Thea's Baptism: Simple Traditions, Real Moments, and a Dress That Did Not Survive

Thea chose to be baptized, and it was such a beautiful, special day. She's been so excited for this step, and getting to watch her surrounded by so many people who love her was everything.

Before the day even ended, she was already talking about the things she wanted to remember:

• She wore the same dress I was baptized in, sewn by my Grandma Fern. That made it extra special, even though... well, we'll get to the dress mishaps later.
• So many family and friends came, some who even flew in. It meant the world to her that people took the time to be there.
• She was baptized with her friends Ashton and Knoxx, which made it even more fun.
• Beckham and Macie were her baptism witnesses. She loved that.
• When she was confirmed and received the Holy Ghost, she had a whole circle of people surrounding her, including her dad, who gave her the blessing.
• She came out of the font happy and warm on the inside and absolutely shivering cold on the outside.
• And of course, the dress. She ripped the side of it getting out of the font, and we had a good laugh about it, especially when I told her about my own baptism mishap. Let's just say my underwear was very visible and very not white. Thanks, family, for making sure I knew.

My favorite moment of the whole day was the quiet one right after she got out of the font. Just the two of us talking while I helped her get ready for her confirmation. She was so happy. I'll always remember that.

The Lunch Setup: Keeping It Simple

After the baptism we had a lunch at our church, and I wanted it to feel nice without being a production. We went with a build-your-own burrito bar because Thea loves cheese quesadillas and it's easy to prep ahead of time.

The food lineup:

• Tortillas, chicken, rice, and beans in foil pans with lids, which made cleanup so much easier.
• Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, guac, sour cream, and cilantro ranch in simple serving bowls from the dollar store.
• Chips on the side, because chips make everything better.
• Cactus Cooler: our go-to party drink. Fresca, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and sugar-free Torani pineapple syrup. So good.

 

The cakes were made by my best friend Steph (@the_brunette_baker.slc): Scotchmallow cake and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cake. She is magic in the kitchen and these were next level.

Decor That Didn't Break the Bank

I wanted it to feel special without stressing about it.

• Borrowed white tablecloths from neighbors.
• Blue taper candles because Thea loves blue.
• Simple glass bud vases with flowers from Trader Joe's.
• Mini temple magnets as decorations and take-home favors. We 3D-printed ours, but you can find similar ones if you don't have a printer.

A Few Favorite Traditions

One of my favorites: we take Polaroid pictures of every family that comes. We used our Instax Mini camera, and while Thea was changing after the baptism, everyone wrote her a note on 3x5 cards.

All of it is going into a memory book so she can always look back on it. Jordan also wrote out her blessing by hand, so she has that in his handwriting. That one is really special.

Looking Back

The whole day felt sacred. Watching Thea be baptized and confirmed by her dad is something I'll never forget. She was so happy. Cold and with a ripped dress, but absolutely glowing.

I also designed the baptism invitation and program we used for her day. You can find them on Etsy if you'd like to use them for your own celebration.