Welcoming a baby or child into your family 

A Kentish Welcoming

A welcoming ceremony is a very special way of celebrating the birth of your child or welcoming a new arrival into your family and wider community. These ceremonies are an opportunity to declare, before family and friends, your promise to be as good a parent as you can and for adult friends or relatives to confirm their special relationship with your child.

A welcoming ceremony is, in every sense, a unique occasion for everyone to feel involved as they offer their love and support for your child's future development.

A welcoming ceremony is not a legal ceremony and does not contain any religious references. It is really for parents who do not wish to have the traditional religious baptism or christening at a church but would still like to have a special ceremony and event to celebrate the birth of a child or welcome a new arrival into their family. The meaning of the ceremony is what you as a parent wish to bring to it.

Other special occasions

A welcoming ceremony is not only to celebrate the birth of a baby but can also take place when couples have re-married or entered into a new relationship and wish to welcome their children from a previous relationship into the new family. For example, a welcoming ceremony can follow a marriage or a renewal of vows ceremony.

Welcoming ceremonies can also be used by couples who adopt a baby or child. It provides a wonderful opportunity to welcome the child into the new family and for the family to give their commitment to the child’s well-being.

A child’s first birthday is also a good occasion for a ceremony, or perhaps it can be combined with another general family celebration, such as, parents or grandparents birthdays or anniversaries.