NAMING AND FAMILY CEREMONIES
Celebrating new beginnings and growing families
Some of life's sweetest moments deserve to be marked with joy, intention, and the people you love gathered around you. Whether you're welcoming a new baby, celebrating an adoption, bringing blended families together, or marking a change of name or identity, a naming ceremony gives you the chance to create a meaningful celebration that's completely yours.
As an independent celebrant, I'll help you design a ceremony that reflects your values, includes the people who matter most, and creates memories you'll treasure as your family grows.
Why have a naming ceremony?
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Celebrate without religious constraints
Naming ceremonies are the perfect alternative to traditional christenings for families who don't follow a particular religion or who want something more personal and flexible. You can include spiritual elements if you wish, but there's no requirement—just meaning, love, and celebration.
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Mark important milestones
Ceremonies aren't just for babies! We can celebrate adoptions, welcome stepchildren into blended families, mark a young person's coming of age, honour someone's chosen name after transition or coming out, or celebrate taking back a previous name after divorce. Any milestone that matters to your family deserves recognition.
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Involve your community
Naming ceremonies often include the appointment of guideparents (similar to godparents but without religious connotations)—special people in your child's life who promise to support, guide, and love them as they grow. It's a beautiful way to strengthen your community bonds.
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Create your own traditions
From planting trees to lighting candles, from reading favourite stories to sharing hopes and wishes, we can incorporate rituals and symbolic moments that are meaningful to your family and that you'll repeat in years to come.
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Completely flexible
Hold your ceremony in your garden, at a favourite park, in a village hall, at a family home, or at a beautiful venue. Invite five people or fifty. Structure it formally or keep it relaxed and casual. It's entirely up to you.
Who are these ceremonies for?
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New babies
Welcome your little one into the world with a joyful gathering of family and friends, where you can share your hopes for them, appoint guideparents, and celebrate this extraordinary new chapter.
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Adopted children
Mark the legal and emotional significance of adoption with a ceremony that celebrates your child joining your family, honours their story, and recognizes the journey that brought you together.
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Blended families
When two families come together, a family blending ceremony can acknowledge the changes, celebrate new relationships, and help children feel seen and valued in the new family structure.
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Name changes
Whether you're reclaiming your birth name, taking a new name after transition, choosing a name that better reflects who you are, or celebrating a cultural naming tradition, a ceremony can mark this important moment of identity.
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Older children
It's never too late! If you didn't have a naming ceremony when your child was born but would love to have one now, we can create something age-appropriate and meaningful for toddlers, school-age children, or even teens.
What's included in your ceremony package
I offer three naming packages designed to suit different styles of celebration:
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Naming & Adoption Ceremonies - £280
A complete naming ceremony including an initial consultation where I'll learn about your family and vision, a bespoke ceremony script that tells your story, coordination of any guideparents or family members taking part, delivery of the ceremony with warmth and joy, and certificates for guideparents if you'd like them.
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Family Blending Ceremony - £280
A thoughtful ceremony that acknowledges the changes in your family, celebrates the relationships forming, and helps everyone—especially children—feel valued and included. We'll work together to create something that honours where you've been and looks forward to where you're going together.
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Pet Naming & Memorial - £150
For families where pets are beloved members, I offer gentle pet memorial ceremonies to say goodbye when the time comes. Pet naming ceremonies are also available if you'd like to welcome a new furry friend with intention and joy!
All packages include unlimited email support leading up to your ceremony, a beautifully written script, and my presence on the day to make everything run smoothly.
Creating your naming ceremony
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Initial conversation
We'll meet for a chat (in person, by video, or phone) to discuss your vision. What kind of ceremony do you imagine? Who's important to include? What values do you want to express? This is your chance to share ideas and ask questions.
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Planning together
I'll send you a questionnaire to help capture the details—your child's story, what they mean to you, your hopes for their future, information about guideparents, and ideas for symbolic rituals. We'll work together to shape a ceremony that feels exactly right for your family.
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The ceremony day
I'll arrive ready to welcome your guests, coordinate any participants, and deliver a warm, joyful ceremony that celebrates your family. My style is relaxed but professional—creating an atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable while still holding the significance of the moment.
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Keepsake memories
You'll receive a copy of the ceremony script and any certificates we've created, giving you a lasting reminder of this special day.
Beautiful elements to include
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Guideparents
Choose special people in your child's life—friends, family members, or mentors—who'll promise to support and guide them as they grow. We'll include a guideparent promise during the ceremony, and they can receive certificates afterwards.
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Tree or plant planting
Plant a tree or special plant that will grow alongside your child—a living reminder of this day and a beautiful way to mark time passing.
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Promises and hopes
Share your promises to your child, or invite family members to offer their hopes and wishes for the future.
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Candle lighting
Light a special candle together, or invite guideparents to light candles representing their commitment.
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Water ceremony
Collect water from meaningful places (where you grew up, where you met, where you live now) and blend them together, symbolising different streams coming together in your child's life.
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Time capsule
Invite guests to write messages to your child to be opened on a future birthday—a beautiful way to capture this moment in time.
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Story or reading
Include a favourite children's book, a meaningful poem, or words that express your values and hopes.
Where we'll celebrate
I work throughout South East Wales, including Monmouthshire, Torfaen, Newport, Blaenau Gwent, Vale of Glamorgan, Powys, and surrounding areas. Your ceremony can happen anywhere that's meaningful to you:
- Your home or garden
- Family member's property
- Local parks and outdoor spaces
- Community halls
- Beautiful venues
- Meaningful locations
Let's celebrate your family
Whether you're welcoming a tiny new baby, celebrating the moment your adopted child became legally yours, bringing two families together with love and intention, or marking any other important transition in your family's story, I'd be honoured to help you create a ceremony that celebrates who you are.
Every family is unique. Your ceremony should be too.