Off to a Naming ceremony

[wils]

My best friend is having a Naming ceremony for her little boy tomorrow afternoon in Weybridge Registry Office. I have been asked to be a 'Supporting Adult' (A Godmother without the 'God' bit!)

It should be a lovely afternoon as we are going for a meal afterwards.

Has anyone else here been to a Naming ceremony. I know that this one will be on the longer side as my friend believes in value for money!

 

[Miffy2003]

I haven't Jo, but what a great idea to celebrate the baby's arrival without the religious trappings (unless you want them I should say!)

 

[Frances999]

I'm a "supporting adult/mentor" to my nephew. They had a garden party naming ceremony at home in July with a celebrant to conduct the proceedings. It was an informal day, but I found it quite emotional and it was wonderfully prepared. I'm sure it will be a great day

 

[wilma-bride]

Not wishing to start a debate but I think naming ceremonies are a wonderful idea and often much more sincere than a full christening where the family has never set foot in church before.

We considered having a naming ceremony for our son (although I am C of E, DH is not at all religious and didn't want DS christened). We decided to wait, however, until he was old enough to decide for himself whether he wanted to be christened. I personally wasn't christened until I was 12 as neither my Mum nor Dad are religious.

I have been to a naming ceremony and, as Frances said, it's a lot more personal (in my opinion) than a church ceremony and can be personalised to suit the needs, circumstances and wishes of the family.

Have a good day and hope it all goes well.

Joh

 

[Ware Bears]

Not wishing to start a debate but I think naming ceremonies are a wonderful idea and often much more sincere than a full christening where the family has never set foot in church before.

I agree. None of my children were christened at our local parish church because although we attended on a fairly regular basis I did not agree with the way children were christened there. The vicar was very reluctant to christen them when they were small babies, he preferred to wait until they were about a year old and then do a "job lot" once a month. Having witnessed some of these, there was nothing personal about it and it felt like a conveyor-belt christening with sometimes three or four children being baptised the same day! Luckily the vicar at the church where we were married took great pleasure in christening our girls whilst they were still very young babies and in a private ceremony for just our family and friends.

I hope you have a lovely day Jo.

 

[Minniespal]

Sounds a lovely idea and I'm sure it will be very emotional and a super day.

 

[mandymouse]

I've never heard of this, is sounds like a good idea, I hope you have a lovely day

 

[Kilted_Yank]

This is a new concept to me, but it sounds like a good one for people that want to celebrate without a religious ceremony.

Our Olivia was Christened when she was a little over a year old (we're Lutherans) and it was a great ceremony and lovely family gathering afterwards. I can see why people would want to do it a different way if it suits them, though. Why not?

 

[KayleeUK]

How was it Jo?

 

[Goofyish]

Never heard of a Naming Ceremony before - sounds like a good idea for whose who aren't religious and you still get to 'wet the babies head', so to speak, with a nice meal/party afterwards

I'm not in the least bit religious and although we had our DDs chistened, I really didn't enjoy the experience. Shame there wasn't something like this around at the time.

 

[vicky1bfc]

What a wonderful idear.My dd's are not christened as Dh isn't religious at all and i'm not really.He wanted to wait until they are old enough to make their own mind up.

I really like this idear though,i wonder if he would go for this one.

 

[florida sun]

How did it go Jo???


Sue

 

[wils]

It was lovely thanks!

It started with the parents naming the baby 'Owen' and promising to care for him and support him as he grows up. They them renewed their commitment to each other (past, present and future)

Then there was a poem about parenthood before myself and the 3 other 'supporting adults' made promises to be a friend and a support to Owen. Another poem about motherhood was read before the grandparents made similar pledges.

We then signed a certificate which was given to the parents and posed for some photos!

There was only about 22 adults so it felt very special being there. We were then treated to a lovely dinner at a local establishment!

It was a lovely experience and totally suited my friends as, although she has a Church background she never goes to Church and felt that it wouldn't be right to have him Christened (I think her husband would have refused to that anyway!)

The only slight downside was DD was a bit of a handful during the ceremony and DH couldn't help he had his finger in our baby's mouth who had woken up at exactly the wrong moment starving! I was rather embarassed but my friend didn't mind - she said that the registrar had asked her if someone was going to be allocated responsibilty for taking Owen out if needed. She'd replyed that he would be staying in regardless as she didn't think there was much point having the ceremony for him if he wasn't going to be there!

So overall a very positive experience and certainly something I'd recommend to people wanting to mark the arrival of a little one in another way than a Christening.

 

[florida sun]

Sounds like a lovely day Jo


Sue

 

[wils]

Vicky

As it's not a legal cermony it is something you could do now and still leave the option of a Christening later if they wanted it!

 

[wilma-bride]

Glad it went well. Kids/babies certainly know how to pick their moments though, don't they. When me and DH got married, DS was 15 months. We were in the registry office, the registrar asked if anyone had any objections to the marriage and DS shouted 'YES' at the top of his voice. Very funny but luckily it didn't count as, apparently, you have to be 18 to object at a wedding - something I didn't know before then

 

[vicky1bfc]

Vicky

As it's not a legal cermony it is something you could do now and still leave the option of a Christening later if they wanted it!

Sounds like a wonderful idear jo.Though there at the age now 7 where they know exactly what they want .If they were still babies i would have given this alot of thought.

Glad you have a lovely day

 

[mandymouse]

Jo, it sounds like you had a lovely day

 

[KayleeUK]

What a lovely day Jo

 

[Minniespal]

Sounds like a lovely day Jo.