, approximately 5″x5″, and is printed on both sides. The front side features a lovely silver cross encrusted with a diamante gem in the center. The word “Christening” or “Baptism” or whatever you like, can be printed below the cross. The rest of your text is printed on the back side. A pack of ten invites will cost you about $13.
#3 Blue Foil Cross:
This 6″x8″ blue baptism invitation caught my eye because it beautifully mixes together opposite elements of young and old, soft and hard. On the left side, an antique-looking silver cross (old, hard) is painted with a soft white bow (young, soft). A silvery gray border rings the invitation, which is otherwise covered in blue. Silver foil is incorporated throughout the design, especially on the bow, cross, and border. A set of ten invitations can be had for as low as $16.18.
#4 Printer’s Ornaments:
This invitation looks and feels good. It’s nicely designed and printed on soft linen card stock for a more textile feel. A row of cross-like printer’s ornaments lines the top and bottom borders. A single simple cross is positioned above your text, which is printed in between the top and bottom borders. A magnet is attached to the back. Each invitation is priced at about $3.70 and comes with matching linen envelopes.
#5 James 1:17:
Some parents like to show off a photo of their baby on the invitation. This photo invitation is printed on photo paper and is designed with a box at the upper right corner where a photo can be included. Next to the photo is a brown cross with blue highlights. A blue stripe runs across the card behind the photo. The rest of the background is brown. Your text is printed below the stripe. This invite retails for about $1.60 each for 4″x6″ and $2.60 each for 5″x7″.
