Humanist Ceremonies
Latest news
The UK Government have confirmed to us that ‘humanist wedding ceremonies may take place, with up to 30 people, from 4 July in line with guidance outlined. This is also true for naming ceremonies. Please note that this guidance is for England only, and there are different regulations and rules to consider in Wales’. We will update this as soon as we have clarity around the situation in Wales.
In Northern Ireland, Humanist Marriages are legally recognised. Outdoors marriages have resumed and humanist marriages are subject to the same regulations and guidance as civil marriages in terms of where they can happen and how many people can attend.
Ceremonies will need to follow the social distancing guidance from the Government, which says ‘To avoid risks of transmission and stay as safe as possible, you should always maintain social distancing with people you do not live with – indoors and outdoors. You should only have close social contact with others if you are in a support bubble with them. You should: …only gather in slightly larger groups of up to 30 for major life events, such as weddings’.
If you are planning a funeral or memorial ceremony, please visit our Funeral Ceremonies page for the latest update on the range of services available to you from Humanist Ceremonies.
Imagine a ceremony that marks a major life event in a way that is personal, sincere, and honest…
- Perhaps welcoming a much-loved baby to the world with a bespoke naming ceremony.
- Or celebrating a couple’s marriage in a way that is warm and genuine, that’s about the two of them and their relationship, and is full laughter and perhaps a few tears too.
- Or a funeral or memorial ceremony that focuses on the person who had died and the life they led – not on the idea of an afterlife – and provides a dignified and sincere way of saying goodbye.
Humanist Ceremonies™ is the growing network of over 450 celebrants qualified and accredited by Humanists UK. We work across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. (In Scotland celebrants are trained by the Humanist Society Scotland.)
Our celebrants create, write and conduct a range of ceremonies to mark the big moments in life, mostly (but not exclusively) baby naming ceremonies, weddings and funerals.
What we do isn’t new: we’re proud of our history and know that Humanists UK members were conducting humanist funerals as long ago as the 1890s. Humanist ceremonies are not unusual either – we take many thousands each year but perhaps this isn’t surprising since half of Britain’s population say they are not religious, and indeed only a third of marriages in England are held in a church, for example.
Providing high-quality, personal, non-religious ceremonies is something we take very seriously. Our celebrants are thoroughly trained and quality-assured. They are passionate about their work and providing people with an appropriate way to mark the most important moments in their lives.
From here you can find out what a humanist ceremony is, or read more about our three main types of ceremony: namings, weddings and funerals. You can also find out more about celebrants – the people who write and conduct our ceremonies – and see who is available in your area.
