Welcoming Ceremonies – Celebrating Adoption

The decision to adopt is never taken lightly. The process itself can be demanding, emotional and often long. But once your child is with you, life changes forever.

This little person brings light, joy, happiness and love into your world. Your heart feels fuller than you ever imagined possible, and suddenly everything makes sense. The challenges of the journey are, without doubt, worth it.

I know this personally. I am the very proud Auntie of two adopted little girls, and I supported my sister and brother-in-law through two long adoption journeys. The arrival of each child was marked with a Welcoming Ceremony, bringing family and friends together to celebrate love, belonging and the start of a new chapter.

Due to the personal nature of this blog, there are no 'real life' ceremony photos to ensure the privacy of beautiful families.

Silhouette of a child running into their Dad's arms

What is a Welcoming Ceremony?

A Welcoming Ceremony for an adopted child marks an incredibly important milestone – the moment your child is officially welcomed into your family and community.

Welcoming Ceremonies are suitable for adopted children of any age and can be shaped entirely around you. There are no rules. Each ceremony is bespoke, meaningful and deeply personal.

Before the ceremony, your Independent Celebrant will meet with you and your child (your little VIP) to understand your vision. They’ll learn about your child’s personality, interests and character, as well as what matters most to you as a family and your hopes for the future.

Promises – A Powerful Moment

Much like a naming ceremony, promises sit at the heart of a Welcoming Ceremony.

Parents (or parents-to-be) share heartfelt, personal promises to support, protect and love their child, no matter what life brings. For older children especially, hearing these words spoken directly to them can be incredibly powerful and affirming.

You may also choose to appoint special people to your child’s life – similar to godparents. These might be called Guideparents, Mentors, or something completely unique. (I’m proudly a Life Roadie to one of my nieces, and my husband is Life Roadie to the other!)

If there are siblings, they may like to say a few words or make a promise too. If they feel nervous, your celebrant can share their words on their behalf.

Parents kissing their baby on either cheek

Your Adoption Story

Your guests will likely have supported you throughout your adoption journey, and a Welcoming Ceremony is a beautiful opportunity to acknowledge that love and encouragement.

You may wish to:

• Thank your friends and family for standing by you

• Share a little about the adoption journey

• Reflect on what parenthood means to you

If your child is very young or has additional needs, you might share glimpses of their developing personality and interests. Older children may even wish to share their own feelings about adoption and becoming part of their new family.

Music can play a lovely role too – perhaps a favourite song to open and close the ceremony, or even a song everyone can sing together.

Readings

Inviting a few special people to do readings adds warmth and meaning. Two or three is usually perfect – perhaps grandparents, close friends or chosen family.

Readings might come from:

• A favourite children’s book

• A poem that speaks to love and belonging

• A piece that reflects your family values

Your celebrant will always be happy to offer ideas and guidance.

Unity Ceremonies – Visually Celebrating Family

A unity ceremony is a wonderful way to visually represent your family coming together.

Popular ideas include:

• A bespoke jigsaw, with each family member placing their piece into the whole

• A sand ceremony, where different coloured sands are poured into a keepsake vessel

These rituals symbolise individuality, unity and permanence – once combined, they cannot be separated again.

Guests can also be included, making the moment even more special.

Mum and child hanging homemade decorations in the garden

Keepsakes – Celebrating Your Guests

Everyone attending your Welcoming Ceremony is there for a reason. Including them helps create a strong sense of community around your child.

Ideas include:

• A collective promise of support from your guests

• Polaroid photos with written wishes to display and keep

• Message tags hung on ribbons in a tree or garden

You might invite guests to make specific promises, such as:

“I promise to teach you to ride a bike” or “I promise to take you swimming.”

These can be treasured – and even called upon – as your child grows.

Life Roadie and his protege!

A Ceremony Written Just for You

As with all the ceremonies I create, Welcoming Ceremonies are completely bespoke. They are written with care, love and intention – and shaped around your family’s story

Having such a personal connection to adoption myself, I find these ceremonies incredibly special. It is always an honour to be involved in marking such a meaningful milestone.

If you’d like to find out more about creating a Welcoming Ceremony to celebrate adoption, I’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch to start the conversation.