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?

Do you think I should do it at the end or not at all? Most guests I’ve said it to think it’s a good idea, I agree it could bring vibe down tho. I don’t think there’s a garden but I’ll check.

Noted.

Personally find this hideous and an Insta ‘ooh look at us’ grabbing op. Very pretentious. Just get the birth certificate and sod off to the pub or something like normal folk.

What's attention grabbing about celebrating the arrival of a baby? It's a very significant life change!

Why is it OK for the religious but not for the rest of us?

I’ve not heard of it before Mn. We’re not religious so didn’t have DT’s christened. Is a naming ceremony not the same as getting their birth certificate?

Why not just have a small 'Welcome to the World' get together with food and drink, everyone signs a card or something, and a video of each guest holding the baby and saying a few words. Not to be watched until baby is 18 (like in Friends). Don't understand stuff that copies religious ceremonies (guide parents??) but each to their own.

AleaEim I think a naming ceremony is a lovely idea.
We don’t do enough to mark the transitions in children and young people’s lives. Adolescence should be marked in some way but in our industrialised society it is seen as unnecessary.
You have had great suggestions I hope you have a great day xx

Visiting a council office and getting a form filled in is not at all the same as a celebration/party is it?

Might as well ask if signing the marriage certificate is the same as the wedding?!

As I said I’ve never heard of it before so no need to be rude.

@Parker231 I'm sorry you took that as rude.

I have found some of the responses on this thread rude. It's hardly a crime to want to celebrate the arrival of a baby and if you're not religious, you don't have a "template" to follow.

I’ve been to a couple and they were a 10/15 minute service and then buffet/drinks. They were like a christening without the religious bits and a nice afternoon out.
I wouldn’t faff about too much.

I thinknit all sounds lovely but wouldn't do the bubbles personally, unless but is in the car park or something due to the likelihood it could flatten the mood and a lot of people would just go anyway rather than walk 5 minutes. I would be very careful too about the logistics of the tree planting. Hope you have a lovely day 💗

Excuse the bluntness but here goes:
I would be pushed to attend a naming ceremony.
Venue - pub-tacky
Planting a tree?
is this some quasi replacement for a christening?
if you don’t want a christening (I’m not personally in favour of a spiritual ceremony which suggests your child is born evil even if the Royals do it), just mark the child’s birth with close friends at home with a buffet and you can play whatever music you want.
most of your guests will be there but privately rolling their eyes. It’s as tacky as gender reveals.

Both my DC had a Naming Ceremony at the local spiritualist church. The church provided a celebrant (who I already knew quite well) and both services were beautiful, similar to a Christening. The family and guests then all went back to our home for a buffet and a few drinks.

Although my DM was C of E, my DF didn't want me to be Christened as he wanted me to be free to choose for myself when I became an adult. For the same reason, I had no intention of having my DC Christened, but their DF wanted some sort of ceremony so that "God knew the children were here". A Naming Ceremony was the compromise.

Same here

Ok good to know. Did they serve food before or after?

Thanks I’m scrapping the bubbles now I think.

we went to one. There was a ceremony at a registry office with a celebrant. Photos. Pub lunch.

tree planting and bubble releasing is a bit OTT

After.

My god, Don’t people ever stop with all the bloody crap these days? Gender reveal, baby shower, naming ceremony 10 hen do’s, bridal shower…