Baby Luca’s Baptism

A baby’s Baptism in our traditions are pretty much up there with Weddings and Births. It’s a BIG deal. So you can imagine the amount of preparations that went ahead of this extra special day for both him and us. To be honest, I don’t remember having put this much thought and effort into an event, since our wedding. And I’m not going to lie, I had so much fun getting into every little detail, from the table set up to the party favors.

Baby Luca

I only headed to one place for Baby Luca’s traditional Christening outfit and that would be Zahar Kids. The choices were endless, it wasn’t easy to decide. I had initially thought he would dress him in something very traditional, the sort of long gown set complete with a cap and pair of gloves but then I fell in love with a white romper that I knew was just right for the occasion, it was traditional without being too outdated. The team at Zahar Kids was an absolute pleasure to work with again, and I’m proud to have had them part as two major milestones, his First Palm Sunday and now his Baptism.

The Church

Like a wedding, a lot of thought into the decoration and set-up of the church. This was extra special for us, three generations of Khairallahs were baptized here, Baby Luca would be the fourth, both my husband, his father and his grandfather, in this small beautiful chapel which belongs to his family. It meant a lot for us for our Baby Luca to be christened in the same spot with the same basin as well and we hope he will continue this tradition with his own children one day. In an age of grand churches and majestic cathedrals, I was keen on keeping things as simple and authentic as can be, as I didn’t want to some over-zealous arrangement to distract from the romantic serenity of this historical chapel.

The Theme

When I thought of the setup, I envisioned a garden party, with long champêtre tables in an outdoor setting. I wanted natural light to be prevailing and I wanted the sky to be in all the photos. It’s also no secret Tiffany blue is one of my all-time favorite colors, coupled with white, it made the perfect palette. And of course the angels, a baby’s christening is not only religious, there is something mystical about this milestones in a child’s early life, and I knew when my Baby Luca would wear white, he would look like a little angel, and so I wanted angels to make a big appearance in the theme. I’ll be dedicating an entire post to the chocolates, party favors and souvenirs by Boite Sucrée but for now I’d like to give you an overall feel of the day.

The Set Up

With only 60 guests made of up family and very close friends, I thought it would be more intimate to have a U-shaped table, it also complemented the gorgeous 180 degree backdrop from the terrace of our mountain home. The two main elements that would make the Tiffany Blue theme, were the table runners and the balloons, which everyone adored as they added a gorgeous and original touch as they danced in the wind the entire time. I searched long and hard for Marguerite Daisy Flowers that were no longer in season, and finally had to settle for white Chrysanthemums flowers which I had pre-ordered from Exotica.

The Menu

Like a garden party, I wanted the food to be casual yet delicious. So we decided to go with a live barbecue made up of four stations, live chicken and beef shawarma stations, and burgers and merguez stations. So although a chef would prepare the sandwiches, there was a customize-your-own-burger stand, where guests would choose the condiments of their choice.

The Drinks

No party is complete in our books without a bar. Like the theme, I wanted the bar to reflect the freshness and laid-back attitude of the day. So we decided to incorporate lots of fruits and punches, that as margaritas and Sangrias. Our lovely bartenders also whipped up some great cocktails for guests on demand.

The Dessert Table

This is the main attraction of any Baptism and I wanted it to be extra special. So I teamed up with Boite Sucrée again and I can’t tell you how happy I am with the outcome. Angels made a huge appearance and so did Tiffany Blue as you can tell. As for the cake, I chose a framboise and a vanilla ground almond interior which was absolutely delicious. Next week, I’ll tell you more about this special set up in detail. What also stood out on this table was the Snayniyeh, a classic Lebanese Dessert prepared for Baby’s first tooth since Baby Luca popped his first two little chompers only a couple of days before his baptism and we didn’t get to officially celebrate.

I couldn’t have wished for a more blessed, beautiful and memorable Baptism. And a special thank you to the amazing Patrick Sawaya for capturing these precious moments for us.