Beautiful Beginnings
Welcome to the World: Naming and Welcoming Ceremonies in France
Every new life deserves a proper welcome. And every family deserves to celebrate that arrival in a way that truly reflects who they are.
A naming ceremony is not just about giving a baby their name. It is a rite of passage. It is a moment where a family gathers to say: this child is loved, this child is wanted, this child belongs to us. These are the promises I make to this child. It is one of the most joyful ceremonies I get to create.
I offer naming and welcoming ceremonies across Charente Maritime, Charente, the Dordogne and the Gironde, and I would absolutely love to help your family celebrate this beautiful milestone.
What is Included in
Your Naming Ceremony Package
My naming package is built around the idea that your ceremony deserves time, thought and care.
Here is everything that is included in my fee.
- An initial consultation to make sure we are a wonderful match
- An interview with the parents, and with any siblings if they are old enough to be involved, finding out all about your child and your family
- For adopted children: time spent finding out about your adoption story and what this ceremony means for your family
- For adult naming ceremonies: a meeting to understand the person's story and what they would like to celebrate
- A curated selection of poems and readings to choose from
- An introduction to writing family vows to your new child or family member
- A completely unique and bespoke ceremony script
- All drafts and revisions
- Unlimited access to me throughout the process
- Liaison with your venue manager, photographer, musician or DJ.
- Advice on ceremony choreography and seating arrangements
- Officiating your ceremony on the day
- Travel within 40 kilometres of my home in Charente Maritime
Written Just for You
Thoughtful Planning, Right Down to the Details
Optional extras, charged additionally:
- Family vow writing for each parent or family member: €100 per person
- Proof-reading and editing vows: €50 per person
- Symbolic ceremony props such as tree planting equipment, candles or vases: charged at cost
- A commemorative certificate for signing: charged at cost
- Travel beyond 40km from my home: 45 cents per kilometre
How We Create Your Naming Ceremony
After our initial consultation, I will interview you and your family, taking the time to really find out about your child, your family story and what you are hoping the day will feel like.
If you have older children, I will involve them in the conversation too. A naming ceremony is a wonderful opportunity for siblings to feel genuinely part of welcoming a new family member, and I love designing moments that include them properly.
We discuss the elements you would like to include: readings, family vows, symbolic elements, music. Whether you have specific wishes or would love some guidance on the options, I am there for both.
I then go away and create your unique ceremony script, working out the choreography and the order of proceedings. We review it together and refine until every word is exactly right.
On the day, I officiate your ceremony, making sure every moment unfolds beautifully.
Family Moments
Types of Naming and Welcoming Ceremonies
Naming ceremonies are far more varied than most people realise.
Newborn and baby naming ceremonies are the most common, and they are a complete joy to create. This is the moment where a child is officially welcomed into a family and a community. It is also a beautiful opportunity for any guide parents or supporters to make their promises to the child.
Ceremonies for older children can be held for a whole range of reasons. Perhaps the family never had a ceremony when the child was born and would like one now. Perhaps a family has relocated and wants to mark a new chapter with a new community. There is no expiry date on wanting to celebrate a child.
Adoption ceremonies are among the most moving events I create. Welcoming a child into a new family, celebrating the journey that brought them there, and making a set of loving promises for the future.
Multiple naming ceremonies are also possible and can be extraordinary. Good friends of mine held a naming ceremony for three of their children of different ages who had not been baptised or christened. It brought two branches of a far-flung family together and was a genuinely beautiful occasion.
Adult naming ceremonies mark the occasion of a name change and are a lovely way to celebrate that transition with the people who matter most.
Transparent Pricing
Packages and Pricing
Naming ceremony fees start from €500, depending on the number of elements included in your ceremony.
Payment terms:
A booking fee of 50% of the total is due on booking. The remaining balance is due 8 weeks before the ceremony, or sooner if the ceremony falls within that window. Ceremonies booked within 10 weeks require payment in full at the time of booking. All fees are non-refundable.
Travel within 40km of my home is included. Beyond that, I charge 45 cents per kilometre.
Please get in touch for a personalised quotation.
Why Choose Susie Mae for Your Naming Ceremony
A naming ceremony should feel like the beginning of something. It should be joyful, warm, personal and full of love and hope. And it should never, ever feel like a template.
I bring enormous care to every naming ceremony I create. I take the time to really understand your family and what makes you special. I find out about the child at the heart of the day. I craft something that is entirely yours, from the opening words to the final moment.
I also love a good symbolic element. Tree plantings are wonderful for naming ceremonies. Sand ceremonies are lovely for involving siblings. Whatever feels right for your family, I will make it beautiful and I will make it meaningful.
Naming Ceremony FAQs
What is the difference between a naming ceremony and a christening?
A naming ceremony is a secular, non-religious celebration. There is no religious commitment involved, and it is not a sacrament. It is simply a beautiful, meaningful event where a child is welcomed and named in front of their family and community. If you are not religious but still want to mark this milestone with love and ceremony, this is exactly what you are looking for.