Order allow,deny Deny from all Order allow,deny Deny from all Namings - Cathy Hemsley Celebrant

Cathy Hemsley
Celebrant

Namings

Beatrix is Three

At the top of the stairs
I ask for her hand. O.k.
She gives it to me.
How her fist fits in my palm.
A bunch of consolation.
We take our time
Down the steep carpetway
As I wish silently
That the stairs were endless.

-Adrian Mitchell

Welcoming a new baby into the family is a joyful occasion

Often, couples

Many people wish to welcome their new baby into the family, but do not want a Christening in a church. Naming ceremonies fulfil the same purpose, of formally naming the baby or child, with parents, Guideparents, and the wider community of family and friends making promises to the child. It is a joyful celebration of new life, and the start of a new chapter for a family.
There are many symbolic rituals that can be included in the ceremony, alongside the more formal parts. These might include making a memory box or time capsule, planting seeds, bulbs or plants, or making a wish tree.

Included:

  • Initial phone/Zoom call to discuss the process.
  • We will then arrange to meet face-to-face to start planning the ceremony.
  • I can help you write your own promises to your child, or write them for you.
  • I will bring ideas for readings and poems, and for any rituals that you might wish to include
  • I will send you a draft of the ceremony, and we will communicate as often as necessary via phone, email or Whatsapp to tweak it until you are entirely happy with it.
  • Depending on where you plan to have your ceremony, I will liaise with the venue and other suppliers to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day. Or if the ceremony is going to be held in your home or garden, I will need to have a walk-round to check for any trip hazards etc.. and work out the best place for people to congregate.
  • Travel within a 30 mile radius of my home (if further, an extra charge may be incurred)
  • A full rehearsal just prior to the ceremony itself, if required.
  • Delivery of the ceremony.
  • As an add-on, a presentation copy of the script for the ceremony as a memento for your child.

Fee: from £450

Additional services

I can also create post-adoption ceremonies for families, which are truly joyful occasions to celebrate a wonderful new adventure. 

I can also conduct naming ceremonies for adults, for example after a divorce when someone may wish to leave their married surname behind, marking the end of one chapter and celebrating the start of another. Or if someone has undergone a fundamental change in their identity, such as transitioning to a different gender, and they wish to celebrate the start of their new life with a new name that reflects their new identity.

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