Family welcoming ceremony

The family welcoming ceremony provides an opportunity to:

  • celebrate the birth and welcome your child into the family and wider community
  • announce the names that you have chosen and, perhaps, explain the reasons behind the choice
  • make promises of commitment to nurture and support your child into adult life
  • choose other adults prepared to promise a special supportive relationship to your child

Family welcoming ceremonies are not just for babies. Children of any age can have a ceremony, it can be used to celebrate adoptive and/or step children into your family and to announce the new relationship. You can, if you wish, include your other children as well as your new child.

A family welcoming ceremony is a unique occasion for all your family and friends to feel involved as they offer their love and support for your child's future development.

Any parent can arrange a family welcoming ceremony whether married or not.

Your unique ceremony

We will provide the framework for you to select your ceremony and you will have the opportunity to discuss the content so you can create something that is unique for you, and your family, to remember and cherish.

Your ceremony will normally contain some, or all, of the following:

  • Special music
  • Introduction and welcome
  • Reading/poem
  • Parents promises
  • Pledges by supporting adults
  • Pledges by grandparents
  • Optional gift presentation
  • Signing of commemorative certificate
  • Closing words

Choosing a venue

Lancashire is renowned for its beautiful countryside and has a wide choice of venues for you to celebrate your special occasion. There is a range of approved premises including stately homes and country house hotels to suit all tastes and budgets. In addition there are eight registration offices located in the main Lancashire towns. These offices have ceremony rooms with excellent facilities at an affordable price. Ceremonies may be celebrated on any day of the year except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Booking your ceremony

To book the ceremony you must produce your child's birth certificate. For further information and to make a booking please contact the ceremonies officer for the area in which you intend to have the ceremony.