A New and Special Celebration for Everyone
A Naming ceremony is a very special way of celebrating the birth of your child
and welcoming the new arrival into the family and the wider community.
It is
also an opportunity to declare, before family and friends, your promise to be
as good a parent as you can, and for adult friends or relatives to confirm
their special relationship with your child.
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.
What happens at a Naming Ceremony?
All Naming ceremonies have six
essential sections:
Introduction and welcome
Reading
Naming of the child or children
Parent's promises
Promises by supporting adults and closing words
There are many ways of ensuring that your child's ceremony is a unique and
personal event.
Some of the additional choices you may wish to consider include:
Reasons for the names
Hopes for the child's future
Parent's vows to each other
Grandparent's promises
Absent guests
Additional readings
Presentation of a gift to the child
Who will conduct the Ceremony?
A fully trained professional
Celebrant will carry out the ceremony in accordance with the choices you make.
How long does the Ceremony last?
A Ceremony usually takes about 15
minutes but can be up to 30 minutes if more readings and options are included.
Is there a certificate?
During the ceremony a souvenir record of the
Ceremony is signed by parents, supporting adults and the celebrant.
Is the Naming Ceremony just for babies?
A Naming Ceremony can be
arranged for children of any age.
Can other Children be included at the same ceremony?
Older Children
can be included in the ceremony at the same time as naming a new additional
family member including adopted family members.
Can other family members have their children named at the same
ceremony?
Only children that belong to the same family unit can be
included in a specific Naming Ceremony.
Other family or friends can hold a
ceremony created just for them at the same venue on the same day but not at the
same time.
Can a Naming Ceremony be held at the same time as a civil marriage
ceremony?
It is possible for a naming ceremony to follow a civil marriage
ceremony but not to be incorporated into the marriage ceremony.
If this is your
wish you must ensure that you inform the Registrar who is conducting your
marriage and the celebrant who will conduct the Naming Ceremony of your request
to ensure that the necessary arrangements can be made.
Where can Naming Ceremonies be held?
In County Durham there are a
T
number of approved premises
where ceremonies can be held.
In
addition ceremonies can be held at Register Office premises situated at Barnard
Castle, Bishop Auckland, Durham City, Peterlee and Stanley.
On a National Basis there is a website listing all the
Local Authorities who offer Naming
Ceremonies
.
Who can arrange a Naming ceremony?
Any parent can make the
arrangements or anyone else who has parental responsibility or Legal
Guardianship of the child.
Parents can be either married or unmarried.
Do Naming Ceremonies have legal status?
Naming Ceremonies have no
legal status.
They are of a celebratory nature that parents may choose to
arrange as a public gesture of the love and commitment they have to their child.
Unlike a Birth Certificate, which is a mandatory legal document, the record of
the ceremony cannot be used as proof of identification.
Neither is the ceremony
legally binding on those who take part in it.
Do Naming Ceremonies have a religious content?
Naming Ceremonies are
entirely of a non religious nature.
Who should I contact to arrange a Naming Ceremony and how much do they
cost?
Think about the
promises you wish to make to your child.
try to choose promises that have a
special meaning for you and ask your supporting adults to do the same
Choose your supporting adults with care.
Ideally they should be people who your
child will see regularly and have a good and ;positive influence in their life.
Being asked to be a supporting adult is an honour, but it is also a role that
carries responsibilities, so choose the people you ask with care and talk to
them about the promises they feel able to make.
Ask grandparents if they would like to be involved.
They are likely to be
important people in your child's future.
Remember....absent family and friends
and mention them in your Ceremony.
Give a special gift to your child during the ceremony.
It doesn't have to be
expensive, but choose something long lasting that they can keep and treasure in
years to come.
Make the ceremony suit your needs and feelings.
You can , for example read the
promises aloud as a statement or answer them as questions.
Try to make the
occasion unique to you and your child through the promises and readings you
choose, this is one of the greatest pleasures of a Naming Ceremony.
Talk with
family and friends about what to include, and also ask the celebrant who'll
also be happy to offer you their help and advice