As a celebrant, it is always a great pleasure and honour to be invited to conduct a baby naming ceremony for one the of the couples you have married (or not).  It allows you the opportunity to see your couple again and catch up with all their latest news.  It also allows you to commence a new relationship with the family and our Online Naming Course will give your the resources and skills to plan, prepare and conduct a professional naming ceremony.

You will then become their “family celebrant” and you will be called on for all family occasions, whether happy or sad, from womb to tomb and the many life events with which you can assist the family to celebrate in a meaningful, sincere and professional way.  As the “family celebrant”, you will become more and more familiar with the family and, whatever the occasion, with the background of having completed our Online Naming Course, you will be able to assist to ensure their celebration is everything the family could ask for.

The Naming Ceremony is a ceremonial occasion for extended family members and friends to officially welcome the new family member; whether a newborn, one year old, a wee toddler or perhaps an adopted older child who the family wants to officially recognise and welcome into their new family relationship.

With our Online Naming Course you can discuss the format of the ceremony with the parents, although it will often include the meaning of the ‘name’, promises of support an love for the child’s future – parents, grandparents, older siblings and, of course, godparents (more commonly known as guardian parents; not in the legal sense of the word ‘guardian’)

Relations may also offer gifts, love and the promise to share and teach the new family member. Rose petals, candles, balloons, bubbles and other symbols can be used through the ceremony for the enjoyment of guests and particularly the many other children who would no doubt be present.  Our Online Naming Course includes many symbolic rituals for the naming day. Don’t forget music and party food are key components of any celebration.

Sadly, civil celebrants are often called upon to perform naming ceremonies in hospitals for very sick newborns and a naming ceremony may even be incorporated in a funeral service for a stillborn baby or babies who have only had very short lives.   At these particular times a “family celebrant” will be a special source of support and caring at such a difficult, vulnerable time and completion of our Online Naming Course will prepare you well to handle these types of situations.

If you do not already have it installed, you will need to download the FREE Adobe PDF Reader to complete your course.