Naming

Naming ceremonies in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. Photo:Jessica Rockowitz

Celebrating the arrival of a new person into your life is a wonderful occasion. Whilst a naming ceremony is often held for babies, it can also be held for older children, the arrival of adopted children, marking the blending of two families, or for trans or non binary people to celebrate their chosen name.

Whatever you are celebrating, it is my absolute pleasure to create a personal ceremony which reflects who you are and how your life is changing. A naming ceremony can take place wherever you like – it could be in your back garden, a village hall or on the beach. If you wish, it can include elements such as singing or symbolic acts (for example, lighting a candle or creating a box of wishes).

You may wish to choose people to act as your child’s other supporting adults – in a religious ceremony they would often be called godparents. Some couples choose to keep this title, although others have called these special people guideparents, mentors, or even fairy godparents.

The wonderful thing about a humanist ceremony is that you choose what you want to happen. I am here to give guidance, support and suggestions if you want them, and then write and deliver a ceremony for you which matches your every wish.

I am a former Early Years teacher and a granny. I adore children, and always loved that my job gave me the opportunity to have fun with little people every day. I know that life with small children does not always run exactly to plan and have a wealth of experience of changing things at the last minute to accommodate their needs if necessary. This means that I can plan and conduct your ceremony calmly and warmly whilst being prepared for just about any unexpected events if they happen.

Here’s how it works –

• It’s a good idea to have a no obligation chat or brief face to face meeting first, to help you decide if you would like me to be your celebrant.
• Once you have confirmed that you would like me to conduct your ceremony, we then have a meeting so that I can get to know you and your family.
• Following this meeting, I write a draft script for you based on what you have said, which we then pass backwards and forwards between us for editing until you are completely happy with a final version.
• On your ceremony day, I will conduct the ceremony in a warm and professional way and ensure that all goes according to plan.
• Finally, within two weeks of that, I will send you a presentation copy of your ceremony to keep.

Rest assured that I will stay in touch throughout this whole process, we will be planning and preparing together to ensure that everything goes exactly as you want it to.

My fee is £300. Once you have confirmed that you would like me to be your celebrant I will ask for a non refundable deposit of £100. The final balance of £200 will be due 10 days before the naming ceremony.

Janet Glaze. Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire naming celebrant. Photo: photographybylouisajane

‘Your ceremony was so caring and warm’

‘I loved all the fun and personal elements you put into the ceremony.’

‘Thank you so much for such a fantastic day. We’re so glad we found you, and everyone was so, so, so complimentary of you and the ceremony. We really can’t thank you enough for helping us to make such special memories.’