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Top Note Ceremonies at your service

with Steve Pritchard-Jones

Baby Naming, Adoption Welcoming, Stepchildren Welcoming, Change of Name, Baby Naming after passing away Ceremony Package
From £300

Ceremony Package
From £300

A Naming ceremony is based on the idea of a welcome. Its purpose is to celebrate new life or in the context of a family, to welcome the new relationship with the person it concerns, or to celebrate a new addition to the family. A ceremony is constructed and officiated to ‘name’ or ‘welcome’ the new life and for the family to share their aspirations for the child’s future.

There is also no reason why a Naming ceremony cannot be conducted for a newborn/young child or for a child being welcomed into the family through adoption for example. It is a wonderful opportunity to share the love for the change in family circumstances with important people in the families’ lives.

There are no legal aspects to Naming ceremonies and they can be held in any location. This provides the family with exciting possibilities as they can use their own imagination to make it a special occasion. They might hold it in building that holds significance to them, or they may choose a wonderful outdoor location because it has meaning for the future, such as in a forest to symbolise growth.

There are different types of naming ceremonies:

 Baby Naming Ceremony

This is a celebration of new life. This ceremony will usually take place between 2 months – 1 year old.

Parents may choose to appoint ‘Guideparent’s’ or any name that may signify a special person in the upbringing of the child. The Guideparent can be involved as much or as little in the ceremony itself, such as performing a reading, making wishes or tying coloured ribbons, the list is endless and entirely up to the client.

A Guideparent would be someone that the client sees their baby potentially looking to for advice or help or guidance in the future, hence the use of the well accepted term Guide-parent. It’s an amazing honour to bestow on anyone and the responsibilities that the client attaches to the role may vary massively, along with the briefing given before the special day.

Adoption Ceremony

This is a ceremony that recognises a new addition to a family unit and could be for any age of child as well as any family configuration.

If someone is adopted into the family, a ceremony can be performed to mark and honour their right as a family member. The involvement of other significant people may also vary, such as the child doing a reading or marking the significance of the occasion with a ritual or perhaps even something fun like a show of their talent. It's all about making the child feel welcome, comfortable and ensuring all those around them that love and care for them will be there to support them as part of the new family unit.

Stepchildren Welcoming Ceremony

This is a celebration of blending a (new) family unit. It is a great way to recognise two families coming together and the love that the (new) relationships hold and represent. The purpose is to surround the new family unit with the love and support of significant people in their lives; to declare to the world that the new family is strong, cohesive and bound together with love.

Change of Name Ceremony

If a person decides to change their name throughout their life, they may choose to have a ‘Renaming’ ceremony to mark this occasion. This can be particularly relevant to transgender and is a wonderful chance for the client family to openly declare their love and support for the person making the change.

There could be a whole host of reasons why someone would change their name, but as above, the same applies regarding total location flexibility, setting, style and everything else to make it personalised.

Baby Naming after passing Ceremony

 In the unfortunate event that a baby does not live in the first few months, parents may choose to have a Naming ceremony to officially mark the life and name of the child that has passed. This sometimes coincides with a funeral service and is a beautiful marking of the life lost, for whatever reason. Ceremonies such as these are very often more low-key than the others, they are quite intimate and understandably emotionally charged

Transgender/Coming Out Ceremony

If a person decides to change their name, sexual orientation, or gender throughout their life, they may choose to have a ‘Renaming’ ceremony to mark this occasion. This can be particularly relevant to transgender and is a wonderful chance for the family to openly declare their love and support for the person making the change.

Free initial virtual consultation via Zoom, Teams, Skype, or WhatsApp FaceTime
Additional virtual follow-up meetings as required
WhatsApp communication as required
‘Getting to know the family’ questionnaire
Special ritual materials
Writing the ceremony script
Support you writing your vows
Rehearsal
Officiating the ceremony
Perform live music on the keyboard or trumpet, if required
Framed Ceremony Certificate
Copy of the Ceremony in a Presentation Folder

Every ceremony is bespoke to your requirements and a total price will be given before any commitment is made.
Travel expenses (50p per mile after 30 miles) and hotel fees will be charged additionally if applicable.