Hi, I'm Sue
Welcoming a baby into a family is a pretty profound and special moment. So is adopting a child. If you’re religious, then you can opt for a christening or other religious ritual. But what if you’re not religious? This is where a humanist naming ceremony comes in.
And what if you have made an important decision to change your name or gender? These are also significant life events that can be marked and celebrated with a naming ceremony.
As a humanist naming celebrant I welcome the opportunity to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and sexual orientation. All are welcome here! Love is love and should be celebrated.
Non-religious child naming ceremonies are ideal for families that want their children to be free to make their own choices about what they believe as they grow up. Instead of prayers or hymns humanist ceremonies are full of love, respect, empathy, and kindness – the values that we all share.
Humanist naming ceremonies are all about welcoming your new addition into a loving community of family and friends. And the same goes for marking a significant transition. At its core, a naming ceremony is a celebration – a celebration of love, of commitment, of family, and of friendship.
One of the great things about naming ceremonies is there are no legal restrictions on where you hold them. I’ve conducted naming ceremonies in community centres, private homes and gardens, restaurants, and even a pub!
And you can structure the ceremony anyway you want. My webpage provides some guidance. Sometimes things won't go precisely to plan as little children have their own agendas but somehow it doesn't seem to matter. After all – naming ceremonies aren’t solemn events: they're relaxed and joyful gatherings full of love and laughter.
You can include promises from parents and grandparents, appoint ‘guideparents’ and even make a fuss of older siblings. I love to get everyone to make a communal commitment or pledge to the star of the show too. After all – it takes a village to raise a child.
Symbolic rituals such as sand blending, tree planting and candle lighting can also be fun and touching ways to involve family and friends.
If this sounds like something you’d like to organise then give me a call.
We are so happy we chose Sue for our son’s naming ceremony. Sue’s sunny and warm persona made us feel instantly at ease and on the day she completely won over our guests! Sue had fabulous ideas and tips which made the ceremony a huge success. Our guests raved about it afterwards. It was just perfect. Thank you, Sue!
— Kellie & Rob
Sue Walder
Where I work
Currently based in beautiful Calderdale in West Yorkshire and happy to travel across other parts of Yorkshire. I also work in London and surrounding counties.
Fees from...
£350
How to contact me
sue.walder@humanistceremonies.org.uk
Phone
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.
