Bringing a new life into the world is a very special event. At The Lost Village of Dode we love to celebrate occasions.  For those who are not looking for a ‘traditional’ christening in a Church of England Church a naming ceremony can be a great alternative. We have put together some tips and suggestions on how to organise a naming ceremony at The Lost Village of Dode, please remember there is no right or wrong way.

The guests

With the capacity of 40 guests, yourself and your partner can choose your nearest and dearest to attend your child’s special occasion. We recommend writing out a list of people you would like to invite, for you to see how many guests it comes to. 

The ceremony

The actual ceremony itself will last around half an hour.  We offer a baby naming ceremony in a spiritual, but non-religious setting.  At The Lost Village of Dode we recommend using our in-house celebrant Paul who can conduct your ceremony and provide the words, or use the words written by the parents, grandparents or sponsors.

Decide on a theme (if you would like one)

Whilst pastel decorations are still strong, back to nature is becoming increasingly popular.  You might like to have a design on an invitation that is carried through to the ceremony information. Why not take a look at our Pinterest page for theme inspiration.

Catering

It is a lovely gesture to provide guests with some refreshments. Our friends Flying Pig Kitchen who we work with are able to offer canapés and buffets, to afternoon tea and more formal dining. A full range of their menus can be viewed here.

Additionally, and a very popular option from our friends at Treats On A Tricycle are ice-creams for your guests. Along with cake from Chelsea Buns Cake Design who can create a beautiful bespoke cake.

What to wear

There are no rules on what to wear.  Girls tend to wear dresses and boys usually dress in a shirt and trousers.

Entertainment

Entertainment is usually a great idea to keep the younger guests happy. Our friends at
Vintage Carnival Games can provide bespoke handcrafted wooden outdoor games. Another of our friends The Artful Doodler can provide fun caricatures of your guests for great laughter and a wonderful memento to take home. For even more laughter Paul Fowler Magic can provide close up magic for memories to last a lifetime.  If you don’t want to offer entertainment your guests can enjoy the grounds of The Lost Village of Dode.

For any questions on naming ceremonies please do not hesitate to contact us, we would be delighted to hear from you.

The Lost Village of Dode Team 🙂