Connie Theia | January 2023
“I want to say a HUGE thank you to Sarah for making my vision come to life. I’m forever grateful for her and for her making our day one to remember.”
It’s such a huge honour to be there at the moment a little person is given their name in front of everyone who loves them; to have the chance to explain the significance of why each part of their name has been chosen. The people, places and ideals that their name reflects and remembers.
Leading my first naming ceremony didn’t feel at all nerve-wracking - there was so much love and excitement in the room. Plus, given it was taking place in a rugby club with the bar open, the vibes were pretty chill…and celebratory!
Connie’s parents Chloë and Jack had invited a huge throng of friends and family, in part due to the fact they were a month away from emigrating to Australia and this was everyone’s chance to celebrate their new dynamic as a family of three…and wish them well on their adventures down under. One of the loveliest things about the ceremony was how many people took part: Jack performed a song he’d written for his daughter, his grandad also got up - spontaneously - to sing, and the couple had five close friends and siblings at the front to make their promises as ‘Earth Guides’ (guide parents). It was a real family affair: full of laughter, singing and inside jokes. I was flattered and delighted to be part of the party.
Connie’s mum, Chloë said “what an incredible time celebrating our beautiful girl. I couldn’t have asked for a better day. We wanted a naming ceremony as it was more personal to us. I want Connie to choose her own faith, beliefs and values in life and this was the perfect way to honour that.”