A naming ceremony is a special moment to welcome and celebrate a new life, embrace a rite of passage, or mark a new beginning. It is a celebration to welcome a person into your family and enables you to express love, care and commitment to them in front of your family and friends.
A naming ceremony is also an opportunity for parents, family and friends to make promises and publicly promise to help and support them as they grow within our community.
People of any age can have a ceremony. Naming ceremonies are available to celebrate the birth, and to welcome adopted and stepchildren into your family. They also provide an opportunity to celebrate new names for people who have changed their name, or people who have changed their gender and their name.
Where can the ceremony be held?
We offer naming ceremonies in all our registration ceremony rooms across the county and at our beautiful licensed venues. If you wish to hold your naming ceremony elsewhere, please contact us.
What happens in the ceremony?
You can personalise many aspects of your ceremony. Each child and their family is different, which is why we invite you to personalise your ceremony to include all those things that are important to you, ensuring your ceremony is both meaningful and memorable. You can choose your own music, include readings and your own words to the ceremony.
Here is a rundown of what you can expect from your naming ceremony:
- introduction and welcome
- naming of the child or children
- parents promises
- supporting adults or mentors promises
- grandparents’ promises (optional)
- readings and music
- presentation of gift (optional)
- presentation of certificate
- closing words
Each ceremony includes a commemorative certificate.
How much will the ceremony cost?
The fee will vary depending on your chosen date and venue.
Registration offices
| Availibility | 2024 to 2025 | 2025 to 2026 | 2026 to 2027 |
| Monday to Thursday | £199 | £219 | £229 |
| Friday and Saturday morning | £249 | £269 | £279 |
| Saturday afternoon | £299 | £319 | £329 |
External venue
| Availibility | 2024 to 2025 | 2025 to 2026 | 2026 to 2027 |
| Monday to Thursday | £349 | £369 | £379 |
| Friday or Saturday | £399 | £419 | £429 |
How to book
A naming ceremony can be booked up to six months in advance.
To book your naming ceremony, please complete the booking enquiry form. We offer a personal service and a member of our ceremonies team will get in touch to talk to you through your booking.
About your ceremony
Our staff will ensure that you know what will happen on your ceremony day. If you would like to discuss your ceremony with us before the day, please contact the ceremonies team who will be happy to discuss your ceremony with you.
Planning your ceremony
You will be asked to complete a ‘ceremony plan’ prior to the day of your ceremony. We will contact you with details of how and when to do this around 3 months before your ceremony.
No religious content is allowed in this ceremony, that includes your music choices and readings.
Choices and options
There are many ways you can customise your naming ceremony.
- music - you are free to include music at the start and close of your ceremony.
- grandparent, guiding adults or mentors - you may like to choose grandparents, guiding adults to give their pledge to support and help your children throughout their life
- presentation of a gift - you may wish to a meaningful gift during the ceremony. Or perhaps you might like to present the guiding adults with a small token gift, to mark the occasion.
- personal message, readings and poems - many families opt to include promises to their child. It’s not essential, and some prefer to including a reading instead. You are welcome to add up to two non-religious readings to your ceremony. This could be an extract from a book, quote or song lyric, or poem written especially for the day.
- promises - during the ceremony, parents will be asked to declare their love and commitment to their children and share their hopes for their future. Grandparents and guiding adults are also welcome to make promises should they wish.
Ceremony start time
The time booked for the ceremony is the time it will commence. We appreciate that unforeseen circumstances can delay your arrival however, we must ask you to ensure that you and your guests arrive in plenty of time and are ready for your ceremony to start on time.
Your celebrant registrar
You will be well looked after on the day. Our registrars are friendly and professional and take pride in the ceremonies they deliver. Their aim is to provide you with a ceremony that is both meaningful and memorable for you, your children and your guests.
Photos, videos and social media
It is important to capture those special moments and we are happy for photos and videos to be taken throughout your ceremony. If you have an official photographer and would prefer the photo taking be left to them let your registrar know during your pre-ceremony interview, and they will make your guests aware at the start of your ceremony.
Certificates
Your ceremony will conclude with the presentation of a commemorative certificate, which you and guiding adults can sign.
The ceremony script
Your ceremony will follow a simple structure, but we are happy to change this if you would rather have something more bespoke.
Naming ceremony - young person sample script
Naming ceremony - adult sample script
We have carefully created options for your ceremony. Please feel free to provide any additions or amendments you would like to the script. We are happy to discuss these with you to make your day extra special.