HELLO WORLD – THIS IS ME!

Naming Ceremonies are for people of all ages who wish to celebrate their own identity or those of their children.

The most common time to hold such a ceremony is when you want to welcome new additions to your family through birth, adoption, or blending of families.

They can also be used in situations where you have reached  a crossroads in your life where you see yourself changing direction and moving forward with a new name. Perhaps you identify with a gender different to the one you were assigned at birth and you would like to celebrate with an affirming ceremony.

Such a ceremony can give you a sense of empowerment and validation and gives you the opportunity to celebrate your true identity, a new direction, and all that is good in your life.

All naming ceremonies give you the opportunity to embrace your future with a positive outlook, with the support of the people who mean the most to you.

WELCOMING YOUR CHILD INTO THE WORLD

If you would like to celebrate your baby’s arrival with a special occasion but don’t want a religious ceremony, then a humanist naming is the answer. If the baby years passed in a hectic blur and you didn’t get a round to organising anything – don’t worry its not too late! Naming ceremonies are for children of all ages, and you can hold one ceremony to celebrate all your children at the same time.

Naming ceremonies help us to think about the support and guidance a child needs as they are growing up. As parents you can make commitments to your children and invite others to do the same

You are probably already familiar with the idea of choosing a close family friend or relative to take on the role of supporting your child, and guiding them through the moral maze of life. In humanist circles we tend to call them ‘Guideparents’, but ultimately it’s up to you what title you use.

A typical naming ceremony will have a welcome and introduction; a reading, poem or song or two; parental promises to your child/children; the appointment of ‘guideparents’, and perhaps a symbolic action such as planting a tree, signing a certificate or writing in a wish book. There is plenty of scope to draw on personal interests and characteristics in creative ways.

Together we will create an occasion which is memorable and meaningful to you and your family. It can be as formal or informal as you like, and take place pretty much anywhere – at home, in the park or a hired venue.

Fees & Booking

A naming ceremony for one child is £350, (plus £100 per additional child). 

Do get in touch using my contact details to the right of this screen (or scroll to the bottom if you are on a mobile phone). I can then answer your initial queries.

Once you decide to choose me as your Naming Celebrant I will ask for a £100 non-refundable deposit to secure the date and we will meet up and discuss what to include in your ceremony. I will then ask you to pay the remaining balance, following which I will draft the script and run it by you via email.

On the day of your ceremony I will arrive in good time and pitch in. Babies have a habit of disrupting schedules, and it’s not uncommon for me to arrive and get stuck into hanging up bunting  as the guests arrive!