Bill Dawson

A Humanist Baby Naming is a personal, unique and a beautiful way to welcome your child.

Naming ceremonies can take place wherever you want, many parents choose to hold the ceremony at the start of a celebration party in their home or at a special venue, so that all families and friends can be there and even take part to mark this happy event. There is no legal requirement to have your ceremony in a specifically dedicated place or church, and rather than these ceremonies being seen as an alternative type ceremony, they are being practiced more and more.

We will plan the ceremony together, and I'll bring my experience in preparing an inclusive ceremony so that your friends and families, whether they are religious or not, can relate to what is said. You can have the type of ceremony you want, where you can state your love and commitment to your child, it can include poetry, a reading which has significance for you and music.

Create Your Own Personal Ceremony
There are many ways in which you can create your own personal ceremony, and for it to be as individual as you want. A few ideas, but by no means exhaustive is to have a message book so that people can write their own personal message to your child which he or she can read later on in life. Or by planting a tree, by including brothers or sisters, or other family members or friends.

Instead of having godparents, parents choose relatives or friends to become 'guide parents', 'supporting adults', 'mentors', or 'special friends'. They too can be part of the ceremony, and make it personal by saying how they will be there for your child as he or she grows.

Ceremonies can be performed for older children. Maybe you feel you missed out when your child was a baby on having a meaningful and enjoyable ceremony. As they have already grown into their name this will be more about welcoming them into the family and an expression of love, rather than a formal naming.

How to Plan Your Naming Ceremony
Once you have made contact with me we'll arrange a mutually convenient time to meet up. We may meet more than once before your naming ceremony, firstly to discuss ideas and answer questions, then to plan every aspect of the ceremony so that so you all feel relaxed and confident of all going well.

Cost
The amount may vary depending on the time needed and the distances to be travelled. I'm happy to discuss my fee at our first meeting.

As part of my service to you you'll receive a free copy of the book 'New Arrivals', this will give you some additional help in terms of providing a range of ideas, practical tips, sample ceremonies and a selection of poems and prose used by families choosing a non-religious ceremony.

You will also receive a Certificate together with a copy of the ceremony at the end of the occasion.