A civil ceremony to
celebrate the birth of your child and to welcome them into the
family and the wider community.
A naming ceremony is a very special way of celebrating the birth
of your child and welcoming the new arrival into the family and the
wider community. It is also an opportunity to declare, before
family and friends, your promise to be as good a parent as you can
and for adult friends or relatives to confirm their special
relationship with your child. It is a unique occasion for everyone
to feel involved as they pledge their love and support for your
child's future development.
Perhaps you are looking for a ceremony which acts as a focal
point to make a formal start to your celebrations with family and
friends. You may not consider a religious baptism to be appropriate
- then a naming ceremony is ideal.
Naming ceremonies can also be used as a celebration of adoption
or to welcome step-children into an extended family unit. Children
of any age may have a naming ceremony - you may wish to include
older children as well as your new child.
Can I use a naming Ceremony to change my childs name?
As naming ceremonies have no legal status, they cannot be used
to legally change a child's name. Please seek advice from the
Registration Office or your legal adviser before attempting to
make changes to your child's registered name.
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Where can naming ceremonies be held?
They can be held at some
Suffolk Registration Offices or any of the 60 plus
Approved
Venues in Suffolk. Subject to County Council approval it may be
possible for these ceremonies to be held at other locations. This
would be totally at the discretion of the Senior Registrar
responsible for the area and subject to a non-refundable
inspection fee of £50.
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What does the ceremony include?
The ceremony can be personalised according to your requirements.
There are opportunities to include readings, to make promises to
your child, to present a special gift and even to reaffirm your
marriage vows to each other. There is also a separate section of
the ceremony for Grandparents.
A souvenir certificate is presented at the end of the
ceremony.
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What about the role of Godparents?
They are known as the 'supporting adults' in the naming
ceremony.
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How long is the Ceremony?
This will depend on the elements you wish to include. We suggest
you allow approximately 30 minutes.
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Can a single parent or unmarried couple hold a naming ceremony for
their child?
Yes, you can have a ceremony for your child whether you are
married or not. You can also have a naming ceremony if you are a
single parent. Ceremonies can be arranged by anyone who has
parental responsibility or legal guardianship for the child.
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How much will it cost?
Prices 1st April 2009 -31st March 2012
- Monday - Thursday £180.00
- Friday-Saturday £200.00
- Sunday and Bank Holiday £230.00
Prices 1st April 2012 -31st March 2014
- Monday - Saturday £210.00
- Sunday and Bank Holiday £240.00
This fee includes an optional planning meeting with the
celebrant who will conduct the ceremony.
A £100 non-refundable deposit is payable when booking.
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How can I arrange to book a ceremony?
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General enquiries about Naming Ceremonies can be made at any
Suffolk Registration Office or email
registrars@suffolk.gov.uk.
These ceremonies are offered as a partnership between
Suffolk County Council, The Baby Naming Society and Civil
Ceremonies Limited
http://www.civilceremonies.co.uk/.
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