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5 Ways to Remove Wrinkles - One Small Child

Hot Tip: 5 Ways to Remove Wrinkles from Your Christening Gown

5 ways to remove wrinkels from your christening gown graphic

Whether you’ve purchased a new christening gown or plan to use a family heirloom, chances are there will be at least a few wrinkles to deal with prior to the baby’s big day. It seems like a straightforward proposition, really, to get those wrinkles out, but when dealing with garments of great value and low replaceability factor, it’s a good idea to approach the situation with as much information as possible. Here’s a bag of tricks to get you going:

1-Bathroom Steam: It might seem too easy to be true, but this is a fabulous way to remove relatively minor wrinkles on dressy fabrics. It works especially well on garments made of satin, organza & tulle. Simply hang your gown on a clean hook or rod in the bathroom, turn on a hot shower, close the door & let it sit for 15-20 minutes. If mild wrinkles persist, you can rub them gently with a damp cloth, give them a little tug & allow the gown to steam for a few minutes more.

2-Dryer: Lightly spritz your tiny blessing outfit with water & toss it in a medium-heat dryer for a few minutes. Immediately remove your garment & give it a good shake when time’s up. Works well on cotton blends, satin, organza & tulle.

3-Iron: Household irons work best on light-to-mid-weight fabrics, pleats, and large flat surfaces. If your outfit is made of 100% cotton or features sharp pleated details, ironing is your best bet to conquer the evil wrinkle monster. A few tidbits to keep in mind:

  • Before you begin, make sure your iron is clean. You don’t want to ruin your outfit by heat-setting icky rust or other residues on your heirloom textile.
  • It’s important to set your iron temperature to the fabric settings on the dial. Silk, satin, & organza can scorch or melt easily, so double-check!
  • Consider using a pressing cloth (such as a flour-cloth towel or piece of cotton fabric). It’s a great way to be 100% sure you won’t cause any damage to your christening gown or outfit. Simply lay the cloth over the garment, spritz it with water, & press away.
  • Always press smaller sections first and move on to larger areas. Example: press collars & sleeves before pants & skirts.

4-Steamer: If you have access, a personal or professional-grade steamer will remove wrinkles from silk, satin & organza. Add distilled water to the reservoir, turn it on & let the steam build-up, check to be sure the wand isn’t spitting water (water spots = boo), then gently run the wand over and beneath the fabric. When running the wand beneath the fabric, be careful to avoid burning yourself…that steam is hot!

5-Dry Cleaner: If you have time and access, it’s not a bad idea to have your garment professionally pressed prior to your event. Be sure to ask your service provider if they are experienced in handling the delicate materials used in your christening outfit.

And there you have it: everything you need to know to have your baby’s christening gown or christening outfit in tip-top shape for that once-in-a-lifetime day!

Noah's Ark Bank - One Small Child

Christening Gifts: Check.

You’re invited to a christening in three weeks, and you have no idea what to bring for the little guest of honor. Moreover, you have zero time to fit in a gift-hunting expedition.

Never fear–One Small Child is here! Our carefully selected collection of gifts and accessories for baptism & christening is full of appropriate & elegant options. From a practical silver-plated cross pacifier clip to a precious keepsake piggy bank, you are sure to find the perfect offering for that sweet baby’s special day. Even better, every item ships within two business days*, which means you can have it in hand within a week, give or take a day or two.

So, take a look at that never-ending to-do list and feel the sense of satisfaction as you write: Christening gift – check.

*with the exception of the personalized lullaby CD and the personalized keepsake box, which each ship direct from other manufacturers.

The Main Event: How to Get the Photos You Really Want

This is the second in a two-post series about christening photography–see the first here.

Photographs tell stories, and planning your christening event includes giving some thought to the images you want to have your photographer capture on your special day. Arpi Pap, a master at shooting baptismal ceremonies, advises:

“Imagine that your best friend missed the event and you want to show what happened with all things…not just the ‘VIPs’.”

I love that advice–it’s a great perspective to have in mind, and a good way to inspire creativity. How would you document the day for someone who couldn’t be there?

“Look for details: a hand, a bracelet, shoes, a cross, a bible, stained windows…all are part of the story and they build up to the culminant moment/picture. Candid moments are all around, just let the moment happen, [think beyond subjects looking] at the camera. Look for emotions [and interactions:] a joke told by the grandfather, a kid running, annoying the priest, etc.”

How to get photos of Christening day

At a minimum, it’s important to make a list of the shots you for-sure have to have. Here’s a comprehensive list of ideas:

-‘Before’ shots: hanging dress/outfit, accessories, child being dressed, invitations
-Venue: exterior, interior (as allowed by the church), service folders, flowers or event decorations
-Ceremony details: parents/godparents with baby around the font, clergyman w/baby (as allowed by the church)
-Individual shots of baby held by: mother, father, Godparents (singly), siblings, grandparents
-Group shots of baby with: parents, Godparents, siblings, grandparents, all attendees
-Close-up details: dress/outfit, baby’s feet and hands, crosses or religious jewelry gifted to the baby, baby with a bible

(Be aware that each church has its own guidelines and policies on photography. Many denominations and/or clergy do not permit actual photos inside the church or of the ceremony itself. Be sure to consult with your officiator to know what is correct for your service.)

 

Christening Picture Tips - One Small Child

10 Tips for Perfect Christening Portraits

Welcome to the first in a two-post series about photography centered on your baby’s christening or blessing. I’ve broken this down into separate posts because ideally, you want to capture images that focus on two distinct subjects: the BABY, and the EVENT. Today’s post is all about the BABY, baby! Stay tuned for information on capturing “The Main Event”.

Portraits are personal snapshots that should capture the emotion and essence of the subject’s unique personality. Because no moment can ever be a re-do, it pays to put thought into what you want and to communicate clearly with your photographer to create a vision for your session. Without further ado, here are 10 things for you to consider when planning your portrait session.

Downloadable Christening Photo Checklist

Lillian Lace Christening Gown - One Small Child

Plan Your Christening: 9 Steps to a Day You’ll Never Forget

Congratulations on your new (or soon-to-be) bundle of joy! Somewhere in the jumble of emotion, change, and busy-ness that is the first year of your baby’s life is a once-in-a-lifetime event: your baby’s christening or blessing.

The timing of your christening or blessing is largely up to you and is influenced by family circumstance, tradition, and religious affiliation. Whether you are blessing your newborn or baptizing your 18-month child, the planning process is the same. Here’s a basic checklist to get you started:

2-12 months before event:
Step 1-When:
Contact the church or clergy member you wish to perform the ceremony. Determine what paperwork/preparation is required. Set a date.
Step 2-Who: Decide who you want to be in attendance. Who do you choose as Godparents to watch over your child’s religious instruction? Who do you want to stand in the blessing circle? Do you want a large or small gathering? Determine how many guests you will have.
Step 3-Visualize: This is the fun part! Will you have an all-inclusive at-home event, an intimate post-ceremony gathering at a restaurant, or a gala bash at a local reception venue? Whether simple or luxe, you need to consider what you want when it comes to location, decor, food, favors, music, clothing, and photography. Depending on who you want to work with, you may need to book services many months in advance.

1-2 months before event:
Step 4-Invite:
Order (or create) and mail christening invitations or simply make phone calls to those with whom you want to share this experience. Be sure they know when and where to show up!
Step 5-Shop: Ooh! Another fun part! {wink} Find the perfect christening/blessing gown or outfit, or make arrangements for a custom-made or family heirloom garment for baby’s special day. Don’t forget to plan clothing for siblings and parents!
Step 6-Portraits: Schedule a portrait sessiontrust me, you don’t want to not have photos of your baby in his/her precious outfit! Whether you go for a formal studio session or a natural-light gig, have a list of shots you want the photographer to capture. If possible, allow enough time to have framed prints to display at your event.

2 weeks before event:

7-Finalize: Tie up all loose ends…check in with venues, food providers, photographers, etc.

Day before event:
8-Pack:
Gather up everything you’ll need for the big day: baby’s clothing and accessories, items to be used in the ceremony, cameras, decorations, etc. Pack the diaper bag. Press or steam baby’s finery as well as your own outfit.

Day of event:
9-Relax:
 Take a deep breath and enjoy the companionship of your loved ones in celebration of this blessed day!

Beau-Coup Christening Favors: A Giveaway

~GIVEAWAY CLOSED~

Your child’s blessing or baptism day is a once-in-a-lifetime event, a day you’ll remember for the rest of your life. It can take a lot of time and effort to put everything together: there’s the ceremony to arrange, pretty christening clothes to find, invitations to send, after-ceremony dinners and parties to plan, and photographs to document it all. We do these things to mark the significance of the glad occasion, and to enjoy the companionship and support of our friends and loved ones.

Here’s a time-saving tip for any who might be drowning in details: order personalized party favors! Favors are a great way to show a small token of thanks to those who come forward to participate and rejoice with you; they lend a touch of thoughtfulness and a punch of personality to your party…and they can be very time-consuming. Fortunately, the talented folks at Beau Coup offer an extensive selection of favors for all your celebration needs, and each is easily personalized to fit your event. Here are a few of my favorites from their gorgeous line of Baptism and Christening favors:

Mmmm, darling jars of sweet honey:

Personalized ribbon: your own name, date, or special phrase added to this luscious satin ribbon will lend an elegant, sentimental air to anything you wrap it with…the options are endless!

Personalized hand sanitizer…so practical! And CUTE!

And my all-time favorite: caramel popcorn…good times, there!

Beau Coup has generously offered a $25 gift certificate for one lucky reader! To enter, share your favorite Beau Coup party favor in a comment on this post. For additional entries, follow us on Twitter or tweet about the giveaway…just drop another comment here to notify me of your add/tweet. This giveaway will end on Monday, July 12th, 2017 at 10:00 pm MDST.

Mitchell Silk Christening Suit - One Small Child

About Fabric

Shopping for christening gowns and baptism outfits online has its advantages (convenience of 24/7 shopping, large selection of styles and and sizes) and disadvantages, one of the biggest being that you can’t actually *feel* your selections before ordering them. We get that!

To offset that challenge, we’ve provided detailed descriptions of the fabrics we use in each garment. To find this information, just look under any listing’s description.  It will be in the star bulletin named “Fabric”.  You can also get a detailed description of each fabric by going to our fabrics description page. The fabric will be listed in columns, along with a short description of the textile.

In addition to the information found on each page, we proudly offer an unparalleled return policy with no re-stocking fees!

Domestic Shipping Map - One Small Child

Shipping: A Cautionary Tale

Gather around dear friends, I have a story to tell.

Once upon a time, and every once in a while, despite our best efforts, shipments arrive late. For a special occasion, that can have devastating consequences…a day late for a christening, baptism, first communion, or wedding might mean that a valued (as well as busy and likely stressed under the circumstances) customer may have to run all over town at the last minute trying to find a replacement outfit, or worse, not be able to find what is needed at all.

Though the significance of these special days is truly in the people involved rather than pieces of clothing and accessories, we all want things to be as perfect as envisioned for a lifetime. It literally breaks our hearts when we receive news that a deadline was not met. In an effort to lessen the possibility of this happening to you, I’d like to explain a few things that may be helpful to know when planning your online special occasion purchase.

1-About us: We have an amazingly talented and caring staff working full time to meet your needs. Every (and I do mean every) effort is made to fulfill all orders in a timely manner.

Our shipping policy lets you know the time frame within which you can expect your order to leave our facility. We offer a handy delivery chart to demonstrate the number of days it takes for your order to be delivered to you based on the day we receive your order. (Be sure to notice if you’re ordering a made-to-order item: construction of your garment will add one week to the time listed on the chart.)

On very rare occasions, we experience human moments that can affect the delivery time of your order. In these circumstances, our policy is to do anything and everything within our control to get it to you on time. (Things we can control: processes within our facility. Things we can’t control: processes/transit within a shipping company.)

2-About our shippers: We offer the shipping services of two companies. It is important to note a few things about each, as they both have pros and cons. Regarding both companies–once your package leaves our facility, it is beyond our immediate control.

United States Postal Service: Our free shipping offer utilizes the US Postal Service (aka USPS). The biggest benefit of this service is the speed with which most packages are delivered–usually within 2-3 business days. That said, there is a major drawback that can make a big difference in a time crunch:

  • The USPS is not guaranteed to be delivered in a specific time frame and can take up to a week…more, if your package happens to get lost.

UPS: Our express shipping services are provided by UPS. UPS offers in-transit package tracking and guaranteed delivery dates. The important thing to know when selecting the level of service you need is this: the ‘day count’ begins the day after your shipment leaves our facility. (Example: Next Day is delivered the next business day after shipment… Second Day is delivered two business days after shipment with the day after shipment being the first day. If that doesn’t make sense, refer to our delivery chart.)

It is important to keep in mind that Saturday is not considered a business day, so if you’re ordering on Friday and need your order tomorrow (Saturday), you have to specify Next Day with Saturday delivery. If you’re ordering on Friday and need it Saturday, be sure to CALL us so we can let you know if it is possible to ship your order same day or not.

3-About you: Yep, you! It’s important for you first, to be informed and to understand the specifics when the time is short. And second, to let us know if there’s a problem so we can help you resolve any delivery issues. If your package hasn’t arrived as expected–let us know! We can often ship an emergency replacement in time if you give us enough notice. If you call Friday afternoon after our shipments for the day have left, about a gown you need on Saturday…our hands are tied. There’s nothing we can do but cry with you. And we will. But we’d rather not. {smile}

Christening dresses - One Small Child

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Choosing an outfit for baby’s christening or blessing is different for everyone. Sometimes, you know the perfect gown or outfit when you see it and there are no questions. Then again, there are times you have so many options you just don’t know which way to turn!

We understand that it can be difficult to make such a big decision based on two-dimensional pictures…it’s important to be able to see and touch and compare in person. With that in mind, we gladly offer the option to purchase up to three styles (or sizes…if that baby is in-between) to review at your convenience.

Here’s how it works:

  • If you are unsure which christening gown/baptism outfit style or size you need, order up to 3 of your favorites. (You will pay for all items shipped at the time of your order, but no worries–our return process is easy!)
  • After you receive your order, make your choice in the comfort of your home.
  • When you’ve made your decision, simply return the unwanted items within 15 days of their arrival in your home. No need to expedite return shipping, just have them in the shipper’s hands within the 15 days. We recommend you use a trackable shipping service, so delivery can be verified.
  • Your card will be refunded when we recieve your return (please note: return transactions can take 7-10 days to appear on your bankcard statement).

Any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us!

Fall Christening Portrait Ideas - One Small Child

Christening Thank-Yous

With special occasions come gifts of love and the presence of friends and family. When the big day is over (if you’re like me), you have your hands full with caring for your little ones and attending to the myriad tasks and responsibilities life happily brings…and sometimes the thoughtful words you wish to express just take more time and effort than you can muster.

Fortunately for you (and me!), the folks at Thank You Letters have provided a lovely christening thank you note resource for helping you get over the writer’s-block and get those tokens of appreciation out the door. It’s worth taking the time to do it…kind words of sincere gratitude have an amazing power to encourage and uplift the recipient. Do it today. The result is well worth the investment.