Hi, I'm Louise
Thank you for your interest in Humanist Ceremonies and for considering me as your celebrant.
When my children were born, I had a strong desire to recognise their arrival, introduce them to friends and family and explain to everyone how important they were. A naming ceremony was the perfect solution. We made promises to our children in front of friends and family and appointed ‘guide-parents’ to offer support as they grew. We celebrated with the people we loved.
A humanist naming ceremony brings people together without restrictions of religion. It can help cement existing bonds and create new ones. Recognising a family’s journey and looking to their future together can be a healing and positive experience -the beginning of a new chapter. Explaining the meaning of names and why they were chosen can help people understand the significance of a new addition to the family.
If you are celebrating a new baby, twins, or an older child joining your family, a naming ceremony is a lovely idea. If you are a blended family taking new surnames, a naming ceremony can help with this transition. If you have older children who weren’t celebrated when they were younger, or if you have a child who has changed their identity, we can help create a ceremony to recognise the person that they are now. We will create a ceremony that is right for you.
Your ceremony can take place anywhere and be as grand or simple as you want. From half a dozen people in a kitchen to hundreds of people in a castle or anything in between. You choose the venue, tell us what sort of ceremony you would like and we will help you create a personal, unique day to remember. We will include what is important to you and can share lots of ideas for symbolic actions and promises. Important people in your life can take part in the ceremony, we can have poetry, music, fun and games or just keep things simple.
After training as a Humanist Celebrant in 2016, I work closely with my friend and colleague, Sonya Soundy, under the name of Heartfelt Ceremonies. We are both accredited, experienced, humanist celebrants and have had the privilege to work with many, many families to create meaningful, personal ceremonies. Sonya is also guideparent to both of my children. Our normal practice is for one of us to lead your ceremony with background assistance from the other. For one fixed fee you receive the benefits of two qualified, professional celebrants
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If you need a naming ceremony, we would be delighted to help.
Catherine and I wanted to thank you so much for today, your personal touch made the ceremony especially magical for us and our friends and family. Everyone commented afterwards how wonderful it was and all said they loved the personal touches. It’s been an uncertain time for us and you have made the journey incredibly easy and have been there all the way reassuring us.
— V & C
Thank you so much for another amazing ceremony. You guys are the best and I recommend you to anyone who is looking.
— C & A
Thank you so much for holding the space and leading such a special ceremony for F** - it was so important and such a fantastic day. We appreciate it so much! Once again thank you so much for making the day so special and making F** so at ease.
— Caroline
I just wanted to say thank you again for a lovely ceremony yesterday. It exceeded our expectations and made E**'s day truly special. All of our guests commented how nice it was.
— Nadine
Louise Forty
Where I work
We cover the whole of Devon and can go further afield if need be, provided that additional expenses are covered.
Fees from...
£250 - £300 depending on distances involved.
How to contact me
heartfeltceremonies@outlook.com
Website
HUMANIST CEREMONIES™ is the network of more than 550 celebrants, trained by national charity Humanists UK to a gold standard to provide memorable and meaningful humanist ceremonies to non-religious people. Operating throughout England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, we deliver authentic, tailor-made and heartfelt ceremonies for life’s key moments. They are always inclusive and welcoming, regardless of the beliefs of those attending.
You can trust Humanist Ceremonies celebrants: We are DBS-checked, fully insured, and regularly peer reviewed for quality assurance. We are committed to a code of conduct, and have a transparent and robust complaints process in the rare case of a problem. We all pay a monthly fee to Humanists UK to further support the work of the charity, and are part of a regional network for like-minded celebrants for support and learning.
Humanist naming ceremonies
A humanist naming ceremony is a joyous event, and the perfect opportunity to gather friends and family to welcome your child into the world, with no reference to religion. It focuses on the child, their future and the circle of love and support around them, offering a sincere and personal alternative to a christening or other religious ceremony.
