Ric here, how are you?
If you've dropped by to learn a little about Humanist weddings, I'd like to welcome you to Weddings with Glow. As of this writing, I'm one of about one hundred or so certified humanist officiants registered with the province of Ontario to solemnize weddings. I've been an officiant since 2017.
Humanist officiants perform non-religious services; mostly weddings, but we're also trained to preside over other transitional events such as baby namings, coming of age ceremonies, gender transitions, de-couplings, funerals, and celebrations of life.
Due to a quirk in Ontario law, we are recognized as clergy by the province! We are the brand name for wedding ceremonies that are inclusive, dogma-free, and always true expressions of our couples' wishes for the perfect wedding. We will marry couples anywhere in Ontario, and I mean anywhere - at your home, your farm, the Experimental Farm in Ottawa, on a boat (in Ontario waters). Coffee shops, restaurants, art galleries, indoors, outdoors - wherever our clients want.
And we'll marry you with a ceremony that is tailored to your exact specifications. Although we are required by law to include standard components, our couples can create a wedding that reflects who they are and how they feel. So, if you want a traditional service, or if you want to add your own spice, you can. Your wedding, your way!
Each officiant has their own story for why they applied and took the training to do what I do. I know, I am part of the committee that selects and trains new officiants, and I interview applicants. We all believe that there is a place in our society for those that wish to celebrate transitional moments in their lives without involving supernatural deities. Our philosophy is that we live for the betterment of every human life. We also believe that rituals allow us to express our connectivity to humanity with grace and dignity. And a touch of humour when appropriate. I officiate weddings because I find joy in celebrating with couples on one of the happiest days of their lives.
But I became an officiant because of one person, my niece, Samantha, She and her fiancé, Jeff, asked me to officiate a wedding service for them. When they asked, I was not legally allowed to solemnize a wedding, so I performed a ceremony, and they arranged a civil ceremony for the legalities. But we did it up right and by the end of the service I couldn't believe how good I felt. I immediately began investigating how I could perform services in Ontario, and that led me to Humanist Canada. I'll tell you more about Sammy in another post.
So, if you're intrigued and want to learn a little bit more about what I do and how I do it, call or text me at 613-617-7722, or book a consultation below.