Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies
The welcoming of a new child to a family is such an important occasion and one that deserves celebrating. Naming ceremonies are celebratory events that hold no legal significance and are not a substitute for registering a birth. The mandatory legal requirement is to register the birth of a child, and results in a legally recognised birth certificate.
Once done, you can create a personal naming ceremony for the new addition to your family. This may include adopted family members, and members who were not religiously christened, but do wish to have their name recognised within their family unit and community.
There are no strict legal requirements or rules for a naming ceremony itself, so you can add your own personal touches, as you wish.
From heartfelt speeches to symbolic acts, the focus of a naming ceremony is on love, belonging and connection. Whether held at home, outdoors, or in a venue of your choice, it’s a celebration of life and the special bond you share with your loved ones.
What else can you do?
Every naming ceremony is personal, from the choosing of the name through to the love story that brought your child to you. You may wish to have a special memory of the day which can include:
- a rainbow sand ceremony
- a memory jar
- a tree planting that grows with your child
- a time capsule (with some key memory items from the day/year they were born, to be opened at a specific time/birthday?)
A naming and welcoming ceremony is a different choice to a traditional christening. It can happen at anytime and place, as long as we are not breaking the trespassing laws or breaching land access and usage regulations!
Naming ceremonies are not just for newborns. Children can be any age, and you may wish to name, rename or welcome a new addition to your blended family.
What happens?
The ceremony begins like many others by welcoming everyone who has gathered and explaining why we are there. We take the opportunity for parents to make promises to their child, tell your story, acknowledge those who are special and important in your family lives, and we talk about your hopes for your child and your family for the future.
If you've decided to have supporting adults (or god parents, or guide parents, you can decide what to call them), then we ask them to make a promise to the child too.
After welcoming them into your community, we name the child. You may wish to talk about the meaning and choices behind each name, which is the first gift a child is given. You can include readings, stories and songs and make it a real family affair.
A naming ceremony lasts about 30 minutes, but they can be longer or shorter, as you wish. I will arrive an hour early to set everything up and run through the final process with you.
It is your choice and I am here to help make a wonderful occasion for you and your family.
My Services
Rest assured that I am here for you. Please feel free to browse the link to 'Prices' below, which outlines my services and how I can support you on this joyous occasion.
