Naming Ceremony

[Ryansmum]

Hi All, I'm thinking of holding a Naming Ceremony at my son's 1st birthday. Firstly, can anyone suggest any good web-sites/books etc with all the requirements for a naming ceremony - I've never been to one so I'm not sure exactly what's involved or what we need to prepare?? I've had a look thru the Bubhub directory but can't see anything.

Secondly, do ya'll think it's ok to combine the 2 on the same day?? My thinking is that it would make the birthday party extra special. Has anyone done the same thing??

Thanks everyone, looking forward to your comments.

[jacobsmummy]

Hello,

I had my sons first birthday and naming day a few weeks ago on the same day. We had the ceremony first in a location that was special to us, than we all went back to our house for lunch and the party. I have a copy of my sons ceremony if you want to have a read of it. The day went really well and it did make it that extra little bit.
Cheers Mel:)

[hayleylea]

Ive got some stuff on naming days i can send through to you if you want? just pm me with your email.

If you take a look on my website (below) and in stories the naming day ceremony i had for my little boy is on there too

[StrawberryTheMilkshake]

Does it matter if im a single mum? Can i still do it?

[PSorbello]

Hi everyone

I am a mum to Nicholas (8.5 months) and also a naming celebrant. In response to some of the questions people have asked:

* It doesn't matter how old or young a child is - the ceremony should be tailored around their age and the wishes of the parent/s
* It doesn't matter if you are a single parent, unmarried or otherwise - this shouldn't even be taken into consideration by the celebrant
* Most children have a naming ceremony around their first birthday - but anytime is suitable as it is a celebration of the child so timing doesn't matter. I recently conducted a ceremony for a three year old!
* $500 is way too much for a naming ceremony. When looking for a celebrant make sure you can meet them before the day, ensure you connect with them, ensure they will develop a ceremony EXACTLY as you wish and that they don't book you in between weddings. A Naming Ceremony may not be a legal ceremony but it is still a VERY important occasion and should be treated accordingly.
* An honest celebrant should charge the same for two as it isn't any extra work for them if it is the same day, time and place.
*The basic naming ceremony structure is:
1. Welcome and introduction
2. Reading
3. Symbolic Gesture (refer to Ideas to Consider in the planning booklet)
4. Acknowledgement of the Parents
5. Acknowledgement of the Grandparents
6. Acknowledgement of the Godparents (also referred to as Life Friends, Supporters or Mentors – the intention is the same)
7. Reading
8. Naming of the child
9. Signing and presentation of certificates
10. Final declaration and presentation of child

A couple of sites to help you with choosing a celebrant:
www.celebrante.com.au (you can search by region etc)
http://www.brisbaneschild.com.au/ (some local celebrants advertise there)
http://www.qldcelebrantsonline.com.au/

With regards to poems etc - you should be able to get an extensive selection from your celebrant - if not do a google search for scrapbook poems etc and you will find a heap. Some celebrants also put them on websites...

I hope this information is helpful. If anyone has any other questions I am happy to answer them at pdns@bigpond.net.au - please note I have replied to this thread as a mum - not as a celebrant!
Hope the day is everything you hope for
Penny

[hayleylea]

:wave:
Hi

I know that you can do a baby naming ceremony yourself but doing it with a Civil Celebrants is so much more special

Some charge up to $500 but many charge half that, come to your home and give a certificate to parents, grand parents, greats if alive and god parents.

They might(?) even charge the same for two

But I would be careful of using another person's ceremony due to copyright:D :detective:

A good friend of ours did the ceremony for our DS and i thought it was more special that way. Each to their own I guess. A celebrant actually gave me a copy of a ceremony knowing she wasnt going to do it and i just changed it for my needs. I dont think there would be copyright on most of the ceremonies as you will find that most celebrants have the same ceremony when it comes to readings etc etc. I actually did the whole ceremony myself with bits and peices from things i had gathered. I also made all the certificates stating where the ceremony took place which the granperants god parents, Our friend who did the cermony and of course us signed. I also made seperate certificates for the god perants so it was all documented the same way as it would have been with a celebrant. I must admit it was a bit of work but it was well worth it.

Celebrant or friend. Its your day and what you make of it for your little one and im sure it will be very special either way :) Im not against celebrants at all. They do a great job its just not the way we choose to go.

Goodluck

[PSorbello]

Hi Guys

I agree that friends can also do naming ceremonies but you do need to be careful of coyright. It's not hard though - As long as you credit the works of the person who's poem or ceremony you are using then you can't go wrong and shouldn't breach copyright. There are may celebrants who do use 'templates' of the same ceremonies - but not all. That is the key difference between a good and average celebrant.

Naming ceremonies are not legal ceremonies so they can be conducted by anyone you wish to any format you wish. The main thing is to make it the day you want it to be so you create the memories you want!

Penny
:wave:

[Debby White]

A great website is www.babynamings.com.au - Lesley can email you a sample ceremony