Baby Naming Ceremony... help!

[Emmamorr]

Hello everyone!

1st day today and am not really sure how this all works!!

Actually not sure whether this is the right section at all!

Anyway, I've had an idea about having a naming ceremony for Millie (she's 2 in June) I think we will do it on her birthday then have a party after but we have no idea who can dpo it! We definately don't want a humanist because Mark's mum is C of E and would like there to be something religious (and I think they are very NON religious!)

We want to be able to say our own promises to Millie and maybe have her grandparents say something- just wondering if anyone has any thoughts??

We live in Leeds by the way of that helps!

Ems xx

Have you thought about having it in a church, but having a "Service of Thanksgiving"? It's not a christening or a baptism, so you don't have to worry about making promises on behalf of your child that you don't feel you could keep. You just publicly say thankyou for being blessed with a child, and the vicar prays that God will bless and protect her.

We don't really want it in a church, neither of us are religious at all (only Mark's mum) and we would feel quite uncomfortable being in a church!

I think mark's mum will do a little reading which will be religious but we want something really personal.. a couple of my friends have done baby namings but they live down in Sussex so the person they used isn't up here!

I know just the person!! I had christenings/baptisms for both of my children in my back garden, under a gazebo with 100 family/friends. Service was conducted by Bishop Jonathan Blake who is basically a travelling bishop! He conducted Jade Goody's wedding and will do my daughter's christening too when we get around to organising it for the summer. He's quite a character and does basic naming ceremonies too without the religion.

Can't recommend him highly enough. Go to www.bishopjonathanblake.com for details. He's not that expensive either. My last DD was christened in 2003 and it was around £190.

Thanks for the recommendation, Jade Goody's wedding! He must be good!

Still think we want someone with no religious connection, I wonder if it compromises their beliefs when priests and vicars are asked to do ceremonies without religion?

I've done some searching round on Google and found a local company One Life ceremonies- has anyone used them before? Think it's a mum and daughter who run it and they say they'll include religion if we want.. have emailed them anyway so will let you know how I get on!

Ems x

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your help.. I have spoken to Maria from One life Ceremonies and think we will go with them..

She writes it for us from our ideas.. we're not sure what we want to include yet though.. does anyone know any good readings for a baby girl? We can also have guide parents instead of godparents! (not sure what Val will make of that!!)

www.onelifeceremonies.co.uk in case anyone else is in my position!

Ems x

Ems have you tried looking at your civic centre or town website? where i live it is under Registrar and has links to suggestions for poems readings etc why not have a look to see if Leeds has one?

If you get in touch with your local registry office, they have a list of venues that their registrars will conduct services in and then a registrar comes and does the service. You can make it as personal as you want, they ahve a basic template and then you choose different options re readings etc. They usually have suggestions but you can use your own. I don't think you can have religious readings from memory.

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