Ceremonies & Rituals

Rituals commemorate rites of passage. The most familiar rituals are weddings, commitment and re-commitment services, christenings and memorials. Rituals bring families and friends together to share love in its many forms. We use rituals to bind together, to release, to remember, to bring into being. We can also perform rituals to honor the approaching birth of a baby, to bless a house or to release past relationships.

Weddings

You will take part in a wedding ceremony that is truly an expression of your love and commitment. Mary Alice will assist you to choose from already carefully crafted ceremonies or to create your own unique ritual. Whether you wish to:
• Select a traditional ceremony
• Design a ceremony using our resource material
• Create your own ceremony entirely
• Write your own vows using a process designed to reach the heart
• Avoid or include any mention of God or anything religious
• Have a deeply spiritual ceremony
. . . we can work it out! Every couple is unique. It is important for all present to feel included in the loving feelings that you share. As your guide to creating a perfect wedding, Mary Alice works with you to bring those loving feelings into the ceremony.

Commitment Ceremonies for Gay and Lesbian Couples

Love and Spirit do not see the same boundaries as the legal system. Love and Spirit simply want to express through us. Although you cannot be legally married yet, you can celebrate your love in a public commitment ceremony with family and friends. This experience encourages your community of family and friends to support you throughout your lives together.

Take this opportunity to have your relationship acknowledged spiritually and communally. I welcome the diversity in relationships and take heart in love in all forms.

Recommitment Ceremonies

If you are already married, you can:

• Renew your vows in a ceremony "just like what you always wanted"
• Design a ritual to celebrate a new stage or focus to your on-going relationship.

Memorial Services

Losing a loved one is always difficult. Losses show us how connected we are to each other. We see and feel the absence of the other so poignantly that we are reminded of how much we cared.

Christenings

This ceremony touches the place of inner vision, truth, intelligence, feelings of adequacy, and ability to learn from experience. It is a joyful experience for parents, grandparents, families and friends.