Hi, I'm Sonya

Image of Sonya Soundy

Thank you for your interest in Humanist Ceremonies and for considering me as your celebrant.

As a guide-parent, I love the fact that there are children in my life and that I am able to be recognised as being important in their lives. A naming ceremony is a great way to welcome a child to the world and acknowledge significant relationships. As a celebrant, I feel doubly privileged to be able to deliver this joyous ceremony for other families.

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 a hundred people in a castle or anything in between. You choose the venue and 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, Louise Forty, 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. I am also the guide-parent to both of Louise’s 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.

If a naming ceremony is what you need, we would be delighted to help.

Thank you so much again for making N’s Naming Ceremony so special, personal and memorable. We have had so many lovely comments from our friends and family about how much they enjoyed the ceremony so we can’t thank you enough for being part of it.

— Dee

We absolutely loved the ceremony and everybody has commented on how lovely and heartfelt it was! You guys live up to your name!! Thanks again for an amazing afternoon. We will recommend your services for sure.

— Chrissy and Al

Just a thank you for the most amazing day last Sunday; it was everything we hoped for and so much more. It meant so much to us having you there and we love the fact that you also were part of B*****’s special day- having that continuity is something special to us.

— Amy

Image of Sonya Soundy

Sonya Soundy

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 to £300 depending on the distances involved.

How to contact me
Email

sonya_soundy@hotmail.com

Phone

07503 217 068

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.