Gold Coast · Byron Bay · Tweed Coast
Welcoming your little one deserves more than an announcement on a card. A proper naming ceremony, written for your family, is one of the warmest things I get to do.
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A baby naming ceremony isn't a christening, and it isn't legally required. It's a deliberate moment, in front of the people who love your family, where you welcome your child by name and ask your closest people to play a role in their life. For families who want the warmth of a christening without the religion, it's perfect.
The ceremony is short (usually 20 minutes), warm, and written around your family. No template script. We talk about your child, the people around them, and what you want the room to feel.
Every naming ceremony has the same core: a personalised script, the formal naming, recognition of grandparents and godparents (or guide parents, guardians, or whatever language fits your family), promises from the people who'll help raise them, and a keepsake certificate. I bring a PA so the back row hears every word, which matters more than you'd think when there are kids running around.
From there, add whatever rituals fit. Planting a tree. Sealing a time capsule. A candle-lighting. Sand pouring as godparents are welcomed in. A reading from a sibling, a song from a grandparent, a cultural element from your heritage. Pick what feels right; skip what doesn't.
A naming ceremony isn't just about revealing your child's name. It's about gathering the people who'll help shape who they become.
Most naming ceremonies happen at home: backyards, decks, living rooms with thirty of the closest people. Beach ceremonies are gorgeous if your family has a particular beach that means something. The vibe is warmer and more intimate than a wedding, usually with kids underfoot and food immediately afterwards.
I cover the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, and the Tweed. Travel within the region is included; further afield is $1 per kilometre.
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It all starts with an email or call. Tell me about your child, the people who'll be there, and any traditions or rituals that already feel important to your family.
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I draft a script around your family. You read it, change anything that doesn't sound like you, and we lock it in. We finalise any rituals (tree, candles, time capsule) and the godparent promises together.
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I arrive about 30 minutes early, set up the PA, and run the ceremony. Your child gets formally welcomed by name, and you get a keepsake certificate to keep forever.
No, it's not. Australian babies are named legally through Births, Deaths and Marriages registration, which happens regardless. A naming ceremony is purely about the celebration: gathering family, formally welcoming your child by name, and asking specific people to play a role in their life. The keepsake naming certificate I provide is a beautiful memento, not a legal document.
A christening is religious; a naming ceremony isn't. The structure is similar (welcoming the child, recognising the people around them, making promises), but a naming ceremony is non-religious by default. That said, if your family has spiritual or cultural elements you'd like included, we can absolutely write them in. It's your ceremony.
Only if you want them. Some families choose godparents in the traditional sense; others prefer "guide parents", "guardians", or just "the people who promise to be there." Some skip the formal role entirely and have grandparents or older siblings make the promises instead. Every family does it differently and there's no right way.
About 20 minutes for the ceremony itself. With everyone arriving, settling, and lingering for photos afterwards, plan for about an hour total before the party part really starts. I arrive 30 minutes early to set up.
Absolutely, and I genuinely love it when they are. Older siblings can do a short reading, hand over a symbolic gift, light a candle, or make a promise of their own. It gives them a real role rather than just being on the sidelines, and it's usually one of the best moments of the ceremony.
Get in touch with the date and rough plan and I'll send you a quote. Naming ceremonies are typically priced lower than wedding ceremonies because they're shorter and have less paperwork. There are no hidden fees and travel within the Gold Coast and Tweed area is included.
Send me a message about your little one, your family, and what you're picturing for the day. I'll come back with availability and a draft plan.
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