A naming ceremony is a personal celebration that welcomes your child into your family and the wider circle of people who love them.

It might include the story behind your child's name, promises from you as parents, a few words from grandparents or special adults, readings, music and a meaningful ritual. Most of all, it's a chance to gather your people and say, in your own way, "This is our child, and this is the story we're beginning together."

A naming ceremony is a civil celebration, so there's no religious element unless you'd like one. Many families choose it because they want to celebrate their child without a formal religious service.

If spiritual, cultural or family traditions matter to you, they're welcome too. Your ceremony can be completely non-religious, or it can reflect the beliefs and values your family holds.

No. A naming ceremony is a heartfelt celebration rather than a legal document. Registering your child's birth with the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages is a separate step, and your naming ceremony sits alongside it as the part that celebrates who your child is and the people around them.

No. It celebrates the name your child already has. If you're changing a name, that's done through the Registry, and a naming ceremony can be a lovely way to mark it afterwards.

Whenever feels right for your family. Some families hold one when their baby is a few months old, others wait until their child is walking and talking, and some mark a later milestone such as an adoption or a new family coming together.

Yes. Naming ceremonies suit babies, toddlers and older children alike. An older child can even help plan their own ceremony, which makes it extra special for them. It's also a lovely way to welcome an adopted or foster child, or to celebrate a child joining a blended family.

Of course. Twins, siblings close in age, or an older child who never had a ceremony can all be celebrated together. I'll make sure each child has their own moment, their own name story and their own certificate, so nobody feels like an afterthought.

Yes, and that's exactly what it should do. Families come together in so many ways. You might be a single parent, two mums or two dads, an adoptive, foster or kinship family, a blended family, or grandparents raising grandchildren. Whatever your family looks like, your ceremony will be written around the people who love your child. We'll choose wording that fits your family exactly as it is.

Every ceremony is different, and we'll choose the parts that feel right for you. A ceremony might include:

•      A warm welcome to your guests

•      Your child's name and the story behind it

•      A little of your child's story so far

•      Your hopes for their life

•      Promises from you as parents

•      Promises from grandparents, godparents or supporting adults

•      A reading, poem or music

•      A family ritual

•      A role for brothers and sisters

•      Signing and presenting the naming certificate

•      Closing words and a celebration of your family

You don't need to include everything. Some of the loveliest ceremonies are the simplest.

If your child is old enough, I'd love to chat with them too. A toddler might show me their favourite toy or tell me their dog's name. An older child can share what they love, what makes them laugh and even help choose parts of their ceremony. I keep it relaxed and at their pace, so it feels like a friendly chat rather than an interview.

Then I bring all those details together into a ceremony your guests will recognise instantly as yours, the kind where a grandparent smiles because they know exactly which story is coming next.

Yes, and it's often a favourite part of the ceremony. You might like to share:

•      Why you chose the name

•      Whether it honours someone special

•      How you settled on the spelling

•      The story behind a middle name

•      Any cultural, family or spiritual connection

Even "we just loved how it sounded" can become a sweet moment in the right hands.

Yes, and it can be one of the most meaningful moments of the day. We might share a little about who they were and why their name lives on, light a candle, or place a photo nearby.

Yes. Many families choose godparents, guardians, mentors or close friends to stand alongside them and make promises to support your child as they grow.

The role doesn't need to be religious. We'll find a title that feels right for your family, whether that's godparent, guide parent, mentor or something entirely your own.

The promises made at a naming ceremony are heartfelt and important, but they don't carry legal weight. Naming someone as a godparent or guide parent doesn't make them your child's legal guardian.

If you'd like a particular person to care for your child should anything happen to you, that's arranged through a will, and a solicitor can help you set it up. Many families find the naming ceremony is a gentle prompt to get that done.

Yes, if you'd like one. Some lovely options include:

•      Lighting a candle

•      Planting a tree that grows alongside your child

•      Creating a time capsule to open on a future birthday

•      A family blessing or promise

•      Guests sharing wishes for your child

•      A ritual designed especially for your family

Simple rituals are often the most meaningful. What matters is that it connects to your family.

Yes, and lots of families do. A naming ceremony fits beautifully into a first birthday party, a family reunion or even your own wedding day, where your child can be welcomed as part of the family you're creating. It means everyone who matters is already in one place.

Your home, backyard, a park, a function room or a family property. Anywhere your people can gather.

Most naming ceremonies run for around 20 to 30 minutes, depending on what you include. We'll make sure there's enough time for the special moments without asking too much of little attention spans, including your child's.

Work around your child's routine. Many families choose a time just after a nap and a feed, when their little one is most settled, and mid-morning often works well for babies and toddlers. For outdoor ceremonies in Queensland, avoiding the heat of the middle of the day helps everyone stay comfortable.

That's perfectly fine. It's their ceremony, after all. Babies might need a feed, a cuddle, a nappy change or a little break, and we'll simply pause and carry on when they're ready.

I'm relaxed about letting the ceremony unfold naturally, so there's never any need to feel embarrassed.

Yes. Your ceremony includes a personalised naming certificate as a keepsake of the day. It's a commemorative certificate, so can sits alongside your child's official birth certificate.

My naming ceremony is $550. That includes your planning meeting, a personalised ceremony written around your child and family, the story behind their name, guidance with readings and music, family involvement, one personalised ritual if you'd like one, a draft to review, delivery on the day, a PA where needed, a personalised naming certificate, a keepsake copy of the ceremony and local travel.

Your naming ceremony includes:

•      An initial planning meeting

•      A personalised ceremony written around your child and family

•      The story or meaning behind your child's name

•      Guidance with readings and music

•      Involvement of siblings and grandparents

•      Involvement of godparents, mentors or supporting adults

•      Parent promises

•      One personalised ritual, if you'd like one

•      A ceremony draft to review

•      Phone and email support while we plan

•      Delivery of your ceremony on the day

•      A PA system where required

•      A personalised naming certificate

•      Certificates for supporting adults where appropriate

•      A keepsake copy of the ceremony

•      Local travel

Get in touch as soon as you have a rough date and location in mind. It gives us time to plan thoughtfully and gives family members, especially those travelling, time to organise themselves. If your plans are coming together quickly, still reach out and we'll see what's possible.

Send me your preferred date, location and a little about your family and the celebration you're imagining. I'll let you know whether I'm free and we can organise a chat.

Yes. I'm based in the Moreton Bay Region and hold naming ceremonies across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and Southeast Queensland. Travel up to 50 km is included, with a $1.01 per-kilometre fee beyond that, which I'll explain before you book.

With 18 years as a celebrant, I know how to create a ceremony that feels natural, warm and relaxed for families, even when the guest of honour has their own ideas about the schedule.

I'll listen to your family's story, help you decide what matters most and look after the details, so you can enjoy welcoming your child with the people you love. My background in life celebrations means I understand how much these moments matter, and how they become part of your family's story for years to come.