What Should I Wear To A Naming Ceremony?

So, you’ve been invited to organise or attend a Naming Ceremony – how wonderful! This beautiful ceremony is a unique celebration of family and community, and one that truly overflows with love. As a treasured guest or valued organiser, your presence will make the day all the more special, but whether it’s your first or fiftieth Naming Ceremony, the age-old question of “what on earth to wear?” can leave anyone stumped.

The beauty of a Naming Ceremony is that there truly are no rules, and the only traditions are new ones – but how does that help us when it comes to planning an outfit? Well, we’re never ones to dictate a dress code, but we do have some tips to get you started.

Look up the venue

A great starting point is to check out the venue. At a family home or on the beach, at a luxury hotel or at the local church hall, there are endless possibilities for a Naming Ceremony location, and it’s likely that the venue will have been carefully chosen to reflect the vision and vibe of the day.

A quick google of the venue, and you’ll get immediate outfit inspiration courtesy of previous event attendees, an idea of the space in which the ceremony will be held, and the general feel of the venue. Use this to guide you as you make your outfit choice and remember, it’s always ok to make a Pinterest board to inspire you; we’ve got some ideas here.

Don’t outdo the Naming party

While there are no rules with a Naming Ceremony, keep in mind that the focus will be on those at the heart of the day; a family or community celebrating a new chapter, surrounded by their loved ones. It’s a beautiful occasion, and so, just as you wouldn’t (traditionally) wear white to a wedding, consider your ensemble, don’t go too crazy, and never outshine the naming party – this is their day after all!

Match the formality of the event

If the venue isn’t the best guide, it’s a great idea to consider how formal the Naming Ceremony is likely to be, and there will be little details that can help point you in the right direction. The style of invitation, the extent of the catering, whether or not there’s a reception or a photographer, and even the duration of the event are all good indicators of the expected level of formality.

Whether the event appears to be formal or relaxed, consider what you would wear to a wedding or traditional christening of a similar feel. With this as your starting point, you can think practically, and use the location, season and predicted weather to help you put your ensemble together, from jewelled headbands to muddy wellies.

Ask the host for ideas

As the organiser or attendee of a Naming Ceremony, you’re likely to have a good relationship with the host. Depending on how much you know about them, you’ll know their style, their hopes for the day, and how long they’ve been planning, all of which can help you when it comes to dressing for the occasion.

People can always surprise you, however – maybe inspiration struck, and your hosts are expecting everyone in purple sequins or dinosaur costumes! Anything’s possible. So, when in doubt, it’s always a good idea to check in with the host – they’ll be delighted you thought to ask, and you can arrive at the Naming Ceremony feeling your most confident, beautiful self, in a perfectly put-together outfit.

For everything else you need to know about Naming Ceremonies, we’ve got a whole host of articles just for you.