Naming & Welcoming
Having or adopting a child is the most positive and life-affirming thing most of us ever do and joyous ceremonies to information children into the world are a hallmark of human civilisation. The traditional way to do this in the West has been to have a “christening”. But what if you or your partner aren’t religious and want your child to have the freedom to make up their own minds when they’re older? Then a humanist naming ceremony is the perfect answer!
As a celebrant my role is to work with you to help you shape the kind of ceremony you want in the venue of your choosing, be it the family back garden or the renaissance chapel of an Italian palace, which was where I led my first naming ceremony a few years ago.
I love naming ceremonies because they are such joyous occasions and I have lots of client reviews that bear this out. I also have a host of resources and ideas to make the ceremony and the party after, interesting and fun for children and adults alike, including poetry and readings and a menu of symbolic actions, such as a “wish tree”, to invest the ceremony with more drama and meaning.
Here’s a video of me reading a popular piece by Dr Suess –
Processes and Fees
Here’s how the process usually works:
- We have an initial chat.
- You pay me a deposit of £50 and I send you my Information Pack full of ideas to help you decide on the kind of ceremony you want.
- We have a planning meeting to design the ceremony and gather information.
- I write a script and coordinate contributions from other speakers like grandparents and mentors.
- We refine the script in consultation until you feel it is “just right”.
- I arrive an hour or so before the ceremony to help out and prepare.
- I lead the ceremony and give you a printed and a pdf copy of it and the naming certificate after as a keepsake.
Namings & Welcomings
Prices from £250
Included in My Fee
FAQs
What if I can’t afford your fee?
As a humanist celebrant I am committed to keeping my prices affordable. But if you are in difficult financial circumstances let me know and I’ll see what I can do to offer a fee reduction.
Do we have to be humanists to have a humanist naming ceremony?
Absolutely not. Let’s face it most of us are a bit ambiguous and even contradictory about what we believe, and a humanist ceremony is designed to be inclusive of everyone who attends and makes no presumptions about what a child will grow up to believe.
Can we nominate godparents?
Definitely, we humans have a long tradition of nominating elders or friends to take a special responsibility for the welfare and moral education of our children. The term “godparent” is a bit problematic though and they’re usually called “mentors” or “guideparents” in humanist namings, though you can choose whatever term takes your fancy. Someone recently suggested having an “Oh My God Mother” which I think sounds great.
Do you only do naming ceremonies for young children?
No, I’m happy to lead a naming for someone of any age. Sometimes people decide to have a naming ceremony when they are older to celebrate a change of name or gender as an act of self-affirmation, and these can be truly wonderful events.
How many people should we invite?
Well, as many as you like! Some namings involve large communities of family and friends in a biggish venue or outdoor space like a community hall or a pub, while others are much more intimate affairs involving just a few close family members in the back garden. It’s really a question of what feels “right” for you.
How long will the ceremony last?
Well, as long as it needs to! But typically around 20-30 minutes.