Welcome to
Naming Ceremonies
Congratulations!
Being a parent is the most important & magical gift we could possibly ask for isn't it!
Our world is transformed completely and utterly, in the best possible way.
What better way to celebrate this than with a Naming Ceremony!
It’s time to mark the most wonderful time in your life, in the most personal, memorable and heartfelt way!
I'm Harmony, an Independent Celebrant based in Teesside, North East England, providing professional, custom-made Naming Ceremonies, designed especially for you and your family.
I honestly couldn’t be more passionate about Namings, they are such a beautiful way to celebrate just how much your little one means to you! With a natural flair for storytelling and a deep appreciation for love and family, I create vibrant, heartfelt and personal Ceremonies, keeping both you and your guests captivated throughout. I work closely with you to craft a ceremony that celebrates your little one in a way that's just perfect for you — personal, touching and completely authentic. Whether you're welcoming a new baby, celebrating an adoption, or blending families, your ceremony will reflect your values, your hopes and the deep love that surrounds your child.
I absolutely LOVE what I do, and I feel incredibly honoured to be able to help families mark such meaningful milestones with stunning, sincere and moving celebrations.
Feel free to get in touch with any queries and to get your date booked in.
It’s the 21st Century – we’re not all religious, so christenings and the like aren’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean your little one needs to miss out on a celebration all about them! Many people are opting for much more modern and personalised, Naming Ceremonies now. These are really special occasions designed to celebrate the life of your child, in way that's free from any religious restrictions. They’re suitable for babies, toddlers, older children, adopted children and stepchildren, providing the perfect opportunity to declare your unconditional love for your child, share your precious hopes and dreams for their future and make wholehearted promises to them. You guests will share in your most treasured stories and you will officially announce your child's name.
What better way to welcome your child into the family, than gathering all your nearest and dearest from far and wide, to celebrate in a deeply personal and meaningful way, making beautiful memories to cherish forever!
I tailor each ceremony from top to toe, designed entirely for each individual family! You will have complete freedom over everything; from the content, structure and style, to the venue and dress code. It can be as formal or informal as you like! The day is yours! What’s not to love? It’s no wonder Naming Ceremonies are growing in popularity! With my expertise and guidance, we will create a beautiful, bespoke, modern ceremony that really resonates with you and your guests.
What Happens at a Naming Ceremony?
They are all individual, as I tailor them completely to your personal preferences. However, here are some of the key features that are most popular and work really well. On your special day, I arrive early to make sure everyone is happy and prepared. Once you are ready to begin, I officiate your ceremony. It’s lovely to start with welcoming everyone – an ideal moment to formally acknowledge them as being the most important people in your child’s life and to thank them for their ongoing love and support. I also share the purpose of a naming ceremony here. I then tell your child’s beautiful story and the most treasured memories you share. It’s so beautiful to hear all the wonderful, individual and, sometimes, downright hilarious qualities of your little one and their unique personality, quirks and interests. A formal announcement of your child’s name is shared, with how you came about selecting their name and the meaning behind it. Many parents like to include special readings, make life-long promises, appoint key roles, involve a symbolic gesture and sign a commemorative certificate, as a special keepsake. It really can involve anything and anyone you’d like!
Key Elements Often Included in Naming Ceremonies
Meaningful
Music
Including music, whether it’s live or recorded, really adds to the atmosphere and sets the tone for your ceremony. Perhaps there’s a friend or family member who could surprise your guests with a special performance or you’d like to involve everyone in a sing a long? You might like to use your child’s favourite song or a special piece of music you played or sang to them before their arrival.
I’m happy to offer advice on music choices for before, during and after your ceremony.
Special
Readings
Often there are two or three readings within a ceremony—a lovely way to involve those extra-special people in your day. These can take any form from heartfelt and traditional to light-hearted and funny. Whether it’s a meaningful poem, a favourite story, lyrics from a touching song, or something completely unique to your family, there’s a world of beautiful possibilities to explore.
Some parents choose to write something especially for their child and this creates an incredibly moving moment. You might like to invite a special guest to create and share their own meaningful words; grandparents could offer words of wisdom passed down through generations. If you’d like to include a religious element, you could opt for a special prayer—the sky really is the limit.
I have so many suggestions to offer, I’m here to help you find the perfect readings that feel just right for you.
Heartfelt
Promises
A Naming Ceremony provides the perfect opportunity to declare heartfelt promises to your child. Before your ceremony we will have crafted the perfect, meaningful words and most parents prefer me to read them and then follow each statement with, “We will”. You can also choose to include promises from grandparents should you wish. Whatever your preference, I’m here to guide you with absolute care and expertise. You can rest assured your promises will be completely personal, reflecting your unique love and the commitments you wish to declare!
Appoint
Special Roles
This celebration is a wonderful chance to honour extra special people, by inviting them to take on a significant role in your child’s life. The name you choose to appoint these individuals is entirely up to you; you might like the name, Guide Parent, this is a popular option along with Guardian and Mentor. This position can carry deep significance, and it often means the world to those who are chosen. During the ceremony, they are invited to stand and make heartfelt, lifelong promises—to offer guidance, support, and love to your child throughout their life. This is pre-planned, so they know what is expected of them beforehand and I guide them through your chosen promises.
Symbolic
Gestures
A symbolic gesture is a meaningful act that helps to mark your special occasion with a powerful representation of your love and unity. They are a beautiful way to bring colour and variety to your ceremony, whilst creating a truly poignant, magical and sentimental moment. You can select anything from a sand ceremony, where different coloured sands are poured into a vessel, symbolising your entwined lives, to lighting a candle that represents the love and light that will always surround your child. You might like to present them with a special gift to treasure - such as a book, piece of jewelry, a letter, or heirloom — to symbolise your love, wishes for their future, or a family value. You can even get creative and invent your own gesture! They don’t need to be big or elaborate — often it’s the small, precious moments that are the most treasured and memorable. You can involve parents, guide parents, siblings, grandparents, or anyone special you'd like to include. If you’re unsure or want to know more about symbolic gestures, I can help you select the perfect one. Keep a lookout on my blogs too, as I will be creating sections on the most popular choices!
What Do I Provide?
Your Package:
My fee is £200. This includes:
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Your pre-ceremony meeting to discuss the content of your script, the running of the day, special people involved, ideas for readings and more.
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The writing and continual editing of your script until it’s exactly as you want it.
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Delivery of your ceremony
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A copy of your Naming script to remember your special day
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A certificate to commemorate your ceremony
There is a £50 booking fee to save the date, which is deducted from the total.
Unlimited Consultation
I offer a completely personal, professional and friendly service. I’m available to chat through ideas, promises, readings, symbolic gestures and anything else you might like to discuss, so that you feel completely confident and prepared. We will meet up before your ceremony, where I will get to know you as a family and find out all about your little one. It’s such a gorgeous session, where I will guide you in reminiscing on your most cherished memories! I will discover your personalities and values, your ideas and preferences, whilst providing as much or as little inspiration as you’d like, helping you to decide on what the perfect ceremony looks like for you!
A Hand-Crafted, Personalised Ceremony
I create a bespoke ceremony that is beautifully written to reflect you and your child. The service I provide totally complements your individual personalities and reflects your unique story. I provide absolute attention to detail and edit your script until it’s exactly as you want it.
Professional Guidance
With me, you’re in very safe hands. I provide inspiration and guidance throughout the process. On your special day, I’ll arrive early and ensure everyone involved knows exactly what’s needed, so that everything runs completely smoothly and you can relax and concentrate on enjoying every moment!
Confident, Natural, Warm & Engaging Delivery on the Day
I bring heart and soul, passion and enthusiasm to every ceremony I lead, ensuring everyone is encapsulated by the beautiful atmosphere and pure love. Your guests will be left talking about your ceremony for years to come and you will make memories to cherish forever.
About Me As A Parent
I will always cherish the moment I first laid eyes on my babies, holding them close, my heart over flowing with love and admiration. I knew instinctively that I would do anything for them and that I will love them, unconditionally, for the rest of my life. Being a parent really is the best possible gift I could ever ask for. Oh boy, does it come with its challenges, let’s face it, it’s anything but easy, yet we parents take these in our stride. We can but live and learn, remembering that every parent is in the same boat! We are doing our best, we are 100% there for our children, come what may, with hearts full of love and endless cuddles. Just look into those beautiful, innocent eyes, they are everything to us and we are everything to them! I do my very best to instill my deeply rooted values and to bring my boys up as fun - loving and kind, confident souls. They are both super adventurous and creative and I've unintentionally shot myself in the foot, as I’ve brought up two incredibly dramatic monkeys, which is great, but it can certainly come back to bite when they turn into over-tired, unreasonable, unpredictable creatures!! They have energy coming out of their ears, pretty much 24/7, (which is great fun at bed-time) and I absolutely love them to pieces!! Their passion and excitement for life is truly uplifting and inspiring! I really couldn't be more grateful and proud to be a mum to my two, very handsome, loving boys. They've even turned me into a football mum fanatic - and after never having any interest, and I mean whatsoever, in football, that really did take me by surprise! They are both wonderfully silly, downright fabulous monkeys (a step up from the name I gave them when they were smaller - terra-dactyls) and I would do anything for them!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Naming Ceremonies just for babies?
Namings are for for welcoming any aged child into the family! Perhaps you’d like to celebrate an adoption or you’ve become a step-parent and you’d like to formally acknowledge this new role and recognise the new, blended, family union. Naming’s are a great way to formally announce and celebrate a new identity too. Some parents choose to have a joint ceremony for siblings, which works beautifully too. If you're still unsure if a Naming is the right choice for you, feel free to get in touch and il be more than happy to advise.
Where Should We Hold Our Ceremony?
You are free from religious or legal obligations so, as long as you have the necessary permission, you can hold your ceremony anywhere you’d like! You might prefer yours in a personal setting; at home, in a family garden, a village hall, a local woods or park or perhaps you'd like somewhere fancier like a marquee, a hotel celebration room, a beach or even a grand castle! The possibilities are endless!
Keep your style and budget in mind and how many people you’d like to invite. It’s also worth considering your catering options – do you intend to provide nibbles and sandwiches, a buffet or a sit-down meal? Perhaps you’re considering asking people to bring along their own refreshments and a picnic blanket for a relaxed and informal gathering? It’s completely your choice!
Can I Combine a Naming Ceremony with Another Celebration?
Yes, absolutely. Many parents are choosing to combine Naming Ceremonies with their child’s first birthday, which works perfectly. There are no rules - you have gathered all your loved ones together, so if it coincides with another special occasion - whether it’s for the child you’re hosting the ceremony for or another loved one, why not take full advantage and go all out! I’ve conducted a Naming Ceremony for a family that had loved ones who had travelled far and wide, so they absolutely made the most of the occasion and followed the event with a celebration for their own 30th and 40th Birthdays! Let's arrange a celebration that works perfectly for you!
How can we involve family & friends?
Any way you’d like! It’s truly special when older siblings take on a role — perhaps they could share a reading or make their own promises. You might invite all the children present to take part, like blowing bubbles on cue. Family or friends could join in with a symbolic gesture, or you might like everyone to get involved by singing your child’s favourite song or making promises too. You could invite someone to share a blessing or favourite memory, ask cousins to hand out flowers, or ask a friend to sing or play an instrument.
Guests could add their fingerprint to a tree, write wishes for a Wish Jar or create a piece of advice to hang on a special display, creating a keepsake to treasure forever. You could end your ceremony with a group cheer or toast! Maybe you’d like to invent an entirely original way to get everyone involved. The possibilities are endless!
What Happens Before The Ceremony?
I meet with you to find out all about you and your little one. I guide you in reminiscing on all your most treasured memories and I discover your individual personalities and preferences. During our session, I offer expertise advice and ideas, helping you to make the perfect choices for your family. With a clear idea of exactly what you want, I craft a personalised script just for you and I edit it until you are completely happy! As your celebrant, I’ll chat through your ideas, suggest options that suit and shape a ceremony that feels just right for you and your family.
Do I have to do lots of talking?
Not at all. You can do as much or as little as you’d like. I’m a very confident and able public speaker, and I’m highly skilled at keeping all your guests engaged and moved! My delivery is super passionate and full of meaning. I'm here to offer guidance and support with any nerves you might have with speaking in front of others, so that you can relax and enjoy your celebration.
How Long Will My Ceremony Last?
The timings differ depending on what you choose to include, however, they tend to be between 20 and 30 minutes. Your wish is my command – I can make yours as long or as short as you’d like and I can most certainly advise on what’s best to keep everyone engaged and happy! You can then continue your celebration with your friends and family after your ceremony, for as long as you wish.