Christening Gift List: The Complete Guide (2026)
In Italy, a christening for around thirty guests costs between 500 and 1,500 euros on average (sources at the bottom of the article), and a good chunk of that budget risks going toward duplicate gifts nobody actually wanted: two identical bracelets, three photo frames, keepsakes that overlap with what relatives already had in mind. An online gift list solves exactly this problem, whether you're planning your family's first christening or you already have a baby registry that's been active for a few months. In this guide you'll find what to put on the list, who pays for what, how much the day really costs, how much is appropriate to give as a guest or as a godparent, and how to share it all without any awkwardness.
What to put on a christening gift list
A well-built christening list separates two kinds of gifts: keepsake items (an outfit or gown for the ceremony, a religious medal, a frame, a photo album, items engraved with the baby's name) and practical contributions toward the child's growth, often more appreciated by parents than you'd think, such as clothing in the next size up, educational toys, or vouchers for baby gear. Unlike a baby registry, the symbolic side matters more here: many families also leave room for a shared fund toward a future experience (a trip, a savings account for the child) alongside the physical gifts.
Can you use the same baby registry for the christening, or should you start a new one?
Technically you can keep the same baby registry open: on BabyWish, a list never closes on its own, it stays shareable and reservable until you delete it yourself. That said, we recommend creating a new, dedicated one for the christening. From your dashboard, just tap “+ New list,” pick a title like “{name}'s Christening,” and share the new link: in two minutes you have a clean list, built just for this occasion, without mixing it in with what's already been gathered for the birth. Your BabyWish account can hold as many lists as you want, one for every occasion, all listed in the “My lists” sidebar. If you want the step-by-step guide, we've written it here: how to create a dedicated christening list. And if you're wondering what the practical differences between the two lists really are, you'll find them in detail in christening list or baby registry: the differences.
Who pays for what at a christening
The religious ceremony at church is free: there's no set fee, but it's customary to leave an offering to the parish, usually between 30 and 70 euros (about 50 on average). The civil ceremony at the town hall is also free in most cases, though some municipalities charge a small administrative fee (20-50 €). For everything else, venue, catering, decorations, photographer, it's almost always the parents who cover the cost, while godparents have no financial obligation toward the party: their traditional contribution is a more significant gift for the child, which we cover in the next section. A full breakdown, tradition by tradition, is in christening: who pays for what.
How much a christening costs to organize in 2026
Here's a realistic estimate of the main expense categories for a christening with around 30 guests, standard organization (not DIY, not a lavish affair):
| Expense | Rough cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Parish offering | 30-70 € | Customary, not required |
| Catering for 30 people | 450-1,400 € | Usually the heaviest line item |
| Photographer | 200-300 € | National average |
| Decorations | 200-800 € | Varies a lot depending on DIY effort |
Adding up the main categories, the total budget for 30 guests generally falls between 500 and 1,500 euros. You'll find the item-by-item breakdown, with more ways to save, in how much a christening costs to organize.
How much to give for a christening, as a guest or as a godparent
It's not a hard rule, but a useful reference: a guest usually gives 50-100 euros in an envelope or an equivalent-value gift. A godparent tends to be more generous, with amounts between 150 and 300 euros, often concentrated in one significant gift (a piece of jewelry, a fund for the child's future). More detailed ideas, by role and price range, are in what to give as a christening gift and in gift ideas for the godmother or godfather.
How to avoid duplicate christening gifts
With a shared online list, every guest sees in real time what's already been reserved, no more identical bracelets or three photo albums. On BabyWish the link is free to share, guests reserve items without creating an account, and for the more important gifts (a future fund, an experience) you can turn on a group gift among several people. More on party favors and duplicate gifts in party favors and gift lists: how to avoid duplicates.
How to share the list with relatives and friends who live far away
All it takes is a link on WhatsApp: no paper invitations with a hand-written bank account number, no awkwardness in asking. Whoever gets the link sees the list, reserves an item, or joins a group gift, with no app downloads or account creation required. Ready- made phrases to copy and paste into your invitation are in sharing the christening list on WhatsApp.
Second child's christening: what changes
For a second child, many families already reuse the gown and keepsake items from the first christening, and the list focuses on what's truly personal and can't be recycled, a name engraving, a date, a one-of-a-kind keepsake for this particular child. The same logic already covered for the second child's baby registry applies here: more detail in second child's christening.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a christening cost in Italy?
For around thirty guests, catering, venue, and decorations typically add up to 500-1,500 euros. The religious ceremony itself is free, but it’s customary to leave a parish offering of 30-70 euros (about 50 on average).
Who pays for the christening, the parents or the godparents?
Parents typically cover the ceremony and the party. Godparents have no financial obligation toward the party, but by tradition give a more significant gift to the child, often between 150 and 300 euros.
Can I reuse my baby registry for the christening too?
Technically yes, the list stays active and shareable even after the birth. We’d recommend creating a new, dedicated one from your BabyWish dashboard instead: it takes two minutes, and it keeps the gifts from the two occasions from getting mixed up.
How much do people usually give as a christening gift?
A “regular” guest usually gives 50-100 euros in an envelope or an equivalent gift. Godparents tend to be more generous, in the 150-300 euro range.
How do you set up a free christening gift list?
On BabyWish, just open your dashboard, tap “+ New list,” pick a title (e.g. “Sofia’s Christening”), and share the generated link on WhatsApp: guests reserve gifts without needing to create an account.
Sources
- Planet Cards, “Budget for a christening for 30 people” — planet-cards.com (accessed July 20, 2026).
- Corriere Adriatico, “Church offerings: is it mandatory or not?” — corriereadriatico.it (accessed July 20, 2026).
- Cronoshare, “How much does a christening photographer cost?” — cronoshare.it (accessed July 20, 2026).
- Money.it, “How much money should you spend on a christening gift?” — money.it (accessed July 20, 2026).