Rhonda Hall - Celebrant, A Ceremony to Remember

Naming Ceremonies

A naming ceremony welcomes your new baby to your family, friends and community. The birth of a child is a proud moment for the mother and father and the extended family, the larger community of friends and neighbours all share the joy at the news.

The ceremony is an introduction to the new baby as well as showing the love, care and responsibility that parents, family and friends have for the new arrival.

Celebrate an older child

A naming ceremony is also ideally suited to celebrate an older child in the family, particularly if there has not been a celebration previously. It is a wonderful way to welcome and celebrate an adoptive child into the family or to embrace stepchildren into a new family.

The child or children can be any age. A naming ceremony is a unique occasion for everyone to feel involved as they pledge their love and support for your child's future development.

Adapted from an ancient Chinese blessing for children

A child's life is like a piece of paper
on which every passer-by leaves a mark.
What kind of mark will we each leave on this little one's life?

We are the people who will love him, the people who will watch him grow

We will contribute to his development to the person he will eventually
become.

We will leave our mark on him with our love, with our examples and with
our attitudes.

Both negative and positives send him into a future that, though we will never see, will carry our mark.

Order of Ceremony

Welcome and Introduction
Readings
Naming of the Baby/Child/Children
Appointment of supporting adults e.g. 'godparent'
Welcoming of Child to their community of family and friends
Closing words and Signing of naming register
Readings or music can also be incorporated into the ceremony.
Some Optional Inclusions
Parent promises or vows
'Godparent' personal qualities acknowledged
Grandparent's role acknowledged
Reasons for/meaning of the Name
Naming of a Star after your Child.
Lighting of Naming Candles/Planting of a tree
Presentation of gift to child

Ways to personalise your Naming Ceremony

Making your own personal parent vows or promises
Your thoughts on being parents to this wonderful baby/child
Include Grandparents in the ceremony
Announce the commitments to be undertaken by other supporting adults
Presentation of a special gift that has significance to your child
Having 'blessings' read out that each guest has written themselves

Your Unique Ceremony

Every Naming Ceremony conducted by me is unique and offers the flexibility to meet the individual needs and wishes of the family.

They are specially created using the family's own selection of words, readings, chosen rituals or traditions. There are many ways to make your child's Naming Ceremony a very personal, meaningful and unique event for everyone involved.