Category: Events

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A Special Graduation for Pride Month

Cover Photo Credit: Luis Xavier De Peña, Watermark Magazine

Bliss Health holistically serves a diverse community of people seeking to maintain or improve their health, relationships, and quality of life.

Bliss TRANSformation, one of their programs, is an annual conversational educational series that helps trans people learn ways to cope with the societal difficulties of being trans, become advocates for themselves and other transgender individuals, build leadership skills, and live successful lives. Bliss Health also facilitates and pays for each graduate’s legal name change. The TRANSformation program welcomes trans men, trans women, and anyone who identifies as non-binary.

The 2023 program, which had 60 participants, culminated in a graduation ceremony held at Typhoon Lagoon. It served as the kick-off of One Magical Weekend, the LGBTQIA+ Weekend at Walt Disney World Parks.

What a way to kick off Pride Month!

As part of their graduation ceremony on June 2nd, it was my honor to deliver the graduation keynote in the form of a group Transgender Naming Ceremony. Surrounded by family and friends, these graduates celebrated a pivotal milestone.

Ceremonies and rituals are deeply rooted in the art of flourishing as humans. They are a framework to commemorate, understand, share, and remember significant moments in our lives. They bring people together for a common purpose and foster & strengthen a sense of togetherness. Through ceremony, we experience a connection with something greater than ourselves like the community around us, or a relationship with culture and tradition.

A Transgender Naming Ceremony can hold tremendous meaning for those marking a transition to a new identity and a name that resonates with their true self. An affirming ceremony recognizes, acknowledges, and honors the courage it takes to be audaciously genuine. It can validate that individual’s journey and signify acceptance from those around us. It also provides healing and closure on the journey of self-acceptance and authenticity.

“…Throughout your life you have been swimming against the rushing current of cis-het norms and expectations. No matter how difficult, how scary, or how many times you were on that journey in solitude, you remained true to yourself. Your integrity and fortitude brought you here today. But you did not come here today in solitude. You came in solidarity, together with one another and with Bliss Health and all of the professionals, friends, family, allies, and advocates who have stood, and will continue to stand, with you…”

Ceremonies often contain rituals, like wedding unity rituals and water rituals in baby welcomings/namings. At the Transformations graduation, we joined in a community name-honoring ritual that celebrated each person’s new name, then we joined together in pledging to continue in positive self-care and to be a light in the world for others. We ended with a Humanist invocation before one last high-energy group participation moment. You just had to be there. 🙂

Congratulations to all of the graduates and thank you to Bliss Health for providing this important program that clearly made such an impact on each individual.

Mr. Rogers (no relation…) once said that when we see scary things in the news, “Look for the helpers. There are always people helping.” And the news these days can be scary indeed. The wisdom in looking for the positive is that what we choose to focus on informs our thoughts, which become actions, which define our character.

When we “look for the helpers”, we’re intentionally focusing on positive forces like Bliss Health’s TRANSformations program – and Nathan Bradley, the program’s fantastic coordinator – for inspiration to understand a little of the journey others are on – to walk a few steps in their shoes – and to find ways that we can make a difference for those around us.

Naming Ceremony, Humanist Celebrant Orlando
Read more about Transgender Naming Ceremonies

LINKS

Bliss Health: Website

Watermarkonline.com event photos by Luis Xavier De Peña

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Divorce Ceremonies

Humanist Celebrant Orlando Tee Rogers Divorce Ceremony

Can i share something personal with you? I got divorced. It was finalized on January 18, 2007 – yesterday, a million years ago. The sun was out that morning, but all i felt was darkness. alone. broken. lost. unlovable. all the bad feelings. It was a rough day. Even though it was the best decision for us to move on, and i was grateful to have had such a wonderful relationship in my life, i was still wracked with grief. Some days you just need a blankie and a teddy bear and a bottle of scotch, you know?

I was thinking about that day this morning while updating the Divorce Ceremonies page on my website. How would such a ceremony have impacted my life? I think it would have been AMAZING, healing, freeing.

Could it help you or someone you know?

Such a ceremony is a unique, intentional way to honor what has been lost, mark closure, and look forward to a new chapter. A professional celebrant will learn about your unique situation, write a custom ceremony, and officiate a meaningful experience.

Continue reading about what happens at Divorce Ceremonies here:

Divorce Ceremonies
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Gender Affriming Naming Ceremonies

Naming Ceremony, Humanist Celebrant Orlando

A naming ceremony for gender change – also called a butterfly ceremony – celebrates a new identity, as a culmination of, or an important part of, a long and meaningful journey. When something is important in our lives – a milestone birthday, a wedding, a retirement – those we care about come together in support and celebration. We throw a party.

Naming ceremonies may be held by those who identify as a gender that is different from the one they were assigned at birth. This can include people who identify as transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, genderfluid, and many other gender identities.

Our name is connected to our identity, and the name we received at birth may not always reflect how we identify in the world – yet it informs how others perceive and treat us and how we perceive and treat ourselves. Making a change to a new name is significant, and marks an important moment in our journey.

In the journey of transition and validation of a non-cisgender or gender non-conforming identity, the formal affirmation of a new name in the presence of family and friends can be a meaningful, exciting milestone. It gives a clear message about the usage of the new name and what it means in someone’s life and a community affirmation of one’s new identity.

We hold ceremonies and rituals to create memories, celebrate, and share our important moments with friends and family. Ceremonies promote a sense of belonging and identity among a group, fostering community. Ceremonies can also be healing and mark a point of closure – and renewal – in our lives.

A Butterfly Ceremony is also an opportunity to thank those who have supported and guided you on your journey and share what this transition means for you as a person and for your future.

A professional Celebrant will craft a unique, personalized ceremony and officiate the ceremony portion of the event.

Some elements of the ceremony may include:

  • Welcome and Humanist invocation
  • The story behind your new name, its meaning to you, why you chose it
  • A statement or ritual for letting go of the past identity and honoring that identity and the journey. This can be particularly meaningful when including a parent in the re-naming ceremony and honoring the original given name.
  • Vows of the individual for self-love and acceptance
  • Vows of a trusted friend, selected individuals, or of the whole group to support you in your continued journey
  • Individuals to share readings, affirmations, or words of support
  • A ritual such as a cascade candle lighting, tree planting, or reveal of a name plaque or custom/original name artwork
  • Audience inclusion ritual such as namewarming (a necklace or other jewelry with the new name, passed around for everyone to briefly hold, then placed on you by the celebrant), audience pledges of support (call and repeat, written and collected, or individually spoken), or something fun like everyone doing a shot together during/at the end of the ceremony
  • Presentation of gifts or declarations of gratitude to specific people who have been of great support
  • Volunteer / service engagement (such as a Positive Postcards project to support a local LGBT Youth organization or a gift/food/money collection for them)*
  • A reading (poem, book excerpt, song lyrics)
  • Bewtowance or revealing of the name
  • The ceremony may be followed by a catered reception, dancing, or may be held at a public place with entertainment and food.

*Humanist Celebrant Orlando will host a FREE Positive Postcards project, as part of your Naming Ceremony package, in support of the Zebra Coalition.

Naming Ceremony, Humanist Celebrant Orlando
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Humanist Baby Welcoming Ceremony

Welcoming a child into a family is a momentous occasion, isn’t it? And we humans commemorate important moments in our lives with rituals and ceremonies. A wedding. Graduation. Funeral or Celebration of Life. Ceremonies mark that moment in our memories and make them extra special. We take photos. We talk about the day for years to come.

In many Christian and Protestant traditions, babies are baptized. At this ceremony, they welcome the child into the faith and family, and some may name “Godparents” to serve as moral guides and alternates should the parents die before the child becomes an adult.

What if you don’t have a tradition where babies are baptized? Or if you are not religious at all, or have mixed beliefs and traditions in your family? Can you still have a beautiful ceremony of welcoming?

Absolutely.

The many types of naming & welcoming ceremonies

A welcoming or naming ceremony can be for

  • A new infant – performed at the reveal ceremony, at the hospital, or soon after coming home
  • On a special day such as a six-month ceremony, at the first birthday, or some other important milestone for the family
  • A formal welcoming for an adopted child of any age

Transgender Naming Ceremonies

Another type of meaningful naming ceremony is a Transgender Naming Ceremony, sometimes called a Butterfly Ceremony. These celebrate someone’s identity, commemorate their name and gender, and provide a positive foundation for family and friends to support their loved one’s journey and transition.

Pet Naming/Welcoming Ceremonies

You’ve got a new fur-kid being added to your family! New pawprints on your heart. A ceremony can help formalize the responsibility of all family members (such as children involved in the care of the animal) and provide a wonderful memory of that animal coming into your lives. Many of us feel that pets are family – i’ve seen scrapbooks, albums, and even Facebook pages for pets. Wouldn’t a welcoming ceremony be a wonderful way to launch that relationship?

A recent ceremony example

A family i recently served had a blend of secular and traditional-religious members. They wanted to honor everyone by incorporating a secular baptismal-style ritual into the ceremony. They felt a formal ceremony and ritual would be meaningful for them as parents, but also for the Guideparents to be officially named and make their pledge to serve and for the family to participate somehow in the ceremony.

The custom script included history of the child’s name and why it was chosen, a reading of a letter from the mother to her child, and a reading of a poem. In the water ritual, we passed a vase of water. As each person held the vase briefly, they were to think the child’s name and make a silent promise to him that they would keep throughout his life. When the vase was passed back to the front of the room, i applied some of the water to the child’s head and said, “(child’s name), this water represents the love and commitment of everyone here for you today.”

Your Ceremony will be uniquely yours.

You may find that there are so many options out there for namings that it can be overwhelming. And if you’ve never been to a naming ceremony, you may not know what to expect. When you talk to your celebrant about your potential ceremony, we’ll ask questions that will help us make recommendations that will be meaningful for you. We’ll answer your questions about the process and ceremony.

Here’s an article from The Celebrant Directory: What happens during a Naming Ceremony?

Other Links:

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Humanist Celebrants Officiate Unique Ceremonies

Wedding planning is joyful – but already stressful without worrying about identity discrimination. Most officiants are inclusive, and if unable to perform your ceremony they can provide referrals to someone who can help.

However, some couples have less friendly experiences. I hear from clients who have approached wedding officiants and been turned away – some have been hung up on, called names, or had officiants try to “save” them when they requested a secular or other non-traditional ceremony.

Whether an LGBTQIA+ wedding ceremony, a custom-written Wiccan ceremony, an Atheist ceremony, a Dueling Officiants Ceremony (one religious, one not…), a “sign & go” couple-only wedding at a Starbucks, or any other meaningful way to honor the unique journey of a couple…a Humanist Celebrant can help.

Did you know … there’s a whole network of ordained Humanist Celebrants right here in Central Florida – a hidden gem of resources at your fingertips.

What to ask your Officiant regarding your identity

Interview your officiant – make sure they’re right for the job. First and foremost, be direct. You want an officiant who is comfortable with your request and who can provide helpful, meaningful suggestions for creating the ceremony of your dreams. Say exactly what you need so that you can make sure the officiant is the right fit for you. There are lots of officiants out there – remember the saying, “if the shoe doesn’t fit, it’s not your shoe.”.

Here are a few great questions i’ve gotten from couples:

“We are a Wiccan couple and will be having our ceremony in the forest at night. What are some ways we can honor our Wiccan tradition in our ceremony?”

“I am Baptist and my family is also. My partner and her family are Atheists. What are some things we can do in the ceremony that bridge both families and honor everyone?”

“My fiance is a transitioning man who uses they/them pronouns. We want to make sure you can honor that.”

“We were married as Catholics 10 years ago, but want to do a vow renewal because we are both Atheists now and want a wedding that reflects our values. Can you help us?”

“We are a bdsm couple and will be having a themed ceremony. Are you comfortable with this?”

In our hearts we’ve been married for years – we just want to do the paperwork. Can we just do that without any ceremony?

“We know you’re non-religious, but we want to have some religious readings in our ceremony. How do you accommodate that?”

More than Ceremonies

Humanist Celebrants can legally perform weddings as well as preside over other ceremonies such as celebrations of life/memorials, coming-of-age, butterfly ceremonies (transgender re-naming ceremonies), and baby welcomings (alternative to religious baptism).

Humanist Celebrants are the clergy of the non-religious, having the same rights as theistic clergy, allowing them to legally perform weddings under the jurisdiction of the law within their state, provide secular spiritual care, and are subject to “clergy” confidentiality.

Humanist Celebrants and Chaplains can also provide Humanist (secular) visits to those in hospitals, hospices, and prisons. The chaplains/clergy in those facilities may be inter- or non-denominational, but may still use religious language or not have an understanding of non-religious identities (or minority identities, such as Wiccan, Humanistic Judaism, Cultural Catholicism, etc.).

Have you seen the Identity Affirming Deathcare Directives? It’s free to download and offers a reflection on how our identities inform our deathcare wishes.

Learn more: http://IADDresource.org

What is a Humanist Celebrant?

From The Humanist Society: “Humanist Celebrants provide meaningful, distinctly personal, and professional humanist ceremonies for a wide range of life’s major events and milestones. A celebrant can help commemorate the welcoming of a child, coming-of-age, gender transitions, commitment unions, weddings, memorials, and so much more!  Our celebrants are committed to humanism and not bound by a traditional religion and its dogma, therefore they are able to provide custom-made ceremonies imbued with personal meaning and honor the shared humanity and values of those involved.”

Want more info? Let’s connect.

Three-letter word for feline pet that says "Meow"

Humanist Celebrant Orlando - Lake Eola Wedding
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Obituaries: what, when, and how.

What is an Obituary?

The word obituary comes from the Latin obitus, going in the direction of ruin or death; sunset.

Whether a simple announcement of a death or a lengthy tribute, an obituary is a public posting by a family that a death has occurred, a public record of the person’s life and legacy, and/or an announcement of the final arrangements and services for those who may wish to attend.

Most are published online these days so family and friends everywhere can access the tribute. Some are still also published in newspapers; however, these tend to be shorter and more factual. Online tributes can include multiple photos, a more in-depth colloquy of a life lived, and comments, thoughts, and photos posted by friends and families. Some obituary sites are perpetual, others only post the listing for a finite increment of time, such as 90 days, to save server space.

The obituary may be used in various ways:

  • as the public announcement of a death
  • as the eulogy at a service (though eulogies may be more detailed than obituary)
  • printed in programs that are given at the service
  • framed or otherwise memorialized as a keepsake for the family
  • posted on or linked in family genealogy sites
  • included in a family genealogy album

Should you write your own?

Yes, you should. In my work as a planning advisor in the funeral industry, i’ve seen how difficult it is for families to write the obituary for a loved one they have just lost. Arduous and heart-wrenching, the composition of the obituary can even cause discord among loved ones – what goes in, what doesn’t, how things are worded, which photo to use, etc. When you’re pre-planning to protect your family, every burden you can take off their shoulders is a gift.

As a celebrant, i may write eulogies and obituaries or help families with that process. As a funeral & cemetery planning advisor, i encourage my clients to write out bullet points or a draft of their obituary and keep it updated. And if you don’t want an obit at all (and some don’t), make sure your family knows that.

I recently worked with someone terminally ill who wanted to write their own obituary so that their spouse wouldn’t have to do it. We went through multiple drafts, and it was very difficult, but it was so important to them to protect their spouse from having to go through that – and to make sure that certain parts of their life were highlighted. As we go through life, what is important to us changes; those around us at the time we pass may not recall or think to include aspects of our life that were extremely meaningful to us.

Obituary elements

An obituary can be difficult to think about – how do you capture an entire life in a few paragraphs? The obituary becomes the final public record of our lives.

An obituary is not required, and some who have few family members or who lived very private lives may not have one at all.

Most obituaries at a minimum contain the person’s name, age, date, and place of passing, city and state of residence (and home town, if different), and name of spouse/partner and children. They may list more relatives and are usually separated into “survived by” and “pre-deceased by” lists. They include memorial information such as the name of the funeral home and the date, time, and place for the viewing and service(s).

The formula is generally: decedent information (name, dates, and places of birth and death), family, personal information/life story, and information about the service.

Talk to others – no matter how well you knew your loved one, you will learn amazing new things about them by asking their friends and family members for their favorite stories and memories. Even if you are pre-writing your own – consider reaching out. What you learn about you may surprise you! Scroll down for more ways to personalize an obituary or eulogy.

Example: Sam Smith passed away on April 10th, 2022, after a long battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones at home. Sam was active in volunteering for the Breast Cancer Society throughout their illness, leading fundraising initiatives and teams for awareness walks. Before cancer became a focus, Sam had been an avid volunteer with the local animal shelter. They are survived by two Great Danes (Bobby and Doggo) and a large “framily” (friend family). Sam was pre-deceased by spouse Jordan, parents Drew and Jesse Smith, and multiple rescue animals nurtured and loved through hospice care. A celebration of life sunrise service will be held Friday, July 3, at 6:30 a.m. at Riverside Park, followed by breakfast and a memorial tree planting. Donations to the Breast Cancer Society or to Pat’s Animal Rescue in Sam’s honor are appreciated.

Request an Obituary or other celebrant service

Requestor Information

Making it Personal

Here are some things to reflect on as you write an obituary or eulogy:

  • What was their preferred name and pronouns? Are there any nicknames, monikers, “go-by’s” that they would want to be included?
  • The dates that bracket “the dash” – the birth date and death date. City & state (and/or country) of birth and death.
  • Where did they consider “home” to be? Where else did they live that was a significant part of their life?
  • Include the cause of death? For example, “after a 10-year battle with cancer…” can tie into requests at the end for donations to cancer research.
  • Origins – culture and heritage
  • Parents’ names and places of birth.
  • Living family members (siblings, children, grandchildren, grandparents, friends, pets, etc.)
  • Deceased family members (siblings, children, grandchildren, grandparents, friends, pets, etc.)
  • Marriage(s) – date(s) of marriage(s) and spouse name(s).
  • Love story – how they met, where they married, significant moments in their marriage
  • Military service – branch, years, rank, wars served in, memberships such as VFW, and other important information.
  • Education – high school, college or tech school, field of study
  • Awards, honors, and recognitions
  • Character & quirks
  • What did they enjoy? Hobbies, passions, sports, activities, etc.
  • Profession / Occupation – job title, career, stories, accomplishments, other jobs held in life. Why did they go into this occupation or why was it important to them?
  • The “other job” – How did they invest their personal time? Whether volunteer work, helping neighbors, or a hobby that was like a piece of their soul -what were their vocations in addition to their paid profession?
  • Community involvement and memberships – Were they involved in any charitable organizations? congregational membership in religious, secular, or spiritual organizations? political, fraternal, or other affiliations?
  • What made your loved one unique? What did people always notice about them?
  • What would they feel is their greatest legacy? were they most proud of (accomplishments, the difference they made in the world)
  • Their quote: what is something they always said? or something they would want their loved ones to know? What is one thing they hope others learned from the story of their life?
  • Did they have a personal mission statement, dearly held values, or other ethical/internal guideposts?
  • Three words that sum up your loved one’s life.
  • Their favorite quote or short poem

Obituary FAQ

Q: What about Identity Theft? I’ve heard that you should never post an obituary because predators use them for stealing information.

A: It is true (and very sad) that the theft of deceased identities is quite common. However, much of the information you provide in the obituary is available by other means. You may want to be careful what you include, such as avoiding exact dates of birth and death, mother’s maiden name, etc. You should definitely have information security in mind as you write an obituary.

Your funeral director will have filed with Social Security and given you a list of things you need to do after your loss; getting those things done reduces the risk to your family, as does having an Estate Planning Attorney to guide you. There are also identity theft services that guard deceased identities.

Q: When should the Obituary be published?

A: This is usually done very quickly, as it often contains information about a service that may be coming up very soon. Some will post a death notice first so that the factual information is there (name, date of death, service information), giving themselves a few days to compose, or hire a writer to compose, the full obituary.

Q: I have to write an obituary for my son, who was gay and involved in political activism. These were both VERY important in his life, but some of our family do not approve and I don’t want to cause any fights.

A. oof. That’s a challenge i see often for families of LGBTQIA+ individuals and minority Religious, Secular, or Spiritual Identities (RSSI). We want to authentically honor the life of our loved one without tearing the family apart. Only you can make the decision. Someone who was actively involved & making their voice heard for a cause may want the message they amplified present in their life story.

Whether as simple as honoring preferred pronouns, as subtle as leaving out religious references, or as loud and explosive as celebrating their accomplishments as an activist, this can be a difficult decision to make. If they had written it, what would they have done?

There’s a free workbook called the Identity Affirming Deathcare Directives intended to assist us in reflecting on how our own LGBTQ+ or RSSI identity will inform our near-death care and deathcare, but it may help you in reflecting on your loved one’s identity as well.

Q. Can i write an obituary for my pet?

A. Absolutely. Just as there are cemeteries dedicated to pets, there are websites dedicated to pet obituaries such as Heaven’s Pets and Pet Heaven. Sadly, most use “heaven” or some other faith-biased reference.. Your pet crematory may also have a memorial page. Some will include the pet obituary as part of their blog, on a family genealogy site, or in a personal scrapbook of obituaries.

Writing or reading an obituary about someone or something you love who/that has been lost can be a healing exercise, helping you reflect on the value they brought to your life and the difference their life made in the world.

Q. What’s the best format to list family members?

A. They are listed by closest relation first: spouse (current first if listing multiple spouses), children (oldest to youngest), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, parents, and siblings. You list the name of the relative with their spouse’s name in parentheses. For example, Sam is survived by their spouse Hao Smith, children Kit (Lex) Smith-Livingood and Tommie Smith, and two Great Danes, Bobby and Doggo. Sam is predeceased by parents Drew and Jesse Smith and infant child Ollie.

Q. Is humor in an obituary appropriate?

A. Obituaries and eulogies should reflect and honor the person, but also be respectful of those reading or receiving the words. Some may not want the final story of their life to be dour. I read one that began… “Pete was a jokester who kept us all in high spirits…” and the obituary contained multiple jokes and puns, tastefully presented.

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Officiants and the Wedding Weekend

While many couples have a single wedding ceremony followed by a reception, this isn’t working for everyone.

A trend in weddings is the extended celebration over multiple days. With guests coming in from all over, making the wedding itself a destination provides opportunities for family and friends to celebrate together in multiple ways. Or maybe you have friends & family with varying schedules & you’re making sure they can be included.

You may be having…

  • a welcome party on Friday;
  • a beach get-away, wedding 5k run, a volunteer project, a museum visit or theme park visit on Saturday morning;
  • a private early-afternoon Saturday luncheon for the wedding party
  • a rehearsal dinner on Saturday evening;
  • a brunch on Sunday morning.
  • And then…. (drumroll….) the wedding on Sunday afternoon followed by the wedding reception.

The Celebrant is your ceremony composer & choreographer.

They help you craft the perfect ceremony, guiding you through stylistic choices and options that will make your wedding unforgettable. This may include weaving rituals into the ceremony and/or each event that are meaningful to you and creating ways that your friends and family (yes, even the dogs), can be integrated into the script.

For the multi-faceted wedding weekend, you might consider having your celebrant:

  • Help you think about rituals and wedding elements that can be used to connect all of the wedding weekend activities
  • Give a welcome speech or inclusive invocation at the welcome party
  • Provide a Humanist toast or ivocation at a gathering or meal.
  • Lead a Humanist values discussion as a stand-alone event or perhaps after a meal. The family is almost certainly comprises diverse religious, secular and spiritual identities. A Humanist values discussion can bring everyone together on common ground, bridging differences and allaying apprehension. Some may invite clergy from multiple denominations to come together with them and their parents, or other family members, for a similar guided discussion.
  • Make a difference together! Nothing brings people together like time invested making the world a better place. A unique service of Humanist Celebrant Orlando – we can organize and lead a volunteer project either at the wedding or as part of a wedding weekend.

A wedding is a mix & match, created-just-for-you situation.

From minimalist to lavish, how you decide to honor and celebrate the beginning of your journey as a married couple is a personal – and important – decision.

Everyone’s wedding is unique because every couple’s family and journey together is unique. Whether the couple & Celebrant meet at Starbucks to sign the marriage license or we craft a week-long integrated series of unforgettable wedding events for hundreds of guests, it should be exactly as you imagined.

Consult with your Celebrant for ideas and inspiration; we’ll provide the building blocks, experience, and ideas. Together, we’ll construct an amazing, perfect celebration just for YOU.

Contact Humanist Celebrant Orlando for your consultation today.

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Holiday ….Wedding Season?

It is definitely the season when many couples become engaged, but it is also a wonderful time of year for your wedding ceremony.

The weather is getting cooler for outdoor events, and many have postponed weddings for a long time due to Covid. With family and friends visiting for the holidays, this may be the perfect time to walk down the aisle together. Holiday specials on jewelry and other needed items provide opportunities to save money. And if it fits your theme, the decorations can be a snap!

You’ll have the added bonus of celebrating your anniversary along with holiday celebrations which can make them even more memorable, meaningful, and special. You might celebrate your union on the holiday/observance, or on a day close to it – holiday-adjacent.

Some ideas include …

wordcloud of november & december holidays, 2021. See more ideas at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multinational_festivals_and_holidays#November
Click for larger image

Your unique journey as a couple and the significance of the date you’ve chosen can be honored by your officiant, who can weave the spirit or history of the special date into your personalized ceremony.

Minimonies & Micro Weddings

For those planning a small wedding, the logistics are minimal: acquire your marriage license, gather some family and friends if you’d like, and engage a Celebrant to solemnize your union.

Couple-only weddings can occur anywhere (a park, coffee shop, your home). Bringing guests will require a little more planning for the venue (and may have a cost), but if you have 10 or fewer people the planning is minimal.

Many have been waiting so long to solidify their union. A couple-only or small wedding as an elopement can be followed later with a larger wedding ceremony or reception when travel is safer and more accessible for family and friends living further away. Maybe on your first anniversary!

A Ceremony that Makes a Difference

A volunteer wedding at this time of year might be nice – you can embark on your journey together in the season of giving by making a difference for others. From blood drives to food bank events to park clean-ups, we can set up an amazing and memorable event for you. For minimonies (10 guests or under), Humanist Celebrant Orlando will include the wedding planning and often the wedding venue is included also!

What if your wedding could be a fundraising gala in honor of a family member who couldn’t be there with you for your special day?

For later-in-life marriages where the couple has what they need, consider a gift registry for a holiday gift drive or donations to a charity.

Consider the STEM Gift Drive – STEMGiftDrive.org!

Larger weddings

For those planning a big wedding, the holiday season may prove to be a little more of a challenge – higher travel costs for guests, some guests may already have other travel plans, and some vendors may be difficult to book for holiday dates.

Yet if this is a special time of year for you, everything is figureoutable. 🙂

Contact Humanist Celebrant Orlando

Call 407-608-9242 or click “contact” in the menu.
Let’s talk about your perfect wedding day!

Watermark’s Wedding Guide

Find LGBTQ+ wedding resources, vendors, and more in Watermark’s 2021 Wedding Guide.

Link: https://watermarkonline.com/2021/11/04/watermarks-wedding-guide-2021/

Our ad in Watermark’s 2021 Wedding Guide, page 11. View it HERE!
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Celebrant or Officiant – What’s the difference?

While sometimes used interchangeably, there are differences in how the term “officiant” and “celebrant” may be used and perceived.

First, when viewed as the same denotatively (e.g., someone qualified to perform an official ceremony), the term “Officiant” is more common in the United States, while “Celebrant” is more common in other parts of the world, However, Celebrancy in general and Humanist Celebrancy specifically are growing professions with specific qualifications, training, and endorsement. The term “Celebrant” is becoming more common & recognized in the US.

Officiant

“Officiant” may be more commonly used in association with a Notary service. Officiants might be thought of as someone who shows up, conducts a ceremony from a script, signs any legal paperwork, and leaves. In my Notary business, i use the term “Officiant”. That efficient, no-hassle service is exactly what some are looking for.

Officiants usually only perform wedding ceremonies where a license must be signed and filed.

Celebrant

A Celebrant may be endorsed by a program or school dedicated to developing celebrants and providing certification and accreditation. They are equipped to provide meaningful, authentic ceremonies for the clients they serve.

Celebrants are qualified to provide consultations, composition, and officiation for a variety of important ceremonies, such as

  • Invocations or readings for events or public meetings
  • Weddings, pre-commitments, vow renewals, or divorce ceremonies
  • Children & Youth ceremonies such as baby namings, youth coming-of-age ceremonies, or adoption ceremonies
  • Transgender naming ceremonies
  • Health, recovery, and sobriety milestones
  • Other personal or community milestones, celebrations, or ceremonies
  • Funerals, celebrations of life, living funerals, and other end-of-life ceremonies (including final rites or sitting with individuals at the end of thier life)

Humanist Celebrant

Humanist Celebrants are trained and certified as celebrants. They can serve anyone of any perspective, but are of the Humanist tradition and will only use secular language.

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
 From Humanism and Its Aspirations

Humanist Celebrants are further recognized as clergy in all states and many countries, being accorded the same rights and privileges granted by law to priests, ministers, and rabbis of traditional theistic religions. This recognition includes the right to solemnize weddings in the eyes of the state.  

Humanist Celebrants provide a meaningful alternative to traditional religious weddings, memorial services, and other life cycle events. We are trained to help humanists through the most important times in life including birth, love, loss, morality, and mortality.

We can further provide Humanist consultations to families regarding Humanist issues, such as Humanist values discussions or blending Humanist (non-religious) values and language with religious traditions in a ceremony inclusive of diverse participants/audiences. We can provide education to individuals and audiences about Humanism.

Serving the community as Humanist Clergy, we can provide visits to Humanists in hospitals or hospice care, prisons, shelters, and other places where clergy often provide support, guidance, and comfort.

We meet with families to compose a ceremony that is meaningful, personal, and professional with a humanist approach.

Learn more about Humanist Celebrants at The Humanist Society.

Visit Humanist Celebrant Orlando.

Tee Rogers Humanist Celebrant