Naming ceremony invitation wording: 14 examples for the UK

A naming ceremony is the non-religious way to welcome a child and name the adults who will look out for them. In England and Wales it can be held by the council's registrar, by a humanist or independent celebrant, or by the family themselves in the garden. A christening does the same job in church. Both need an invitation that says who the child is, who the guideparents or godparents are, where the ceremony is, and where the party is after. Here are fourteen to copy.

What a naming ceremony invitation needs

1. The child's full name. It is the point of the day. Many families put the name large and everything else small.
2. Who is inviting. The parents, or the parents with the grandparents.
3. What the occasion is. "Naming ceremony", "naming day" or "christening". If guests may not know what a naming ceremony is, a line helps: "a non-religious ceremony to welcome Ada and name her guideparents".
4. The guideparents, godparents or supporting adults, by name. They are being honoured; print them.
5. Date, time and venue, with a postcode. If the ceremony and the party are in different places, both, with times.
6. Children welcome, which at a naming ceremony they always are.
7. Gifts. "No gifts, please", or "if you would like to bring something, a book with a note inside".
8. The reply, with a date, because there will be a cake and a caterer.

Naming ceremony invitation wording

1. Formal, parents inviting

Thomas and Priya Carter invite you to the Naming Ceremony of their daughter Ada Rose Carter on Sunday, 6 June 2027 at 2pm Hawthorne Hall, Hawthorne Lane, Great Missenden HP16 9AA followed by tea and cake in the garden Guideparents: Meena Mehta and James Carter Please reply by 23 May

2. With the grandparents

Thomas and Priya Carter, with Rajesh and Sunita Mehta and Anne Carter, invite you to celebrate the naming of Ada Rose Sunday, 6 June 2027, 2pm, Hawthorne Hall, Great Missenden Tea, cake and a toast to follow

3. Civil ceremony at the register office

Please join us for the Naming Ceremony of Ada Rose Carter, conducted by the Buckinghamshire Registration Service, on Saturday, 5 June 2027 at 11am at the Register Office, Aylesbury, and for lunch afterwards at the Carters', 8 Elm Road, Great Missenden. Reply by 22 May.

4. Humanist naming day

Ada is here, and we would like you to meet her properly. Join us for her Naming Day, a short ceremony led by a humanist celebrant, on Sunday, 6 June at 2pm in the garden at 8 Elm Road, Great Missenden, with a barbecue after. Come in something you can sit on the grass in.

5. Explaining the ceremony

We are holding a naming ceremony for Ada: a non-religious celebration to welcome her, say what we hope for her, and name the adults who will look out for her. Sunday, 6 June, 2pm, Hawthorne Hall, Great Missenden. Tea and cake after. We would love you there.

6. Naming the guideparents

Thomas and Priya Carter invite you to the Naming Ceremony of Ada Rose Carter on Sunday, 6 June 2027 at 2pm, Hawthorne Hall, Great Missenden, at which Meena Mehta, James Carter and Daniel Osei will be named as her guideparents. Lunch to follow. Please reply by 23 May.

7. Two children

Thomas and Priya Carter invite you to the Naming Ceremony of Ada Rose and Leo Thomas Carter on Sunday, 6 June 2027 at 2pm, Hawthorne Hall, Great Missenden. Tea and cake in the garden after. Children very welcome.

8. Short, for a message

Ada's naming ceremony: Sunday 6 June, 2pm, Hawthorne Hall, Great Missenden. Tea and cake after. Children welcome, no gifts please. Reply on the link: [link]

Christening invitation wording

9. Formal christening

Thomas and Priya Carter request the pleasure of your company at the Christening of their daughter Ada Rose at St Mary's Church, Great Missenden on Sunday, 6 June 2027 at 12 noon and afterwards at Hawthorne Hall for lunch Godparents: Meena Mehta, James Carter and Daniel Osei RSVP by 23 May

10. Christening within the Sunday service

Ada will be baptised during the 10.30am service at St Mary's, Great Missenden, on Sunday, 6 June. Please join us in church, and afterwards at 8 Elm Road for lunch. Everyone is welcome at both.

11. Christening, warm

We would love you to be with us when Ada is christened on Sunday, 6 June at 12 noon at St Mary's, Great Missenden. Lunch after at Hawthorne Hall, children welcome, no gifts needed. Please let us know by 23 May.

Lines for the end

12. Gifts

Your company is the only gift we would like. If you want to bring something, a book with a note inside, for Ada to read when she is older.

13. Children and practical

Children are very welcome; there is a lawn and a lot of cake. Parking at the hall. The ceremony is outdoors if dry, in the orangery if not.

14. Reply

Please reply by 23 May and tell us how many of you are coming, so we can get the numbers right for lunch.

Things to get right

• Naming ceremony, naming day, christening. Say which. Guests dress and behave differently in a church than on a lawn.
• The guideparents. Ask them before you print the invitation, and spell their names as they spell them.
• Timings. A civil ceremony is twenty to thirty minutes; a christening in a service is an hour or more. Tell guests when the party starts so the elderly can join for that alone.
• Gifts. Christenings bring silver and christening bracelets; naming ceremonies bring books. If you have a view, say it kindly.

Where the words go

A naming ceremony or christening invitation sits well on one page: the child's name at the top, the ceremony and the party with their times and maps, the guideparents named, the gift line, and a reply form that asks each household how many are coming. Guests open it from WhatsApp and reply in a minute. Our christening and naming ceremony page shows it with the designs that suit, and one payment of £40 covers any number of guests.