Beyond The Ceremony Podcast Ep 5: What Is A Naming Celebrant?

Names carry weight. They hold our identity, our heritage, our transformation.

Whether it’s a baby being welcomed into the world, an adult claiming a new chapter of themselves, or a chosen family gathering to celebrate a name that finally fits—a naming ceremony can be a profoundly moving experience.

Have you ever felt the stirrings of wanting to hold space for moments like this?

Where your compassion, your ability to see people, and your deep appreciation for life’s transitions could become part of something truly meaningful?

In this week’s episode of Beyond the Ceremony, host Laura Crockett is joined by the vibrant Jess Thrush, a joyful and down-to-earth celebrant from the Ribble Valley who brings warmth, humour, and heart to everything she does.

From being a busy mum of two to qualifying with AMC in November 2022, Jess’s journey into celebrancy is refreshingly real and deeply inspiring. She shares how naming ceremonies have unexpectedly become some of the most emotionally resonant work she does, not just for the families involved, but for herself as well.

This isn’t just about babies and balloons. It’s about identity. Acknowledgement. Belonging.

Highlights

• Why naming ceremonies are so much more than people realise
• The deep honour of celebrating not just new life, but new beginnings at any age
• Jess’s honest and heartwarming journey into celebrancy (and how it fits around family life, pub lunches, and countryside walks!)
• The emotional intelligence and empathy this work calls forward
• How ceremonies rooted in joy, humour, and authenticity can leave the biggest impact

You don’t need to be perfect.

You just need to care deeply, show up fully, and trust that your natural gifts—your heart, your presence, your words—are enough.

🎧 Listen in to this week’s conversation and see what resonates. Because sometimes, witnessing someone step fully into who they are can be the moment that wakes something up in you, too.

👉 Take our quiz and discover if celebrancy is for you.

👉 If celebrancy already excites you, you can view our courses here!

MEET AMC GRADUATE, JESS

Jess is a mum of two young boys, originally from Cheshire but now embracing the country life in The Ribble Valley. After qualifying with AMC in November '22, she dedicates herself to creating unforgettable, lighthearted, joy-filled ceremonies for weddings, naming days, and vow renewals. When not crafting beautiful moments for her clients, Jess can be found enjoying country walks with her dogs, savoring a good gin, or settling in for a relaxing pub lunch in the picturesque surroundings of her adopted home.

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MEET YOUR HOST, LAURA

Laura has been an independent celebrant for 5 years and absolutely loves it. It makes her so proud seeing how far she's come in that time. Laura feels like she's found her calling and is so excited to keep progressing and growing her Celebrant business! Laura creates all kinds of ceremonies, including Weddings, Funerals, Vow Renewals, and Naming Ceremonies. Before she was a celebrant, Laura was a breakfast radio presenter, so her happy place is either at the front of a ceremony or sitting behind a microphone!

At home, Laura is married to Johnathan (a primary school teacher and her biggest cheerleader) and a mummy to two boys - Woody and Dougie. Laura is also a dog mum to Betty and Barney the cockapoos! They can often be found curled up by her side when she's writing scripts or lying by the radiator in the office when she's on couples calls! 

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