How much would you expect

[ilovelamp]

To spend if you were being godmother (dress, cross, towels/blanket, baptism candles, etc.)? I'm just curious because I think I totally underestimated the cost of this whole thing.

[Deleted]

I thought you just had to show up. I obviously am clueless.

[specialk]

Nothing but a gift.

[littlesthobo]

Um, $0? I had no idea Godparents had to spend money.

[hermione]

It should cost you the price of the gift you choose to give. That's it.

[cville]

When I was a godmother, I just bought a present (about $150) and gave her a check for her college fund. Plus I flew there, but obviously that wasn't a "baptism" expense per se.

This whole dress/candles/whatever seems very Greek Orthodox specific, so maybe you should seek out advice from people who've been godmothers in that church.

[Eagles]

Not Greek Orthodox, but Roman Catholic. I've spent $150 for my goddaughter's upcoming baptismal outfit - dress, bonnet, socks, and shawl. She's wearing a plain new onesie that she already has, and my mom bought her bib and wedding hankie bonnet. I'm getting her a medal to pin to her shawl, but I'll pay cost for that since I'll just get it from one of my suppliers, and we'll probably give a check for $100.

For my other three godchildren it's run me from $100-200. For us, the tradition is that the godmother buys the christening outfit so I knew that going in.

[blanca]

I'm godmother to my sisters oldest child. I did pay for her dress bc I wanted to help my sister out but it's definitely not necessary. I also gave her $300. However, I have a tiny family who also gifts my daughter very generously. I think a small gift is fine.

[Monica Geller]

I know that for Greek Orthodox it's expensive. My SIL is G-O and the godmother usually spends a few hundred on all the "stuff".

In my non denominational experience, it's not very much at all; mostly just show up with a gift.

[kayakjenn]

I'm my niece's godmother and I bought her dress and gave her a gift ($ for college fund.)

[LeggsBenedict]

I just bought a gift and showed up.

[stellas]

As a Catholic godparent, I just buy a gift and show up.

[ilovelamp]

Okay, it must be different in my church.

[nonsensetomfoolery]

Episcopal godmother- for two, I just bought a gift and showed up, for the other I bought his outfit (my choice to help the family out) and bought a gift

[donnamartingraduat]

$0?

I got my goddaughter a gift, but that was it.

[dexteroni]

I also just bought a gift and showed up. My sister bought the outfit and used a white blanket she already had, and I don't think we had candles or crosses.

[dexteroni]

Oct 25, 2014 13:04:24 GMT -5 ilovelamp said:

Okay, it must be different in my church.

Does the godfather pay for anything?

[Deleted]

Just for the baptism, I would probably assume $1k at a minimum for orthodox. We are orthodox, but my only godchild is catholic, so I am sort of smooshing together expectations. Part of the old world stuff is an expectation of extreme generosity, which is why I am saying $1k minimum. Also, while my parents failed to have me baptized as a child, so I don't have personal experience with a true godmother/godfather, my husband's baptismal cross from his godparents belonged to the tsar and is encrusted in rubies and gold and is appraised for tens of thousands of dollars, and his brothers have similar crosses; all have also gotten extremely generous gifts including houses and villas for major life occassions, so I do think that I the Orthodox Church its a financial commitment close to being a real parent.

[venice2007]

Oct 25, 2014 13:03:54 GMT -5 stellas said:

As a Catholic godparent, I just buy a gift and show up.

This. I'm a godmother to 4 and never spent anything but a gift
The parents do the dress/outfit, the church does the candle, sash, etc

[underwaterrhymes]

If this is a Greek baptism, you will spend a lot.

[fryjack2]

Oct 25, 2014 13:25:47 GMT -5 elle said:

Just for the baptism, I would probably assume $1k at a minimum for orthodox. We are orthodox, but my only godchild is catholic, so I am sort of smooshing together expectations. Part of the old world stuff is an expectation of extreme generosity, which is why I am saying $1k minimum. Also, while my parents failed to have me baptized as a child, so I don't have personal experience with a true godmother/godfather, my husband's baptismal cross from his godparents belonged to the tsar and is encrusted in rubies and gold and is appraised for tens of thousands of dollars, and his brothers have similar crosses; all have also gotten extremely generous gifts including houses and villas for major life occassions, so I do think that I the Orthodox Church its a financial commitment close to being a real parent.

Everytime you post about your H, the more intrigued I am by his background

Op-I am not religious but my good friend is Greek Orthodox and has two godchildren. She does buy all the stuff you listed, travels to Greece,spends the money for a good chunk if the party, and gives a lot of money to the child.

When I lived overseas in a country with a lot of Orthodox Christians, that seemed to be the norm.

[shell24]

Well I am a Catholic godparent to two kids and only gave a gift. Old school tradition is that the godmother buys the gown but I don't think many people follow that anymore.

I gave $75 to each of my god children. One is my nephew and one is my BFF's daughter.

My kids have all worn an heirloom gown but I would imagine a new one would run about $100-$150.

[papie]

Greek Orthodox, it is about 1K$, but you can do it cheaper, probably no less than $500 though.

[papie]

Oct 25, 2014 13:25:47 GMT -5 elle said:

Just for the baptism, I would probably assume $1k at a minimum for orthodox. We are orthodox, but my only godchild is catholic, so I am sort of smooshing together expectations. Part of the old world stuff is an expectation of extreme generosity, which is why I am saying $1k minimum. Also, while my parents failed to have me baptized as a child, so I don't have personal experience with a true godmother/godfather, my husband's baptismal cross from his godparents belonged to the tsar and is encrusted in rubies and gold and is appraised for tens of thousands of dollars, and his brothers have similar crosses; all have also gotten extremely generous gifts including houses and villas for major life occassions, so I do think that I the Orthodox Church its a financial commitment close to being a real parent.

Well my poor goddaughter is getting no house or villa from me ;-)

[Jalapeñomel]

Oct 25, 2014 13:25:47 GMT -5 elle said:

Just for the baptism, I would probably assume $1k at a minimum for orthodox. We are orthodox, but my only godchild is catholic, so I am sort of smooshing together expectations. Part of the old world stuff is an expectation of extreme generosity, which is why I am saying $1k minimum. Also, while my parents failed to have me baptized as a child, so I don't have personal experience with a true godmother/godfather, my husband's baptismal cross from his godparents belonged to the tsar and is encrusted in rubies and gold and is appraised for tens of thousands of dollars, and his brothers have similar crosses; all have also gotten extremely generous gifts including houses and villas for major life occassions, so I do think that I the Orthodox Church its a financial commitment close to being a real parent.

LOL

[BunnyMacDougal]

Oct 25, 2014 13:03:54 GMT -5 stellas said:

As a Catholic godparent, I just buy a gift and show up.

Yes.  Catholic godparent.  Had nothing to do with the picking out of or buying of the gown or other accoutrements.   Gave a porcelain infant of prague, a silver cross necklace, and a check.  Boom, done.