A New Life 

What brings more joy than a brand new life?  Regardless of how children enter yours, they are unique, they are special, and they bring a gift of transformation.  

Partners are transformed to parents, parents to grandparents, children to siblings and siblings to aunts and uncles. Our entire being is changed and it becomes impossible to remember life before their arrival.   

A child's arrival is traditionally marked by a Baptism or Christening ceremony, and while churches still offer these, many people find the rituals lack personal meaning and significance.   

Baby Welcoming/Naming/Blessing ceremonies occur in many cultures and actually pre-date Baptism and Christening ceremonies.  So why not celebrate the arrival of the new life that's entered yours with a custom and personal ceremony as unique as the little one being welcomed?    
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​No child is too young or too old to be welcomed in ceremony, however most Naming and Welcoming Ceremonies happen when the child is somewhere between 4 and 9 months of age.  They know something special is happening, and they know it's all about them!  

After we meet, I will write and professionally officiate your custom Baby Welcoming/Naming or Adoption Ceremony.  I'll also include personal and meaningful rituals to welcome your child into the world and recognize  the lives changed with their arrival.  You have final say on every word, and the ceremony can be held anywhere you would like, from a reception hall, to your back yard. ​ 

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​"Thank you again for the lovely Baby Welcoming Ceremony. We got rave reviews from our guests
who are used to traditional church baptisms so this
was a big change for them. ​
​Seems we may have started a new trend!"

"We just wanted to thank you for the beautiful ceremony. Everyone enjoyed it very much!
​We got lots of positive comments and many were very interested in this kind of ceremony versus a baptism. It was touching and heartfelt, exactly what we wanted."

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Some elements and rituals that may be weaved into the ceremony are:

• the appointment of guide-parents,
• introduction of this new life to the family
• the story behind your child's name.  
• recognizing new siblings, grandparents, cousins, aunts & uncles
• parents pledges to their child
• recognizing other children who will play an important role in the child's life
  
• singing your child's favourite song or reading their favourite nursery rhyme ​​