Autumn is a lovely time of year for a celebration. The seasons are changing, the light is softening and the air is getting crisp. Traditionally it’s a time to give thanks for food, friendship and family. It’s also a perfect time to welcome a new arrival.
Naming ceremonies can be small and intimate or grand and glamorous, but the best part is that they’re entirely personal to you. A professional celebrant will work with you to craft a script that reflects your family’s unique story. Here are five ideas for a beautiful autumn naming ceremony.
An outdoor venue
What better way to embrace the beauty of autumn than by welcoming your guests to an outdoor ceremony. Naming ceremonies can be held anywhere, so it could be an orchard bursting with ripening apples or a dappled grove in a woodland. I love Evenley Wood Garden or Heath Farm for a perfect little slice of nature.
Autumn theme
Autumn is a time to celebrate abundance and generosity. It’s the season for Thanksgiving dinners and harvest festivals, with comforting seasonal food, earthy colours and mellow candlelight. Sticking with the outdoor theme, try Nyama Catering Co for super-charged BBQ food, Spread for fabulous grazing-style food or Amy’s Vintage Teas for scones, jam and cream!
Readings
There are lots of gorgeous poems, inspired by nature and well suited to naming ceremonies. My Parents’ Garden is a good choice, but I also like Ode on the Whole Duty of Parents by Frances Cornford. It sounds like quite a serious title, but the words are thoughtful and uplifting.
The spirits of children are remote and wise,
They must go free
Like fishes in the sea
Or starlings in the skies,
Whilst you remain
The shore where casually they come again.
But when there falls the stalking shade of fear,
You must be suddenly near,
You, the unstable, must become a tree
In whose unending heights of flowering green
Hangs every fruit that grows, with silver bells;
Where heart-distracting magic birds are seen
And all the things a fairy-story tells;
Though still you should possess
Roots that go deep in ordinary earth,
And strong consoling bark
To love and to caress.
Symbolic acts
These are moments of reflection that capture the essence of a naming ceremony. Planting a tree would fit perfectly with the time of year, to mark the start of a new life and the opportunity to grow.
Little touches
Wishing trees are a lovely way for guests to offer words of advice for the future. This one uses autumn leaves to gather messages of love and support from family and friends. For more ideas for gorgeous details to include in your day, visit the Gallery.
If you’re planning an autumn naming ceremony, congratulations! – enjoy all that the season has to offer. Please get in touch for celebrant services in Oxfordshire and surrounding areas. I’d be delighted to create a beautiful event for your family.
Bluebell Ceremonies – Creating beautiful, bespoke ceremonies to celebrate the special moments in your life.
Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and the Cotswolds.