My wedding dress was only $500 so no way would I pay well over $800 for a christeneing gown, JMO though,

it is hard isnt it as its the same kind of thing as with a wedding if you say wedding the cost goes up same with christening gown I guess, there are some lovely ones that are deffinately worth their money but some I looked at were very plain but still well over $200 I couldnt see why TBH but again thats just my opinion, but I am lucky that I have one that is in our family, its such a pitty about the ones you mentioned that are in your family's