To ask with ideas for Naming Ceremony Schedule

[AleaEim]

I’m having a naming ceremony for my baby soon, I’m not hiring a celebrant but have recently asked a relative to host the day (he’s far more outgoing than me) and he’s agreed. The only thing is I’ve never been to one before and either has my relative so I’m looking for some advice from people who frequent these sort of things.

So far I’m thinking the day will go something like this:

12pm people arriving

12.15 ish Start ceremony: tree planting inside pub / parents (us) saying a few words and signing naming certificate

12.30 Speeches/ poems by guide parents

12.45 DD’s grandmother to read Dr Seuss the places we will go (treating this as a story time for the kids who be there as she wanted to read it as a speech but since it’s so long I think reading as a story would be better?)

1pm people eat/ mingle etc

2pm approx - Bubble Release in the park which is a 5 min walk away (eco friendly alternative to ballon release)

everyone can go back to pub or go back home after that.

let me know your thoughts. I think the bits I’m feeling awkward about are the speeches/ tree planting and signing naming certificate, I don’t really know how to make these things interesting on the day but know people do these things at naming ceremonies so must be a normal thing to do?

We’re not allowed play music at the venue so can imagine might be some awkward silences or am I just overthinking it?

We had one but combined with the first birthday party so singing happy birthday felt like a nice conclusion and the overall feel was more of a party. How old is your little one?

We did 30 mins of drinks and mingling, soft play hired for kids. Photo slideshow in background. Background music (don't think you'll miss it)

About 15 mins of "ceremony" which was a friend sharing a bit about our daughter, why we picked her name, the importance of community, did a reading then we did the birthday cake.

Then food came out and it was eating drinking, chatting for the next hour or so.

With lots of toddlers we didn't want too much focused activity, and some of the examples I saw online were so earnest and excruciating - we're far too British to act like our child is a mesiah or include details of babies conception and a full birth story. I also didn't want it too similar to a christening, but that's just our choice.

Can’t you just announce the name? I couldn’t be bothered attending all that faff for a ‘naming ceremony’ I’m afraid…

I would t do the tree planting or bubble release. People will have to stop what they’re doing to walk 5 mins to release some bubbles feels a bit pointless. Not sure how you’d plant a tree in a pub without mess or using pots. The rest of the format is fine.

I asked ChatGPT for you and this is what it recommends.

12:00 – Guests Arrive & Welcome Drink

• Have someone (maybe the host or a friend) greet people warmly.
• Light refreshments out if possible. This gives people something to do and settle in.

12:20 – Ceremony Begins

• Host welcomes everyone and explains what’s happening in a relaxed, friendly tone.
• Example: “Thanks for being here to help us welcome [baby’s name] to the world. We’ve got a few short things planned, and plenty of time to relax, chat, and celebrate too.”

12:25 – Tree Planting & Naming Certificate

• Quick explanation: planting the tree as a symbol of growth and new life.
• Parents say a few words (short and from the heart—just 1–2 mins).
• You both sign the naming certificate afterwards as a formal but gentle “ta-da” moment.
• Optional: Let guide parents or a grandparent pour the first soil or water the tree to involve them.

12:35 – Guide Parents’ Speeches / Poems

• Ask them to keep it short (2 mins max each).
• Can be lighthearted or meaningful—whatever suits their personality.

12:45 – Story Time with Grandma

• Set a “kids’ corner” or blanket area if possible.
• Let this be a soft transition to the mingling section. Adults can watch or begin drifting toward food.

1:00 – Lunch / Mingling / Cake

• No pressure. Let people eat, chat, and enjoy.
• If you want to cut a cake, this is a great time to do it casually.

2:00 – Walk to Park for Bubble Release

• Give people a five-minute warning before walking over.
• In the park: brief words like, “We release these bubbles as wishes for [baby’s name]’s future,” and let everyone enjoy it.

2:30 onwards – Open Time / People Can Leave or Return to Pub

It also suggests

✅ Suggestions to Ease Awkwardness

• No need to “perform” the ceremony. Keep it relaxed and conversational. People respond better to sincerity than polish.
• Let the host read the schedule aloud at the start so everyone knows what’s happening. It sets expectations and eases any silence.
• Bring printed mini schedules on tables or a chalkboard to remind people what’s coming.
• Use gentle transitions like “While we’re all here…” or “Now we’d love to…” to shift between moments

45 min ceremony is too long. I also think the bubble thing is a bit silly, but that’s personal taste.

In the kindest way possible OP, is this a bit OTT?

It’s nice to have a naming ceremony to introduce your baby to family and friends, but planting a tree and a bubble releasing ceremony… is a lot.

I think I’d be really struggling to hold it together by the bubble release part.

I’ll warrant you reading a story for the children is a nice alternative to a speech.

Sounds complicated for what is friends and family meeting for drinks in the pub

Each to their own and of course anything that unites a family together for a gathering is lovely, but the concept of a naming ceremony just sounds terribly pretentious to me.

Are people expected to bring a gift?

I am always amazed by people who comprehend a christening perfectly, no probs, and would possibly also comprehend other religion's equivalent practises such as India's rice-eating ceremony in Hindusim - but behold - an atheist equivalent - and it is all very confusing.

Perhaps some priests, some Latin phrases/Sanskrit/other language phrases (depending on where you sit) in a religious setting would be more comprehensible.

Mmm I’m as atheist as they come. But a christening is welcoming a child into a religion. What is a naming ceremony doing? It doesn’t have any fixed place in our culture like other ceremonies in other cultures.

That ceremony feels far too long. Around 10-15 years ago was when most of my friends had children and a few had naming ceremonies and the ceremonies were all dull. Everyone went to support their friend and catch up. No one enjoys all the other stuff.

Have a gathering, say a few words for 10 mins and then have a picnic/ beer/ bbq etc.

But that is the precise point of it. If religious families can get together with family and friends and celebrate a baby in their first year - atheist families can quite do the same.

Dh was raised as X religion - and I was raised Y - but our kids are neither, and neither are we. We still wanted a gathering of friends and family in our DC's baby months, and somehow it worked out both times.

We still read the lovely messages folks wrote in their books, and we included some traditions from both cultures, and talk to the kids about their day.

I’m also not religious but agree with this. It’s an actual purpose. If I wanted a gathering to celebrate my baby I’d have that but without tje formal stuff.

This.

Though I'm more confused about the tree-planting in the pub, and why they're signing a 'naming certificate' when the baby has presumably already been registered?

What’s a naming certificate?

Never heard anything like it. Instagram has a lot to ask for. Me me and a little bit more of me.

What are "guide parents"?

What role are the "guide parents" expected to play in your child's life and for how long?

We had one. We're atheists and felt we had a lot to be grateful for and a number of people to thank.

We and our friends and family had a great day.

I think your programme sounds OK but I wouldn't generally move an event mid way. It tends to bring the vibe down. Do you have a garden where you can blow the bubbles?

Oh sorry I see you're holding it in a pub not at home. I'd still probably not move everyone. My sister did a 50th in a pub room last summer and as it was in a nice setting everyone wandered off to take a walk and the party kind of dwindled.

Give them all a piece of cake and send them on their way!

We had a couple of nominated people (I think we called them ungodparents) and they have taken an interest in DD over the last 12 years. Probably more than her actual aunts and uncles have...

The other thing to bear in mind is the baby may get fed up quicker than everyone else. DD got overheated in her fancy frock but as we were at home that was easily sorted.

I would reduce the formalities, bubbles or tree, poems or reading. Naming ceremonies are using very short, 10-15 minutes at most then you eat, mingle etc. I organise baptisms and dedications, they take under 15 minutes, 45 minutes is longer than most weddings or funerals!

This is totally my kind of thing. I do think you have allotted too much time for each formal segment. Speeches and poems should be short and sweet.

remember you have a baby at the center of this that has the potential to get hungry, tired, or need an urgent nappy change with no regard to the schedule.

Right now your ceremony is about 45 minutes. I would aim for closer to 20-25.

your comparison in culture is a christening, but that is often just a few minutes in the middle of a much longer mass.

You need a bit of pomp and circumstance, but don’t go overboard.

Oh you genius, why didn’t I think of this? Ok I will definitely try follow this a bit more, starting food or drink prob better actually yes

Ok I will try shorten it.

Did many of your guests read poems/ speeches?