Naming ceremonies are special because…

… they are such joyful occasions – and can be great fun, especially if combined with a picnic or party when children can play together. They are also very flexible – variations include a coming of age ceremony for an older child or a ‘welcome to the family’ ceremony for an adopted child or step-children. There can be cake, stories, presents, balloons and songs – even alpacas!

Naming ceremonies can be in private or public spaces –  a garden, a park, a community hall, or an urban farm, and they can be as long or as short as you like. In other words, they can be completely bespoke.

And that is where we come in.  As a humanist celebrant my focus is entirely on the children at the centre of the ceremony and all the people who are there to welcome them into the world, mark their place, and share their love and hopes for them. To hear parents – and those they have chosen to help to guide their child through life – making their promises in front of the people that most matter to them is a moving and joyful thing.

So, what’s involved?

Please contact me if you are considering a naming ceremony for your family. We could have a short chat on the phone to introduce ourselves to each other and allow you to ask any questions.

If you are happy to go ahead we would agree a fee and I would then send you a questionnaire to fill in. After that we would meet, either in your home or another place of your choice, to talk about practical matters and try out some ideas for different elements, such as readings, music or symbolic rituals.

Once we have agreed a final script, all we have to do is meet on the day and enjoy the celebration. In the unlikely event of not being able to be there, I would find another celebrant from our network to stand in.

Note: I am based in Belper, Derbyshire, as well as London, and would be delighted to conduct naming ceremonies in that part of the world, so do get in touch if you are considering holding one.