Initial meeting * Draft ceremony * Venue liaison / visit Draft Order of Ceremony * Second meeting – agree Order of Ceremony * Final Draft presentation and practice * Officiate Ceremony

SOME SPECIAL CEREMONY ELEMENTS

PARCHMENT SIGNING CEREMONY

A brief ceremony involving the parents, “supporting adults/mentors” and grandparents if desired. Each in turn sign a keepsake parchment.

UNITY SAND CEREMONY

The Unity Sand Ceremony is ideal for a Naming Ceremony, or Vow Renewal as well as a Wedding as this ritual not only symbolises the joining of the couple, but is also a great way of including young children in the ceremony and for unifying families.

HAND-LINKING NAMING CEREMONY WITH RIBBON

Here the hands of guests and family are linked with ribbon to the child/baby’s hands. The ribbon can previously have been signed with special messages. Everyone in the group then bestows the child’s Forever Name in unison.

ART WORK

In this ritual – which is usually included at the end of the ceremony – relatives and friends are invited to add their hand prints on to a canvas (which can already include the child’s hand and foot prints). Silicone gloves and other protective gear are provided!

RENEWAL OF VOWS

Many parents choose the arrival of a child – by birth or adoption – as an ideal time to renew their wedding vows to each other in front of friends and family.

SIGNED PEBBLES, SHELLS or BUILDING BRICKS

Guests are invited to sign (with indelible marker pens) attractive stones or wooden building blocks with special messages for the child. These can later be used for decoration inside the home or in the garden.

TREE PLANTING CEREMONY

If the Naming Ceremony is taking place in the family home, a tree or shrub can be planted to mark the occasion. The hole is usually prepared earlier and family members as well as supporting adults can join together with replacing the soil.

ROSE CEREMONY

In the rose ceremony the parents can choose to present flowers to their mothers/grandmothers or other supporting adults as a way of showing appreciation for their support.