Namings & Adoptions Blog
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Mini-Ceremony Ideas
If you want to really personalise your Naming Day, then here are some suggestions for additional mini-ceremonies that can be included…
- Creating a time capsule or memory box – Ask your guests to bring something to add to it such as a newspaper article from the day your child was born, gifts to be opened when they reach a significant date in the future, family photos, recorded messages or something else meaningful to them. The container is sealed during the ceremony and opened again on a significant birthday in the future.
- Sand ceremony – Significant people such as you, the Guideparents, the Grandparents and other family and friends take it it turn to fill up one large empty glass container with different coloured sands, a colour per person and a layer at a time. This symbolises the commitment and contribution that each person is prepared to make to your child and can be displayed for years to come as a reminder of the support your child has from those people.
- Lighting candles – candles have traditionally been the symbol of warmth, light and hope for centuries. Both parents and the Guideparents can simultaneously light a larger pillar candle form their smaller taper candles either to music, a reading or in silence. A candle can also be used as an act of remembrance for someone significant that is no longer with us.
- Tree planting – Can be done into the ground or into a pot and is a great way of involving everyone and also gives a great opportunity to include words about the importance of nurturing and caring.
- Wish tree – Invite your guests to write a personal message, promise or wish to your child on a tag that can be then hung on a tree. If you are outdoors then you can use a real tree or if you are indoors you could use artificial branches. This also works well with tree planting. After the service the tags are collected up and kept as a keepsake.
- Planting seeds and bulbs – You could give guests seeds or bulbs to plant and then to take home.
- Photographic guest book – Ask your guests to all take a selfie on a phone that is handed around with the guest book so that when they write their words of wisdom to your child, their photo can be included on the facing page at a later date!
- Video guest book – Take the photographic guest book a stage further and create a Photo Booth for your guests to leave a personal video message for your child. This is a fantastic way of showing your child who the important people in their lives were when they were a baby because sadly some of those people will no longer be around later.
- Bubbles – Blowing bubbles is a fun and environmentally-friendly alternative to a balloon or lantern release and are great fun for children to chase and make a great photo opportunity.
- Dove release – each of you and the Guideparents can release a dove each, representing their individual promises to your child.
- Hand-fasting – whilst increasingly common in wedding ceremonies, it works really well for Naming Days to symbolise the connection between your child, you and the Guideparents. The naming ribbon can be plaited from different symbolic colour ribbons and tied initially around your baby’s hand before being tied around each of the significant adults before completing the circle by attaching it back to the baby’s other hand.
- Commission a poet to write a poem for your child – a very beautiful and lasting way to create memories that can be kept and also read out during the ceremony.
- Hand print on their Naming Certificate – let your baby join in the signing of the certificate by stamping their palm on the paper! It’s a wonderful way of visualising how much your child has grown over the years.
You were wonderful. Everyone said how personal you made everything. My
sister's, friends and other family commented on your kindness and
presentation
Kathleen
Luton
