One of the most memorable days that I have of my son growing up was his christening day. He looked super-cute in the outfit which we had bought for the occasion. It was great to see so many of our close family and friends attend, and we had a wonderful party afterwards to celebrate further. My main memory from the whole day was seeing my son in his christening gown. It was vitally important that we not only kept the outfit but also ensured that it was protected for many years to come. It could potentially even be something that his own child may wear in the future. It is quite astonishing to think that something that was only worn for a few hours on that special day is then kept and preserved for so many years and is seen as a massively valuable piece of family history.
How to preserve a christening gown for the long term
When thinking about the different ways of ensuring that the gown is preserved for many years to come, I soon decided that framing it was the way I wanted to go. I didn’t just want it to be folded up in a box and placed somewhere like the loft. I wanted the gown to be seen and to be enjoyed in the present and not just on the odd occasion in the future. And I am also fully aware that fabrics are not too keen on places such as lofts, garages or damp cupboards. In comparison, professional framing gives the gown structure, protection and visibility.
As well as the visibility benefits, framing the gown also helps to preserve it from dust, handling and accidental damage. If mounted correctly using conservation methods, the gown can be supported gently rather than pinned harshly or crushed into shape. UV-protective glass can also help reduce fading from daylight, which is especially useful for older white fabrics that can become brittle over time.
By framing the christening gown, you then have an incredible gift which you can give to your child in the future, perhaps on their 21st birthday or when they move into their first property. They will no doubt have seen it plenty of times hanging proudly on the wall as they were growing up, but this is now something that they can own and keep in their possession and potentially hang up in their house.
The main potential downside to framing the christening gown is if there is a lack of available wall space where you live, as these types of gowns can be long, especially traditional styles, so they need a decent-sized frame. But even in this scenario, you could still frame it but then store it somewhere safe until the appropriate size of wall space becomes available. The protection element of framing the gown will still make the whole process a worthwhile one.
To answer the question that was the title of this blog post, it is definitely worth framing a christening gown.