As a Celebrant, I work with couples who hold many viewpoints on religion and spirituality. In explaining my work with new clients, I mention that to my way of thinking, Celebrants provide (to use a “political” term heard a few years ago) a “third way” in developing important life ceremonies and rites of passages. We …
As a Celebrant, I work with couples who hold many viewpoints on religion and spirituality. In explaining my work with new clients, I mention that to my way of thinking, Celebrants provide (to use a “political” term heard a few years ago) a “third way” in developing important life ceremonies and rites of passages. We …
The day was clear as a bell. The couple dressed in ghoulish wedding costumes from Tim Burton films. I, of course, was the Queen of Hearts. We tucked ourselves away in a small garden and had a private ceremony with the bride’s brother.
As a Celebrant, I work with couples who hold many viewpoints on religion and spirituality. In explaining my work with new clients, I mention that to my way of thinking, Celebrants provide (to use a “political” term heard a few years ago) a “third way” in developing important life ceremonies and rites of passages. We …
Religious Rituals for a Non-Religious Bride & Groom Read More »
As a Celebrant I strive to recognize the most important parts of the lives of brides and grooms into their personalized ceremonies. The narrative—an essay chronicling the relationship of the couple—is one of the hallmarks of a celebrant wedding, and it provides a wonderful opportunity to weave the threads of life into a wonderful, one-of-a-kind, …
A fundamental principle of the Celebrant movement is that a well-lived life marks and honors important events, rites of passage, and transitions—those filled with joy, as well as those marked by sorrow. Celebrant-led ceremonies are not merely “events” noting some significant life milestone, but they provide context, resonance, remembrance, understanding, and healing for those involved. …
These days, “non-traditional” families seem to be the norm. Many couples wish to combine their own wedding with a public declaration of their new blended family. A ceremony idea with fantastic impact is a vow exchange between the elders and the children. One family that I recently worked with exchanged the following vows: The groom …
As a child growing up in Oklahoma, I attended a traditional Presbyterian Church. During the “casual” Sunday service, one of the most intimate moments was the “Passing of the Peace.” In a service filled with folk and popular music, the participation of children, and other contemporary elements, this ritual provided an immediate connection among congregants. …
This year, I am fortunate to be on faculty at the Celebrant Foundation & Institute, the wonderful organization which trains individuals, in America and elsewhere, to perform weddings and other celebrations. This week’s class module was about the vital role of storytelling in the lives of individuals and communities. As I prepared for class, I …
I , ______________, offer myself to you ___________, To be your wife/husband, Your friend, your lover and your lifelong companion; To share my life with yours; To build our dreams together, To support you through times of trouble, And rejoice with you in times of happiness; To treat you with respect, love and loyalty, Through …
© 2021 WEDDINGS BY SARAH RITCHIE | DESIGN BY PASQUARIELLO DESIGN | MAJORITY OF PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANA ARNOLD & RENEE JEAN
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