Hi, I'm Mark

Image of Mark Caffrey (he/him)

Chosen Name & Affirmation Ceremonies

Co-created with trans, non-binary and gender expansive communities, these creative and intimate ceremonies are one way to acknowledge and affirm a significant moment in your unique transition experience at whatever point you choose. The intention behind, and format of, every ceremony is different. We’ll create your ceremony together, from scratch, and with joy and creativity.

Child Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

Naming ceremonies are a great non-religious alternative to bring people together at any time of year to celebrate new arrivals and family milestones - such as a new baby, a welcome to an adoptive family or your child’s milestone birthday. I deliver personalised naming and welcoming ceremonies for children and young people of all ages.

I came across Mark whilst looking for a celebrant for our twin daughter’s naming ceremony. When we had the initial call about my ideas and plans for the ceremony, I could see Mark was the right fit for what we wanted.

Mark is such a calming presence and he listened so intently to Stuart and I when meeting us and our daughters, noting every detail and discussing how our ceremony could take shape. Leading up to the naming ceremony Mark was great at staying in contact going through the script for the day, making changes where needed and always checking in until we were all happy and had a clear vision of the day. He was great at being in touch with the godparents and my family who were contributing to the service, managing that behind the scenes, meaning we could focus on the organising side of things.

On the day Mark was an utter gem, helping with decorating the hall, speaking with my family and friends and just all round amazing. The ceremony was beautiful and once again with his calming and reassuring tone and positive outlook it went beautifully.

I can’t recommend Mark enough, he is so thoughtful and a great listener. He will definitely put you at ease and want nothing more than making sure your ceremony goes the way you imagine it.

— The Larkin Family

Mark conducted such a wonderful naming ceremony for my little granddaughter. It was such a happy day and his gentle and caring delivery really made it such a special occasion. I can’t recommend him highly enough!

— Bridget

We chose Mark to be the celebrant for our daughter's naming ceremony and we were so glad that we did. We had a very ‘DIY’ ceremony for my first daughter, which was lovely, but having Mark as a celebrant to walk us through everything was so valued.

He made our ceremony about so much more than just ‘naming’ our daughter, and wove in a beautiful narrative about the coming together of two families through her birth, as well as honouring those who were not longer with us.

Mark was on hand throughout the whole planning process, not just for us but for all the godparents, grandparents and everyone giving a reading, and his organisation, creativity and support made the ceremony extra special.

We would wholeheartedly recommend Mark and have already booked him as the celebrant for our 2024 wedding!

— Mick & Amy

Image of Mark Caffrey (he/him)

Mark Caffrey (he/him)

Where I work

I'm based in Hastings and deliver naming celebrations across Sussex and London.

Fees from...

Please visit my website to arrange a relaxed discovery chat and get a quote tailored to your needs and ceremony location.

How to contact me
Email

hello@markcaffrey.co.uk

Website

www.markcaffrey.co.uk

Instagram

markcaffreyceremonies_

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.