Hilary Channing Wedding Celebrant

Hilary Channing Wedding Celebrant

Naming Ceremonies

What better way to welcome your new addition to the family than a naming ceremony.  If a traditional christening or religious ceremony is not of your choosing then this provides an alternative opportunity to welcome your child into the world and formally introduce them to your family and friends.

Together we can craft your ceremony that reflects your choice of the special people who will be involved in your child’s upbringing, as well as including other children from previous or current relationships in the event.

These are naturally inspiring and joyful occasions.  A naming ceremony can include the commitments your family and friends are making to your child, their promises to love and guide your child as well as readings and symbolic gestures that will welcome your child into the family and create memories treasured for a lifetime.  Simple ideas such as creating a Wishes Book, lighting candles or planting a rose can all add to the occasion.

With the venue chosen by you and the ceremony created in advance, you, your friends and family can relax and enjoy the perfect naming ceremony.

Creating your Naming Ceremony.

What’s included?

I always start with meeting you and your family normally in your home environment so that I can build a relationship of trust and recognition with your child/children.  Together, we then start to build a picture of your perfect naming ceremony. Most families are looking for ideas and inspiration to make their ceremony informal but personal.

I send out a short questionnaire in advance of our meeting that helps you to think about who you would like involved in the ceremony and what role they will play and helps me to understand the family tree.   We can include grandparents, great grandparents, god parents, guideparents or supporting adults – there is no prescriptive format to be adhered to.

There are also many different symbolic rituals that celebrate a naming ceremony such as candles, sand ceremony, tree ceremony and well anything you can think of…and if siblings wish to be involved there are lots of ideas for them too.  If you wish I can also provide a high quality commemorative naming day certificate.

Once we have created the ceremony plan, I then write it up into a script for your approval, adding in readings I recommend, or you have selected or indeed if your guideparents wish to read their own words or poems that can incorporated.  Once you have approved the final script I print and laminate all the readings so that everything is beautifully presented.

On the day, I always arrive early and check everything is in place as agreed. If it’s an outside ceremony, I come fully equipped with a microphone and mobile amp so that your guests can all hear, and you are welcome to use my amp for your ceremony music.

Once I have delivered your ceremony, I leave you with a keepsake box containing a commemorative copy of your script, your laminated copies of your readings and anything else that we have created on the day.