We just had to pop on to write a testimonial after our perfect (and emotional!) family blending/naming ceremony this morning at my mum’s house. Sam and I have 6 children between us and we’ve had a tricky few years, since getting together, to make our lives ‘fit’ around work, pandemic related losses and children (from aged 18 months to 18 years!) We got married overseas in February, but wanted some kind of family ceremony, which everyone could be invited to, and which included ALL of our children in some way – but we had NO idea how to go about this, or where to start with it.
A colleague of Sam’s recommended Dawn, as they had been to a recent wedding in which she did a ‘family blending’ ritual. We phoned up just on the off chance that Dawn could help us (even though we were already married!) and she immediately came up with this beautiful blending and naming ceremony – our youngest hasn’t been baptised or anything, and we are not religious, but this sounded the perfect way to acknowledge her in our family. I have two children from a previous relationship (8 and 6) and Sam has three – 12, 15 and 18, and our little one was born 18 months ago.
It could not have been more perfect! Our oldest children designed the whole thing with Dawn on Zoom (with a little input from myself and Sam, but not much at all!) They were so thrilled to be trusted with this, and really came up trumps! Sam and I were not expecting anything in the ceremony, but the children had secretly written (with Dawn’s help I’m sure!) a lovely poem all about our wedding, together with a photo montage of the day, which they presented to us at the end! This, together with the naming/blending part of the ceremony, just about finished me off – it’s a good job I had plenty of tissues at the ready!
It’s not easy, being a blended family – especially with so many children at different ages and stages – and trying to include everyone isn’t always easy – thank you, thank you, thank you!! You nailed it!
If you are reading this, and wondering if a celebrant is right for you and your particular circumstances – I can guarantee this lady will ensure that it is! We had never heard of a celebrant before (and if asked, I would have thought ‘wedding singer’!) but I am now so glad that we had this recommendation – so I’m paying it forward and recommending it myself! Celebrants are not just for weddings (and I don’t know if they sing or not – but I bet she would if you asked her!!)
