A baby naming ceremony is the perfect way of celebrating your new child coming into your life, whether it’s through adoption, birth or marriage. Organising such a personal ceremony can be daunting but don’t worry I have put together a few tips to help you create a memorable and unique baby naming ceremony!
What Will A Naming Ceremony Include?
With a Civil Celebrant, a naming ceremony can be entirely customisable, so it is up to you what your ceremony includes. Usually, parents choose to make a commitment to the child, however this can also be done by siblings, Guide Parents and other supporting adults. Promises like this can also be made in the form of a statement or posed as a question by the Civil Celebrant. E.g.: do you promise to protect and guide this child throughout its life?
If you are looking for inspiration this is something that can be discussed with your Civil Celebrant.
What Are Guide Parents?
Guide Parents are the equivalent of Godparents within a religious ceremony. They are chosen by the parents to protect and guide the child throughout their lives. Unlike with traditional Christening there are no restrictions on how many you can have or the gender of the Guide Parents.
Will The Naming Ceremony Include Readings?
Using a Civil Celebrant means you can personalise your ceremony, so the choice of readings is entirely yours. Some people choose to narrate passages from their favourite book or sing songs such as John Lennon’s ‘Beautiful Boy’. Others read poems and or say a prayer. You can even write your own words to say at the ceremony.
Where Can It Be Held?
The beauty of using a Civil Celebrant is that your baby naming ceremony can be held anywhere. Some people choose locations that hold a personal meaning for them whilst others consider choices such as village halls, hotels or even gardens. These areas can be decorated with flowers, balloons, bunting or whatever you choose to make this ceremony as unique as your family.
If you are considering an outdoor ceremony, it is wise to select a backup space for your baby naming ceremony due to weather conditions. It is also worth ensuring that there is seating available for guests such as the elderly or pregnant women to ensure that they are comfortable.
Who Should We Invite?
This is entirely your decision. Some people choose to host a small intimate ceremony with only the immediate family involved, others choose to have a party and invite all of their friends and family. It is important to be aware of any restrictions set by the location as this may impact your guest list.
A Little Inspiration
Parents usually choose to make symbolic gestures during a naming ceremony to showcase the unity of the family. This can be done by lighting candles, planting rose bushes, passing around wish stones or even putting together a time capsule for the child for when they reach a certain age. The choice is all yours.
If you are considering holding a baby naming ceremony for your little one, contact me on 0778 986 6589