Beautiful, memorable ceremonies to welcome your new arrival to the family.
Hello! It's so lovely to meet you.
I'm Claire. Full time Humanist Celebrant and mummy to two tiny hurricanes. I always have pockets full of snacks, I know all the words to the Blippi Excavator song and I love a squeezy hug.
If you’ve found your way here, I’m guessing that right now you’re running on very little sleep, you’ve learned to love a cold cup of tea and your laundry pile seems to be mysteriously reproducing. You keep meaning to print photos, write things down, properly soak it all in… but the days are flying past.
And somewhere in amongst all of that, there’s a tiny human who’s arrived, turned your world upside down in the very best way and you just want to tell the world how much you love them.
You're in the right place! That’s exactly what a Naming Ceremony is for. Nothing formal or over the top. Just a chance to pause and celebrate the amazing little person who has filled your life with love and happiness… and ideally, have a wee glass of something fizzy.
What is a Naming Ceremony?
A Naming Ceremony is a joyful, non-religious way to welcome a new little (or big!) person into your family and your wider gang. It’s a chance to gather your favourite people together and mark this new chapter in a way that feels completely right to you.
There are absolutely no rules. You might include promises from parents, words of wisdom from chosen guide parents, symbolic acts or simply a beautiful story about what they mean to you.
Whether they’re brand new to the world or just brand new to your family, it’s all about creating a moment that feels full of love, warmth and meaning.
“Sometimes the littlest things take up the most room in your heart.” A.A. Milne
What happens at a Naming Ceremony?
A Naming Ceremony can be whatever you want it to be! You can invite your closest family and friends to your back garden for a celebration and a BBQ. Or you could find a nice venue and get a magician in to entertain the wee ones.
Maybe you want to tell the story of how your new arrival entered your lives and what they mean to you.
You might choose Guide Parents - special people who promise to support, guide and cheerlead your wee one through life.
You could have a lovely symbolic act - a teddy bear warming (yes, that's a thing!) or a wishing tree.
We can have some music or even get the wee ones involved in a sing along. I'm particularly good at 'Old MacDonald had a farm'.
And, of course, we can include a little bit about their name and why it suits them so perfectly.
It's your ceremony, your way. Drop me a message, we can have a chat and I know we'll come up with something perfect.
About Me
Why am I a good person to talk to about your Naming Ceremony?
Meet my two. Joe and Jack.
They almost never do what you ask them to. The wee one has regular tantrums over having to take his shoes off. I live in a permanent state of chaos, my house is full of brightly coloured plastic and I consider it a good day if I get to bed without being covered in poo, snot, vomit or yoghurt.
AND I could not be any more proud of or in love with them. I'll happily bore you for hours about about how Joe knows every part of an airplane or show you endless videos of Jack dancing. They are my sun, moon and stars.
So if you’re looking for someone who understands what events with kids are really like - and who completely gets why you want to do this anyway - then you’re in the right place. Let's chat!
Get in Touch
I'm based in Belfast and available for Naming Ceremonies across Northern Ireland and beyond.
I'd love to get to know you and your lovely wee family.
Drop me a message here - 3am emails are welcomed - and we'll grab some caffeine and a cake.
