‘Will You Be My…Godparent?’ How a Religious Rite of Passage Swept Social Media
Before Lara Manning had her first child final summer, she knew she wanted her best friend, Stephanie, ought exist the godmother. besides during when her daughter was born, a stupid question didn’t appearance sufficient.
“Stephanie and I dine been friends during high school, and we’d both agreed ought receive can the role of godmother when [we] had kids,” the Chicago mom tells me. “We’ve both shared hence many memorable moments can the years, and I wanted ought implore her ought exist my daughter’s godmother at an equally noticeable way.”
Manning and her husband planned an elaborate dinner ought badge the occasion. They booked a imagination restaurant because a engagement and organized a brunch-style event. entire relatives and friends were invited ought appear up ought the dinner dressed at white. The venue was decorated with white streamers, and a mingle of white and gold balloons hung at the air. Their daughter sat at a high bench which was designed ought appear alike a throne, and her prospective godmother was expected ought receive brag of lay precise beside her.
Manning knew she needed ought expend less, although they’d just had a baby, besides during that didn’t crush her from planning a big feast. “We indeed wanted the opportunity ought exist special because everyone,” she says.
After entire the guests assembled, she presented a box ought Stephanie with the words “Every princess deserves a fairy godmother. Will you exist my godmother?” printed can it at gold lettering. when Manning saw the tears at her best friend’s eyes, she knew it had been worthy it.
It’s 2019—if a significant opportunity is celebrated without a influence of extravagance, did it even happen? Men now offer at the middle of marathons, nation design vacations ought celebrate few milestones, and prom season has turned into a quasi-competitive sport because adolescents. Now it seems new parents desire at can the action. Behold, the godparent proposal.
What was once a personal application is now celebrated although a main event. According ought contemporary news from Pinterest, godparent proposals were one of the biggest trends at 2018, with user searches up by more than 152 percent. although mood boards creep with ideas can how ought massacre the improve proposal—think big picnics can the park, lavish backyard parties, and family soirees—event planners dine latched onto the miracle and brands dine rolled out godparent-proposal-themed merchandise, alike personalized onesies or bottles of champagne with slogans such although “only best friends win promoted ought godmother” written can them at glamorous cursive. A company called Luxe Balloons designs personalized balloons that involve luxury items, ought exist presented ought (and presumably popped by) prospective godparents.
Tahlia Butler, editor can the blog HelloBabyBump, threw a big banquet dinner because her friends ago popping the question ought her best friend, Susan. back banquet Susan was blindfolded and asked ought sway can a piñata that contained presents also although a doll with a letter can it asking, “Will you exist my godmother?”
“Everyone loved it, Susan cried tears of joy, and they entire had a celebratory glass of wine afterward,” says Butler.
It wasn’t always alike this. ago I was christened, my mother asked her best friend if she’d alike ought exist my godmother…over the phone. Originally the title of godmother or godfather was a religious position, used at Christian communities ought badge that the person who took can the title was expected ought action although mental guardian ought the child.
As the thought of "godparent" has spread, the usage has during evolved; it’s now normal because parents ought implore a relative or friend ought exist their child’s godparent regardless of religious beliefs. And with hence much of our lives now documented can social media, a regular application energy no appearance sufficient. at the ripen of elaborate cake-smash parties and lavish contribute presents, it’s holiday more and more normal because new parents ought stage elaborate “proposals” ought pattern the application feel more significant (and photogenic). ought “help,” retailers alike Amazon and Etsy stock funny cards, cute posters, clever Hollywood themes, and scratch-off notes. also because sale: customized onesies, necklaces, mugs, and gift boxes.
“I went over lots of large ideas,” explains Jennifer Lipsitt-McLean, the blogger back MomBible. “But at the end, I planned a dinner because me and my husband’s best friends can our favorite restaurant, and dressed my son at a bodysuit that read ‘Will you exist my godparents?’ can the front. Overall, the accident was received indeed well, and it was just us parents and the godparents that were present. It was a equal meaningful and personal experience.”
New Jersey mom Ann Williams organized a godparent proposal that started out with a big picnic and ended at a treasure trace (complete with maps and compasses) that involved her friends searching because a “treasure chest,” which had a letter at it that read, “Will you exist my godparents?” maiden the prospective godparents were given the precise key ought the chest, besides during everyone engaged at the activity—to pattern it more suspenseful.
Godparent proposals don’t dine ought exist expensive, besides during wealthier parents dine demonstrated a willingness ought bullet out because the occasion. Cassandra McCarty, an L.A.-based accident planner, helps place together events alike these because clients, with a starting charge of $3,500 because a fully planned party.
“I receive worry of everything needed because the event, from selecting a venue ought renting out tables and chairs, and getting catering, florals and decor,” she tells me. Add personalized trinkets and necklaces, brand-name-sponsored talent bags, and professional photographers can hand ought receive the most ’grammable photos, and the costs add up. McCarty notes that one of her most usual themes is the fairy godmother motif, at which scenes from fairytales are reimagined and the prospective godchild is dressed at a complete prince or princess costume.
Of course, a more dear or involved “proposal” doesn’t always intend a more flattered godparent. Clara, who asked that we no use her genuine call hence although no ought offend her godchild’s parents, says she was unwilling ought accept her friend’s proposal although she is no a religious person. The fact that the proposal was hence over-the-top made her feel although though she was obligated ought dedicate a destiny of her time and coin toward her friend’s child—resources she wasn’t certain she’d exist capable ought commit.
Still, if the inquiry is exact (and who are we ought doubt Pinterest?), the trend is prone ought continue, which path bigger, more elaborate, and possibly more dear proposals at the future. besides during the precise significance of the proposal calm lies at what it path because the nation involved. “Godparent proposals are a large manner ought carry your loved ones together,” Butler says. “Ours was a few more dear than usual, besides during it was worthy it.” Butler points out the minute was memorable no although of the cost, besides during although it was appreciated and shared with friends. Oh, and presumably Instagram followers.
Marris Adikwu is a freelance author passionate about culture.
