Christening cufflinks answer a question that often comes up when planning the day: what do you give the grown-ups? There are engraved spoons and keepsake boxes for the baby, but the father and godfathers are making promises too. A pair of personalised cufflinks recognises their part in the day and gives them something to wear in the front pew – and in every family photograph afterwards.
Fathers, godfathers and grandfathers
The most common recipients of christening cufflinks are:
- Godfathers, as a thank-you from the parents for taking on the role. It's a gentle way of marking a commitment that lasts well beyond the service.
- The baby's father, from his partner or his own parents, to wear on the day.
- Grandfathers, particularly if the family has christened several generations in the same church.
- Uncles or family friends who are reading at the service or hosting the celebration afterwards.
Naming ceremonies and thanksgiving services are marked in just the same way, so the ideas below work equally well for a non-religious celebration.
Details from the day to put on his cuffs
Keep the baby at the centre of the design. Some ideas that work beautifully:
- The baby's full name in an elegant script, with the christening date beneath it.
- A photograph of the baby in the christening gown – perhaps the same one his own father or grandfather wore.
- A tiny handprint or footprint, pressed in ink on white card and photographed.
- The church, a simple sketch or photo of the font or the building's tower, with the date.
- "Godfather" and the baby's name together, so the role and the child are recorded side by side.
For godfathers especially, a name and date is often the most treasured design, because in twenty years' time it still says exactly what the day meant.
Photographs, handprints and lettering
Baby photos tend to be softly lit, which looks lovely on a screen but can lose detail when printed small. Choose a picture where the face is close to the lens and well lit, crop so it fills the square, and avoid busy backgrounds such as patterned blankets. For handprints and footprints, use black ink on bright white card, let it dry fully, and photograph it flat in daylight so there's no shadow. Lettering should be generous and not too fine – a flowing script works, but pick one with a reasonable thickness. Always upload the original image file, as we print from your full-resolution version.
Wearing them on the day
If the cufflinks are meant to be worn at the service, give them a week or so beforehand, so there's time to check his shirt has double cuffs and to try them on. Some parents present them at a small family supper the evening before, when there's a quiet moment to explain why the godfather was chosen. Others prefer to hand the gift box over after the service, over tea and christening cake, as a thank-you once the promises have been made. Either way, christening cufflinks tend to reappear at the child's later milestones – first communion, eighteenth birthday, even the child's own wedding – which is a lovely thing for a godfather to be able to say.
Ordering for several godparents
Many christenings have two or three godfathers, plus a father and grandfathers who'd appreciate a pair. Five or more pairs are £15 each, plus £5 shipping per order, so a set of five comes to £80. Each pair can carry a different design within the same basket – the godfather's pair could say "Godfather" while the grandfather's reads "Grandad". A single pair of christening cufflinks is £40, with shipping included.
Creating the design
- Upload your image – a photo, a handprint or a name and date you've set out.
- Check it on both cufflinks in the live preview and use drag and zoom to frame it gently.
- Complete the order at our secure checkout, adding any godparents' pairs first.
We make every pair in our Cornwall workshop, where we've been making personalised gifts for 17 years, and each arrives in a gift box, ready to be handed over after the service.