Naming Ceremonies
A Naming Ceremony is a modern way for parents, relatives and friends to welcome the arrival of a new baby son or daughter or to welcome an adoptive or step child into the family.
You can include as many children as you wish in the ceremony and they can be of any age.
The ceremony can also be arranged to follow a marriage, civil partnership or renewal of vows ceremony.
We can provide an experienced, friendly celebrant to conduct the ceremony for you.
They can help you to devise the content, including readings, declarations of love and support, music and poetry.
Grandparents, other relatives or close friends may be involved in the ceremony and siblings may make special promises to their new baby brother or sister.
Ceremony venues
A ceremony can be held almost anywhere, including your own home.
At locations other than a register office or approved premises, the celebrant may need to arrange to visit the ceremony location to check its suitability.
You can also use one of our Register Offices, or one of the many venues with Approved Premises status.
When to hold your ceremony
In our register offices, ceremonies can take place between 10am and 4pm Monday to Saturday.
At all other locations, ceremonies can take place on any day, including some bank holidays between 10am and 4pm.
How to book
- Decide where you would like your ceremony to take place and make a provisional booking.
- Contact the Ceremonies Officer on 0300 123 7037 to check the availability of a celebrant to conduct the ceremony. Please let us know the date, time and venue where you would like the ceremony to take place.
- We will then provide you with a brochure which includes an outline of the ceremony and range of optional declarations and readings.
How much does it cost?
| Register Office Ceremony Room | Homes and Gardens and other venues requiriing a pre-visit* | Approved Premises and other venues in Cheshire* |
| £94 (Monday-Friday) | £210 (Monday-Friday) | £160 (Monday-Friday) |
| £122 (Saturday) | £221 (Saturday) | £182 (Saturday) |
| £232 (Sunday) | £194 (Sunday) |
* All prices include an initial meeting at the Register Office with your celebrant to discuss your individual requirements and design your ceremony.
* If your ceremony is taking place in your home or garden, the price includes an initial meeting with you in your home.
Booking Fee
There is a non-refundable fee of £42 when a ceremony is booked. This fee will be deducted from the final amount due for the ceremony.
Online Payment Service
You can pay for your ceremony online through our online payment service
Please make all Registration cheques payable to Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Fees include VAT.