Naming ceremony script

We chose a naming ceremony for our daughter in lieu of a traditional christening. We are not religious, but still wanted to:

• welcome baby
• introduce her formally to friends and family
• state our thoughts and wishes for baby's future and the kind of person we want her to become
• commit, in front of friends and family, to be the best parents we can
• acknowledge we will need the support of friends and family to do this

I found it took a lot of research before I was confident in planning the day. A lot of thought, smiles and tears went into the script below. Our celebrant helped put it together and lead the ceremony on the day.

Friends did some of the readings - we wanted it everyone to feel involved and not just part of an audience. There are also some bits in the promises where everyone got to join in.

I've taken our names etc out to preserve our privacy. I hope if you're looking for some ideas for non-religious, not too 'hippy', ceremony of your own you find it helpful.

Naming Ceremony Script

1. Welcome and introduction
Welcome everyone. A warm welcome to you all, friends and family as we come together to celebrate new life – the life of a beautiful baby girl – [BABY].

Thank you all for being here. Today we mark a milestone not only for [BABY’S NAME], but for her mum and dad, [MOTHER] and [FATHER], for her grandparents, for everyone whose lives she has touched in the short time she has been in this world.

We are all deeply touched by the birth of a baby. That a child is born into this world in innocence and pure love, is indeed a miracle. A tiny human who is so dependent on us for all her nurturing, her nourishment and her learning.

We all share in the joy of [BABY]’s arrival – just as we all share the responsibility of shaping her into a person. [BABY] needs everyone’s good and caring influence as we offer her our love, our knowledge and our wisdom.

2. First Reading: The Prophet on Children, by Khalil Gibran

3. Announcing the name
Now it is time to formally welcome [BABY] with love as we bestow her name.

[BABY] was born [DATE] at [LOCATION]. [Father] supported [MOTHER] through the birth and was first to hold [BABY] in his arms.

[BABY’S NAME] is named for the women in [MOTHER] and [FATHER]’s family who have passed on and who would have shared their delight in her.

A name is very important. It distinguishes us from others and gives us a sense of belonging in our family and community.

[BABY] – your name has been chosen with love and with the strength of heritage. We therefore name you [BABY’S FULL NAME]. We wish you long life and happiness in a loving and peaceful world. May you bring joy to your parents, your family and friends.

4. Parents Promises

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to
have your heart go walking around outside your body."
– Elizabeth Stone

In human history there is no deeper connection than that of a baby and her parents. As new parents, [MOTHER]’s and [FATHER]’s lives have changed forever.

Before they were a couple in love, committed to each other in marriage. Now they have become a true family with that commitment extending to [Baby]. This is now a close and loving family unit.

Families are important – the role of parenthood held in high regard. To be responsible for a new life strengthens the bond that [FATHER] and [MOTHER] share and brings a strong purpose to their lives.

[MOTHER] and [FATHER], in front of your family and friends do you both promise that you will continue to treasure the time you spend together, and support each other through the changes in your lives?
We do
[MOTHER] and [FATHER], this wee soul is so dear to you both. She has come into your lives
and changed them forever, and now your role as parents has been embraced with responsibility, care and love.

I ask that you make your own personal declaration of commitment and unconditional love to [BABY].

[FATHER], do you promise to protect and provide for [Baby] a so she may grow up to be happy and safe?
I do

[MOTHER], do you promise to encourage her curiosity, courage and enthusiasm so that she can face life’s challenges with resilience and optimism?
I do

[MOTHER] & [FATHER]please repeat together after me:

We promise to cherish and nurture [BABY] throughout her life.
We promise to guide [BABY] and to respect and support the choices she makes.
We promise to do our best to raise [BABY] to take her place in the community as a kind and caring person.

5. Family and Friends Promises
[MOTHER] and [FATHER] are very aware that raising a child holds big responsibilities. It is important that they are able to ask for support on occasions, and for [BABY] to be able to gain counsel from family and friends – people she can trust to go to as she grows. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child.

With this in mind, [MOTHER] and [FATHER] have chosen not to have godparents, but to invite all of you here today – as their friends and family – to make an affirmation that you will help guide and nurture [BABY] from helpless babyhood into independent adulthood.

So, I formally ask you all:

Will you stay close to [BABY] to the best of your ability?
We will
Will you help to guide her through life so that she may know the best way you know?
We will
Will you try to be a good influence by your own way of living, encourage her to observe worthy principles, and decent treatment of her fellow human beings and her world?
We will
Will you be a shoulder for [MOTHER] and [FATHER] to lean on when they need it?
We will
6.Presentation of gift
[MOTHER] and [FATHER] have chosen to gift [BABY] a bracelet of daisies in memory of this day.
We put the bracelet on baby at this point,while my friend read the poem.

7. Second Reading: Daisies, by Baloo

8. Hopes for the future
[BABY] we all offer our blessings to you.

We now invite everyone here to step forward to the table and share your wish for [BABY]’s future. If you have something for her memory box please place it inside it. Cards are there for you to write your wish on if you would like to you them.

9. Thoughts of absent guests
Any telegram style messages from family or friends not attending.

10. Toast
To conclude this ceremony, could we make sure everyone has a glass of something for a toast.
Everyone please repeat –"To [BABY’S FULL NAME] – long life, peace and happiness"

Applause/cheer

11. Song: Cradle Song,by Barry Andrews/Shriekback.

It was an emotional day. I choked up and I wasn't the only alone, but that was almost part of the goal, wasn't it?

Related posts
Naming Day Ceremony
Naming Day Wording (Naming Day Script)
Cupcake Recipe
Memory Box

Memory Box

When baby was six months old we held a naming ceremony for her. The ceremony was centred around our wishes for baby's future.

In the invitations I asked that everyone bring a small token or gift representing their wish for baby's future. I explained that these would then be placed in a memory box for her to open and treasure when she is older. The emphasis is on small because ideally all the gifts will fit into the box you have chosen.

I couldn't find a box that I liked so I had one made by Lorriane at Creative Stuff. It is covered in daisies and now sits out of reach on a high shelf in baby's room. Its so pretty her little arms often reach out towards it.

During the ceremony we had it on a pretty table, near where we stood with the celebrant. Everyone was invited to step forward and share their wish for baby's future.
I made some pretty blank cards for them to write their wish on if they wanted. These and any gifts were placed in the memory box.

A few people held back, though shyness, but it wasn't a big deal. They just put their gift on the table after the formal ceremony was over.

Tokens gifted included:

• a shell collected from a favourite family beach
• small heirlooms (a locket, a silver salt spoon, miniature dog)
• treasured personal possessions (including a boarding pass and a club membership card)
• traditional bracelet charms
• figurines
• handmade bookmarks

This idea was suggested by our celebrant and worked really well. I'd recommend it for any occassion you want to be interactive for your guests eg wedding, baby's first birthday. You'll end up with a whole box of memories and treasures that will far outlast most store bought gifts.

Related posts
Naming Day Ceremony
Naming Day Wording (Naming Day Script)
Cupcake Recipe

Naming Day Ceremony

When baby was six months old we held a naming ceremony for her. We chose this over a traditional christening because we are not religious, but still wanted to welcome, introduce and wish baby well.

A lot of people are curious about what such a ceremony involves - so I'll explain what we did below.

Theme
I chose daisies and yellow gingham. To my mind these are childish: pretty, simple and innocent. I have found daisies to be incredibly resilient wee plants and that is what I wish most for my daughter - resilience. She wore a yellow gingham dress with daisies on it that her Granny made.


Decorations
We decorated the open plan lounge with daisies in pots trimmed with gingham ribbon, gingham table runners and scattered artificial daisies on the tables and floor.

We tied daisy patterned balloons on the mailbox and made a trail of paper butterflies to the door.

Food
We made several cold platters (seafood, dips and bread, antipasto etc) ourselves and got a catering company to deliver some hot finger food.

For dessert I baked daisy topped cupcakes and we made fruit kebabs drizzled with white chocolate.

Drink
We offered sparkling wine, sparkling grape or fizzy lemonade as guests arrived and top ups before the toast. We had an alcoholic punch, fruit juice, beer and red and white wine to go with lunch.

Invitations
I made these myself. They were in the shape of a baby's dress and bloomers and I was quite pleased with them, just quietly. I'll put up a post about how I did them later this week.

The Day of the Ceremony
On arrival guests were given a glass of bubbly, sparkling fruit juice or lemonade and mingled until everyone had arrived.

I made programmes and handed these out so that everyone knew what to expect and had a keepsake of the day.

Memory Box
The ceremony's focus was our wishes for baby which were represented by small gifts and placed in a memory box for her to open and treasure when she is older.

This is a really cute, fun idea that gets everyone involved and I wrote more about how I did it in my Memory Box post.

The Ceremony
1. Welcome and introduction
2. First Reading
3. Announcing the name
4. Parents Promises
5. Family and Friends Promises
6. Presentation of gift
7. Second Reading
8. Hopes for the future
9. Thoughts of absent guests
10. Toast
11. Song

I posted the actual naming ceremony wording in detail here.

Other considerations
There's no right age for a naming ceremony. We had ours on baby's six month anniversary.

Like this? got questions?
If you'd like to know more about any of these ideas let me know - I'm happy to share.

Hi, welcome to 'The Stable Bow' my new blog

I’m a recent mum, of the older variety, shall we say. Both my husband and I work in IT, in the city. We live in a family friendly suburb a short commute away. Our daughter is still a baby and cared for at home – we juggle work and life around her needs.

The Stable Bow is taken from the last line in Khalil Gibran’s passage on children, in The Prophet.

‘For even as he loves the arrow that flies
so he also loves the bow that is stable’

I’m not religious but I guess we all have a spiritual side and The Prophet speaks to me. We had readings from it at both our wedding (On marriage) and baby’s naming ceremony (On children).

It’s my goal to be a 'stable bow' for my family, but there are several challenges I struggle to keep on top of:

• Organised home
• Work-life balance
• Creative outlets
• My wellbeing

I’m trialling blogging as a creative outlet and a positivity tool. Sometimes my life’s focus seems all about work and chores (feeding the baby – feeding the cat – feeding the husband!) and I need to reclaim some ‘me time’ and space, breathe and count my blessings.

I’ll be following the age old maxim and writing about what I know. I hope that’s not too limiting, it may well result in some very short posts!

Anyhoo, I’m planning posts on:

1. Recipes for baked gifts
2. Craft projects I’ve successfully completed
3. Organisational tips/resources I found

And some links to poems, creeds, sites and things I’ve found inspirational.

I hope you find some of it interesting - maybe even helpful?

Feel free to post links to things you think I might like, and to comment on the items I’ve posted.