Reasons to celebrate with a naming ceremony
- The birth of your child
- To welcome an adopted child or step-children into your family
- The re-registration of your child and perhaps a change of surname
A naming ceremony differs to a traditional christening because the main focus is not religion instead it is the child and their family. It gives parents the opportunity to gather with family and friends to welcome their child into the family. When a child enters your life a new family begins, and that is something worth celebrating.
Every naming ceremony is unique and tailor made to suit you and can be organised by any parent or guardian. Parents do not need to be married to each other. Naming ceremonies have no legal status and cannot be used to officially change your child's name.
- To provisionally book a naming ceremony please phone 01253 477177 or email: ceremonies@blackpool.gov.uk
- Naming ceremony fees. The naming ceremony venue fee is the same as for marriages and civil partnerships and depends on whether the ceremony takes place at The Wedding Chapel or at an Approved Premises.
Reregistering the birth of your child may be applicable where:
- As the parents of your child (you are both entered in the original entry), you have now married
- The father’s details were not entered in the original entry and you have decided to add the natural father’s details in the register
In the above reregistration cases, it is possible to change a child's surname to that of the father. There is no time limit on reregistering your child. For more information on how to re-register your child's birth:
Venues
Naming ceremonies can be held at The Wedding Chapel (Festival House) either in the Tower View Room which holds 60 guests or the Sea View Room which holds 10 guests.
They can also be held at an Approved Venue in Blackpool.
If you require a ceremony at a venue not on the list please contact us. It may be possible for the venue to apply for a one-off approval for your ceremony to take place.
Further information
If you would like more information on naming ceremonies, please phone us or email ceremonies@blackpool.gov.uk