Archer James | October 2023
“Sarah did a fantastic job. She came up with some beautiful suggestions for the ceremony and guided us through the process.”
Working with Laura to prepare for her beautiful little boy Archer James’ naming day took me back to my first job out of university - back in those heady mid noughties - when Laura and I both worked in communication planning (advertising). It felt grown up that instead of boozy lunches with clients as junior execs (I never got used to having “executive” in my job title) we were discussing her new baby and my new career.
Archer’s naming ceremony was at London Shenley Club, often used as a wedding venue and, in fact, as I arrived on this Sunday morning the entrance was sprinkled with confetti from the day before. And given how terrible the weather was in October 2023, it was a surprisingly gorgeous, sunny day. Catching up afterwards, Laura told me that after I’d left (on my epic hire car trek back up north) all the guests spilled out onto the pitch and had a big impromptu game of cricket.
Sweet photos by Matthew Johnston Photography
The ceremony itself was in an airy, white room, with family present from both Laura and her husband Dylan’s side, representing his British, Irish and Mauritian heritage, as well as plenty of friends. Little Archer sat at the front - pride of place - as we all cooed over how adorable he was.
As well as commitments from Archer’s parents and guide parents, and sharing a little about how his mum and dad first met, his birth had been announced in The Times as a surprise by Dylan (“bit extra!” said Laura when she found out), so I was able to read the excerpt out to the guests. The Times piece referred to how the couple were “in the nearer future planning on having a party when they will host a “naming ceremony”, as opposed to having Archer christened”. It felt nicely full circle to read a reference to his naming ceremony in his naming ceremony. Sometimes things are planned but life gets in the way - this celebration was happening as I spoke.
The four guide parents stood and made their commitments to baby Archer
We welcomed one of Archer’s guide parents, Marie, up to read Love You More, a poem by James Carter, from his 2021 poetry book Weird, Wild & Wonderful. It’s a beautiful piece that I’d not come across before and it made me well up - absolutely perfect in sentiment for a naming ceremony. I loved it so much that I did a little (youtube) digging and found that Carter first wrote the poem two decades ago as a tribute from his baby daughters to their mum for Mother’s Day.
Do I love you
to the moon and back?
No I love you
more than that
I love you to the desert sands
the mountains, stars
the planets and
I love you to the deepest sea
and deeper still
through history
Before beyond I love you then
I love you now
I'll love you when
The sun's gone out
the moon's gone home
and all the stars are fully grown
When I no longer say these words
I'll give them to the wind, the birds
so that they will still be heard
I love you
A big turnout for a small human
“From the minute [Sarah] arrived on the day we were at ease and she set the tone perfectly, making us laugh and cry! ”