Naming and Welcome Ceremonies
"Where there is love there is life!"
- Mahatma Gandhi.
The act of ceremony is a uniquely human thing, and one that is performed worldwide at significant transitions in life.
Do you want to mark the arrival of a new family member, the blending of families or finalise an adoption?
Ceremony
of celebration
Together we can create a ceremony of celebration that you and your guests will remember forever, full of love and lots and lots of fun!
You can choose to have your ceremony; where you want it; when you want it; with your words; your music- anything goes! In a tipi, overlooking the sea, or in your garden covered in fairy lights, count me in! I love listening to stories of love and writing creative ceremonies that truly reflect you and your loved ones, including symbolic elements or your dog, and anything else that makes you happy and represents your love.
Welcoming a new baby or expanding your family is one of life’s major milestones!
It’s not surprising that families often want to celebrate this special occasion
Your naming or welcoming ceremony can be traditional, contemporary, formal, informal, serious, fun, whimsical, quirky as you like.....
A ‘Naming Ceremony’ is a beautiful way to celebrate the birth of a new baby. It is a unique celebration of family and life. The day can include whatever is significant to you as a family. I can include officially naming your baby or children and include wonderful declarations of promises and commitments from significant members of your family, friends and community.
A ‘Welcoming Ceremony’ gives you the wonderful opportunity to welcome an adopted child/ren or a partner’s children into becoming a blended family. All of these can be great milestones to mark and have a celebration.
I love hearing family stories
I will get to know you, as a family, and will put my heart and soul into writing you a uniquely personal ceremony that reflects your family and is fun and memorable, whilst recognising your new role as parents. I love hearing family stories - why did you choose the name? What are your hopes and dreams for your baby/adopted child? How will your family life change by your new addition? Are there special friends or family members that you’d like to help guide your child through life?
I have worked with children for 20 years as a Teacher and Deputy Headteacher and love to include them in the ceremony by adding a symbolic element, for example, planting a wishing tree or having a sand ceremony.
How it works & fees
Honest, transparent & no hidden costs...
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Let’s chat!
Why not book in a no-obligation chat with me, in person or over zoom, so we can talk about what you are looking for and I can answer any questions you may have about celebrant led ceremonies. This is a great way to see if we click and whether you want me involved in your big day.
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You want me to be your celebrant! That’s fantastic news!
I will send you over a booking form and a contract and take a 50% deposit to secure your booking.
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Now the fun can begin!
An initial meeting, in person or over Zoom, to get to know who’s who and why you have decided to have a naming ceremony and what type of ceremony you want. It could be welcoming a new born into your family; celebrating the adoption of a child; marking the joining of two families as one; or celebrating the change of a name. We will bounce ideas and start planning! Think mood boards, Pinterest – nothing is off limits!
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Getting to know you!
I will send you a questionnaire for you to tell me all about your child’s personality, your ceremony wishes and dreams. This will help me to start forming ideas about your ceremony.
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Time to meet
In person or over Zoom to dive into all your stories and all the little details that make your love story unique. We will then begin to create and design your ceremony working together to make sure everything and everyone you want to include is included. I will listen to what you want while making suggestions about things I know work really well, from rituals to readings and everything in between. The sky’s the limit!
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Now time for the magic to happen...
I will take all I have learnt from our meetings and the questionnaire to write your unique naming ceremony telling your story and how you arrived at the special day as a family. We can discuss including a special ritual to mark the occasion or including guide parents. We can then pass this draft back and forth a little and redraft as needed (all feedback very welcome, I want you to be 100% happy with it). You can choose to write your own vows, include any readings, poems, music that you love or you can leave that to me. If you would like to include a symbolic element or a ritual I can help find something that resonates with you.
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I will be right here!
Ongoing guidance and support by email, text or Whatsapp.
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Your child’s big day is here!
I will arrive at least an hour before the ceremony, meeting all the key people and ensuring the setup in perfect. We all know how unpredictable children can be, so I will be flexible with timings for day as well as thinking on my feet if I need to! I worked in restaurants and event catering for years so you can be confident that, on the day, I will ensure everything runs smoothly. Today will be a magical day in so many ways and your ceremony will be something you and your guests will think back to for years to come.
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Keepsakes
I will send you a copy of your ceremony as well as a ceremony certificate
Fees £350
* additional charges for symbolic rituals may apply
* I am happy to travel anywhere in the UK. Anything over 20 miles from Whitstable, will be charged at 50p per mile.
Get in touch
If reading my website has given you butterflies then get in touch! Just pop me a message to arrange a free, initial consultation via Zoom or telephone and we can figure out if I am the right celebrant for you. You can also email me directly at kate@figtreeceremonies.co.uk.
Kind words
Testimonials
