Nameing ceremony inspiration (and politics!)

[mrsleomcgary]

My husband and I have just started planning a naming ceremony for our daughter. The plan is to have it at the end of June as kid of a double celebration with husbands 30th.

We're meeting with a celebrant next week but in her email to me mentioned there could be readings. I'm sure she will have a list of appropriate ones but was just wondering if any of you know of anything a bit more unusual we might not have heard of or thought of?

Now for the politics! We want to keep it small,close friends and family only. But even at that we're still looking at about 45 people. This might sound horrible but its more important to us that our friends are there rather than random aunts and uncles we only see once a year. Does inviting only the immediate family (so parents,grandparents and siblings) seem a bit mean when about 20 of our friends would be there?

Just noticed the typo in the title

Neil Gaiman's "Blueberry Girl" is lovely.

Is the numbers issue just that you don't want to have to cater for too many? Or is there another reason why random aunts and uncles would be massively unwelcome? If it were me, I would take the view that anyone willing to put in the time and energy to be there would be welcome, and would adapt the volume and luxuriousness of the catering to fit with the available budget and the numbers coming rather than keeping numbers low for a posher feast. I've been invited to christenings/naming ceremony's of more distant cousins and have politely declined saying I can't make it, and your more distant relatives may well do the same but still appreciate being asked. You could reduce the likelihood of random aunts and uncles by not telling them the date till 2/3 weeks before and hoping they have another engagement?

For both our DC's Naming ceremonies, we invited friends and immediate family. Was fine.

For readings -
DEsiderata
The a Places You'll Go

Numbers wise it's a combination of things really. We're holding it at my grandparents house. They live on a massive country estate,which they also manage,and it would be held in the grounds or in the (huge) main house if the weather is bad. While they're happy for us to hold it there we are mindful that its not OUR house and want to keep disruption (for want of a better word) to a minimum. Most of my family will have to travel to Scotland from England and as a result probably won't bother but it's that catch 22 where you know they won't come but they'll get pissed if they aren't asked. But then if they say yes you've got more people than you wanted because budget is also a consideration.

Oh and thanks for the suggestions,will have a look now.

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