Thinking about a direct cremation? Read more about what it is and why people choose it, plus how you can follow it up with a meaningful memorial ceremony.

Funerals can be expensive, but with a humanist funeral service there are plenty of simple ways to make them more affordable, meaningful and personal. We share some tried-and-tested tips and suggestions here. Low cost funerals: Burial or cremation? The biggest funeral expense is likely to be the burial or cremation itself, and there are several choices here. Some people opt for direct cremation, which is the lowest cost choice, but this will not suit everybody. A direct cremation does not have a ceremony attached, and usually takes place at a time of the funeral director’s choosing and at a location […]

With six adult children between them, Neil and Suzanne knew they wanted to find special ways to involve them in their ceremony. Read all about their romantic humanist wedding, complete with hand fasting ceremony.

A wedding ceremony with a special welcome included. A great example of how to blend different traditions and make a ceremony that suits you perfectly.

For many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, and the bereaved family and friends making the funeral plans, it is especially important that the ceremony is a fitting and authentic way to say farewell. A humanist funeral, which focuses entirely on the unique life of the individual who has died, is a totally personal goodbye, custom-made for them. Here, Sharon explains why her family decided on a humanist funeral for her aunt Helen. “Oh my goodness, how do you describe someone as multi-layered as Helen?” wonders Helen’s niece, Sharon. The two of them shared a close bond for as […]

A personal naming ceremony to welcome a very special IVF baby into the family.

Lauren and Chris chose to tie the knot outdoors in Northern Ireland in November. Read about how hiking poles and hand fasting were part of their special day.

Holly takes us through how she discovered she was a humanist and shares her favourite things about weddings.

Thinking you’d like to get married outdoors in the forest or a woodland? Check out our guide to humanist woodland weddings.

After having twin girls at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, Tanya and Steff were excited to formally introduce them to the family via their naming ceremony.

Lewis and Imanina knew they wanted to get married, what they didn’t know was how stressful it would get. Their solution? A beautiful and simple outdoor elopement in Derbyshire.

Delivering a eulogy for a loved one can be a difficult emotional challenge. Read these tips from a humanist funeral celebrant to help you prepare.

Hannah is a member of our network of humanist celebrants. Learn more about her story and how she came to be part of Humanists UK.

Make sure your wedding is welcoming to all by checking out these tips for making it inclusive and accessible.

Read about this beautiful wedding in the Derbyshire countryside and how a humanist ceremony chimed with the brides’ values.

When Sarah talks about her mum Joan’s funeral, words like “joy”, “fun” and “celebration” come up a lot. It’s hardly surprising. This was someone who, in Sarah’s words, ‘always said yes to new things’. When Joan died in her 80s, after a very short illness, her daughters knew that her funeral had to celebrate their mum’s passion for life. ‘Mum and I didn’t really talk about funeral plans. Not because we were afraid to – it just didn’t come up. I think she was comfortable that we would do what she wanted,’ explains Sarah. But one casual comment provided Sarah […]

Maddy’s friend, Bernie, lost the ability to say more than a few words after suffering a stroke. But he was still able to enjoy life and to make his views known. When he died, his friends knew exactly what Bernie wanted for his funeral. With the help of a humanist celebrant, they were able to give him the perfect send-off: a humanist funeral which was totally inclusive of all his friends and family, regardless of belief or faith. ‘Bernie was a real party person,’ says Maddy. ‘He loved music and dancing – we’d often go to clubs and gigs together. […]

If you want to get married in 2022, you’ll need to get your skates on! Most wedding venues and celebrants take the majority of bookings between January and March. 

A humanist naming ceremony is a way of celebrating and welcoming a new addition to your family. They’re perfect for babies, adopted children, and step-children. Read to find out more about what is involved in a naming ceremony.

A naming ceremony is an opportunity for you to welcome your child into your family and wider circle of friends. It’s also the perfect time for you to ask people close to you to become guide parents who will have an enduring supportive role in your child’s life. Find out more about the role of a guide parent during – and after – a humanist naming ceremony.

A humanist funeral ceremony for a baby recognises the depth of the loss and pain, acknowledging the unique significance of the child who has died, and all the ways their short life has touched and left an impression on the lives of the people around them.

Simply put, a humanist funeral is a non-religious and personal funeral ceremony. A humanist funeral is a non-religious service that is both a dignified farewell and a celebration of a life. It recognises the profound sadness of saying goodbye whilst celebrating the life and legacy of a loved one.

When struggling with loss and grief, some people find comfort in poetry. When read aloud, a moving poem has the ability to bring people together in quiet contemplation and mourning. The ritual of reading a poem at a funeral is a way of collectively mourning the loss of a loved one.  Whether you’re looking for a poem to read quietly to yourself, or to be read at a funeral, we hope these bring comfort.  Little Snowdrop, Anon The world may never notice If a Snowdrop doesn’t bloom, Or even pause to wonder If the petals fall too soon. But every […]

A humanist naming ceremony is an inclusive, non-religious celebration for welcoming a child into your family in a way that is personal and meaningful to you.

A humanist naming ceremony is a non-religious celebration for welcoming a child into the family and giving them their name. Families often choose to include the reading of a favourite poem at a naming ceremony. 

Here are some of our celebrants’ favourite poems for naming ceremonies. 

Many families include rituals and symbolic actions in a ceremony to give meaning, structure, and inclusivity. For example, inviting all guests to write a promise to your child can be a great way of involving everyone in the ceremony, whilst also getting them to think about the relationship they want to have with your child as they grow. It is both inclusive and meaningful.

Planning a naming ceremony is great fun, but it can be difficult to come up with ideas to make the day special. We’re sharing 10 ideas for a naming ceremony, to help make your life easier! Whilst it’s possible to host your own naming ceremony, when you work with a Humanist Ceremonies celebrant, you’re working with someone with training, skills, and experience in creating inclusive, family-friendly ceremonies. Having a professional celebrant leading the ceremony means you can spend time with your guests and relax and enjoy the day. Our celebrants are full of ideas for how to make your ceremony meaningful, […]

Life Ledger is a free, secure, easy-to-use service that simplifies the process of death notifications.

Award-winning humanist celebrant Jane Blackman explains what happens at a humanist naming ceremony. Why hold a naming ceremony? The arrival of a new baby, adopted child, or stepchild into your family is not only a joyful and positive event, it’s also a life-changing moment and a gathering and celebration to mark it feels wholly fitting. By holding a naming ceremony, you are not only introducing a new person by name, you’re also expressing gratitude for their presence, marking your commitment to their welfare and happiness, and welcoming them as a precious, significant person in your life and the lives of […]

Fifteen-year-old Emily made the decision to change her name to Billie. When she learnt about Humanism as part of looking at different worldviews, she became interested in the idea of having a humanist naming ceremony. She believed that a ceremony would help those closest to her accept and understand her name change. Celebrant Jane Richardson explains the ins and outs of planning a naming ceremony for – and with – a teenager. People change their names for many different reasons. According to the UK Deed Poll Office, here are some of the common reasons that people change their names: Because […]

In recent years, you might have found yourself hearing more and more about ‘humanist weddings’. But what are they? Why are they more popular than religious weddings in Scotland? And what is the link between humanist weddings and long, happy marriages? So, just what is a humanist wedding? A humanist wedding is a non-religious ceremony that is welcoming, inclusive, and personally tailored to you. A humanist wedding is led by a celebrant and focuses on your love story and the things that are important to you as a couple. The wedding ceremony is conducted by a trained humanist wedding celebrant. […]

Humanist weddings are on the rise. And it’s little wonder. People fall in love all over the world and despite our differences, love wins. Focusing the entire wedding day on the celebration of a couple’s love, humanist ceremonies are religion-free, creative, meaningful, and extraordinarily memorable. With a humanist wedding ceremony, gone are the days of ‘just getting the ceremony part out of the way before the party’. A humanist ceremony turns the modern wedding day on its head, delighting the couple and the guests with professional delivery of a carefully crafted, engaging script. Integral to the beauty of the vows, […]

A gorgeous garden wedding can include both spectacular daytime elements such as flowers, fragrance, and far-reaching views — and romantic mood lighting with twinkling lights and candles – and a few sparklers for good measure!

James and Amie knew that as well as a DIY wedding on home soil, they also wanted a personalised ceremony, so they called upon the services of humanist celebrant Caroline Lambie. Amie shares her (pre-Covid) wedding story with us… 

A humanist wedding ceremony tells the personal love story of a couple, and so each one is unique. Some couples have favourite poems that they’d like to read or have read at their wedding, but what if you like the idea of including a poem but don’t know which to choose? That’s where your humanist celebrant comes in! Poetry is as diverse as the relationships we celebrate and your celebrant will have a deep knowledge of poetry and a wide selection of poems you can look through before making the choice that’s right for you. They can also help you […]

Handfasting is a symbolic act that takes place during a wedding ceremony, where the hands of the happy couple are bound together with ribbon or cord, to represent their commitment to each other.

As part of our series on symbolic acts chosen by couples who’ve had humanist weddings, we’re looking at the act of ‘tying the knot’. To many people, the expression ‘tying the knot’ means to get married, but did you know that the expression originates from a Celtic, pre-Christian tradition that literally saw a couple bound together with cords to symbolise the internal bonds they are forging? This is the act of ‘tying the knot’, which is often used in humanist wedding ceremonies as a symbol of lasting unity. If you’re at that exciting moment of wedding planning then why not […]

Lighting a unity candle symbolises two becoming one. Bringing a moment of ritual into your wedding can add depth and emotion to the ceremony.

With a humanist wedding from Humanist Ceremonies, you can have your wedding ceremony wherever you choose – even in a woodland glade. You can also write your own vows and choose your own symbolic acts. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be featuring a range of symbolic acts chosen by some couples as part of their humanist wedding ceremonies. Here’s Chloe and Josh’s favourite. The cut-out heart race The ‘cut-out heart race’ is an old German wedding tradition that involves a race to cut out half a heart shape which has been drawn on a bed sheet by […]

Humanist wedding ceremonies are flexible and can incorporate a range of wedding traditions from around the world – and that includes the throwing of confetti.

Humanist ceremonies are a popular choice for couples planning a fusion wedding — a multicultural wedding ceremony marrying together elements of each of the couple’s cultures and traditions. If, like Jaspal and Lucy, you’re planning a fusion wedding, our celebrants will have ideas on how to include and combine different customs and traditions seamlessly into your ceremony.  

When couples aren’t religious and don’t want a traditional church wedding, preferring instead something that reflects them and their values, a humanist ceremony is often the perfect fit. That was the case for Paul and Mark. Paul shares their wedding story with us in his own words.

British Sign Language interpreter and humanist wedding celebrant Audrey Simmons tell us how she hopes to bring these roles together to conduct the first Humanist Ceremonies wedding ceremony entirely using BSL.

Sinead and Hayley-Jane wanted a non-traditional wedding, so they chose a humanist ceremony, which meant they could have their wedding their way: non-religious, personally tailored to telling their love story, and representative of their values.

What happens if your wedding celebrant is too ill to conduct your ceremony?

Humanist weddings are all about individuality. At Humanist Ceremonies, we say, ‘It’s your wedding, your way’, and if your dog is a huge part of your life and you want them at your wedding, then they should be at your wedding! It’s already quite common for humanist weddings to include a couple’s children – which can be a great way to celebrate two families coming together, or bring a child along with your journey. Family is important, and for many people, four-legged friends are part of the family. This article is aimed squarely at pet lovers who couldn’t dream of […]

Humanist weddings are personal, meaningful, and unique. Each ceremony is individually created specifically for the couple to tell their love story. No two ceremonies are ever the same!

As you’d imagine, here at Humanist Ceremonies, we love a good wedding so we were delighted when Bekka and Gareth agreed to share their story with us. Getting together We met online via Tinder. Our first date was in a local pub and we obviously got on well. We share a passion for travel and have had lots of adventurous holidays together since. We’ve been together for almost 6 years. The proposal Gareth proposed on a secluded beach on an offshore island in Madagascar. There was no ring at the time of the proposal but we found a £4.50 silver […]

We love a good wedding story, so we were delighted when Katie offered to tell us all about her weddings to Will – both of them! Getting together We met teaching sailing on the Isle of Scilly and by the second season, we were a couple. We had a long distance relationship for a couple of years until I finished uni. We had been together for four years before the proposal and then we were engaged for a year and a half. The proposal Will proposed on Christmas day. He took me for a walk down to the river (with […]

Marriage law is different in parts of the UK and crown dependencies. Let’s take a look at each region: Humanist marriage in Scotland Humanist marriages have been legally recognised in Scotland since 2005 and are performed by celebrants trained by Humanist Society Scotland. Recent figures show that humanist marriages are now the number one choice in Scotland for couples wanting to have something more personal than a register office wedding. They account for over 20% of all marriages there. That’s more than Scottish weddings than any religious group! Humanist marriage in Northern Ireland  In 2018, humanist marriages gained legal recognition […]

Humanist weddings are legally recognised in Northern Ireland.

Same-sex weddings are no different to opposite-sex weddings in that both are about the love two people have for one another and involve making a public commitment in front of friends and family. We know that love is love — and we celebrate it!

If you’re having an outdoor wedding, you’ll need a focal point — somewhere to stand to say your vows — and nothing says ‘focal point’ like a beautifully decorated wedding arch.

Creative couple Rachel and Harvey wanted a rustic wedding on the family farm and the freedom to make their vows personal and sentimental. As a non-religious couple, a humanist ceremony fitted the bill perfectly! Harvey tells us all about their big day and working with humanist wedding celebrant Hannah Bryant. About us We both work in the film/TV industry making prosthetics and special effects. I grew up in the Worcestershire countryside and Rachel is from Malta, but moved to the UK when she went to university. We now live in Hertfordshire with our cat Frank, who is basically the centre […]

Humanist wedding celebrant Ginny Collins shares her top ten tips for an outdoor wedding, to help make sure your big day goes smoothly.

The old adage ‘Life’s too short’ can sometimes hit home when someone you love dies. It can make you assess your own life and clarify for you changes you want to make. As a result, some people choose to honour the memory of a loved one by changing something about their own lives: to give their life purpose, to slow down, to travel,  or to strive for happiness. 

On 17 May 2021,  England moves into Step 3 of the lifting of restrictions. But what does that mean for you and your wedding? And what further restrictions will be lifted on weddings and receptions in June in England – and elsewhere in the UK?

Oh, we do love to be beside the seaside — and so do Janice and Darren! They like being by the sea so much, that they chose a beachside hotel for their humanist wedding ceremony. Janice tells us how she and Darren met and why they chose a humanist wedding.

Many couples are trying to future-proof their wedding plans as much as possible by opting for a small, intimate, outdoor wedding which adheres to social distancing rules — and the easiest way to do this is to have a humanist wedding at home in the garden.

Newsflash: We’re all going to die. It’s inevitable. Life, sadly, is a terminal condition, and death is one of its few certainties. But the reality is that talking about our funeral wishes now will make it easier for our loved ones to plan our funeral when the time comes.

‘Catherine was facing a terminal diagnosis of cancer, but she was also used to planning her life, and considered planning her death and the immediate aftermath no different. She was surrounded by a loving family to whom she felt protective: lessening their distress and pain after she died was very high on her agenda.’

Even when it’s expected, the death of someone we know and love can be shocking and painful. And when planning a funeral, there are so many decisions to be made that the process, combined with the loss, can feel overwhelming. By pre-planning your funeral ceremony and taking those decisions in advance, you can help to make life easier for those you leave behind. 

If you’ve been thinking about getting your affairs in order, you may have been looking into prepaid funeral plans. But did you know that they don’t include recording your wishes as to the content of the ceremony you would like to have.  Let’s take a look at the differences between the prepaid funeral plans offered by many funeral directors and the pre-planned funeral ceremony service our celebrants offer. 

Louise Jopling has been a humanist funeral celebrant for over a decade. So, if anyone would knows what makes a ‘good’ funeral, it’s Louise. Here, she shares her thoughts on ‘good’ funerals and why Humanist Ceremonies celebrants are unique.

Poetry has taken on a meaningful role in lockdown funeral ceremonies. It is being used by many families to help express their thoughts during these challenging times. 

Poetry brings comfort and, while every humanist ceremony is unique, we find there are some poems which are requested more than others at humanist funerals. Here are some suggestions for anyone wishing to choose a poem of love for a non-religious funeral.

Uplifting funeral poems can set the tone for the whole ceremony. They can offer comfort and a way to honour the life and personality of a loved one.  Humanist funeral ceremonies are non-religious. They are led by a humanist celebrant and focus on the person who has died – their story, their history, their unique qualities, and the relationships they forged. You can find out more in our blog ‘What is a humanist funeral?‘ Secular readings and poems often feature in humanist funeral ceremonies and, like popular pieces of music, there are some poems which are more frequently chosen than […]

‘As a funeral director, it’s reassuring to have a Humanist Ceremonies celebrant, as they are formally trained and I can be assured of high standards,’ says Hannah. 

Stars of our billboard campaign in Northern Ireland, Danny and Andy had plans for a Winter Wonderland humanist wedding, but the weather had other ideas. Danny McKeown tells us all about their big day. We booked the wedding in March 2017, giving us just under two years for planning – and that was the best thing really as we could do one of two things a month allowing us to plan things nice and steadily across the time and also it allowed us to be more creative as our thoughts were not rushed – plenty of time for inspiration to […]

You may be surprised to learn that (outside of lockdowns) you can have a non-religious funeral ceremony at a range of venues.

There are many things to think about when planning a funeral. Humanist funeral celebrant Adele Chaplin has created her top ten tips for funeral planning to help you navigate the process.

The best advice for anyone writing a eulogy is to speak from the heart, in a way that fits the person who has died. You’re writing the eulogy to fit the person, rather than fitting them into a pre-designed format. 

A humanist memorial is a non-religious ceremony which focuses on the person who has died, the life they led, the relationships they forged, and the legacy they leave. It can take place weeks or months after a funeral or direct cremation.

 If you’re planning a funeral while in lockdown, there are many things you will need to consider. Humanist funeral celebrant Adele Chaplin has created a list of five things to consider.

In early December, celebrant Julie Watkins had a phone call asking if she would conduct a surprise wedding on Christmas Eve. Here was a groom with a dream! And Julie was about to do everything in her power to help him make his dream come true…

Humanist funerals and memorials are non-religious ceremonies that support you to both mourn your loved one and celebrate their life. They are based on the humanist perspective that every life is individual and valuable. The content of each humanist ceremony is unique – because each person is unique! Humanist celebrants work with families to create meaningful, memorable, non-religious ceremonies. Who we are Humanist Ceremonies celebrants are trained by Humanists UK. We’ve been conducting non-religious funerals for over 120 years. What does it mean to have a unique funeral ceremony? With a humanist funeral or memorial ceremony, there are no rules! […]

The flexibility of a humanist wedding meant Alba and Steve’s outdoor ceremony could be safe, socially distanced – and beamed live to guests in Spain.

A humanist naming ceremony is the ideal alternative to a Christening for families who wish to mark the occasion in a way that isn’t religious. A naming ceremony focuses on the child and the friends and family that surround them. Each ceremony is individual and unique, and may include symbolic acts and poetry readings.

No matter where – or how – you propose, it will be one of the most memorable moments of your life!

Humanist funeral celebrant Adam Jacobs is a dedicated motorcyclist and Lincolnshire emergency blood biker. He tells us why he’s keen to give fellow bikers a good send-off.

Humanist funeral celebrants provide an alternative to religious ceremonies for people wishing to say goodbye to a loved one in a non-religious way. Dawn Thewlis explains how she became a humanist funeral celebrant – and what it means to her.

Like many people, David Atkinson found the first humanist funeral he attended was unlike any other funeral he had experienced. He was so captivated by the personal approach to the non-religious ceremony, that he decided to apply to become a humanist celebrant.

Humanist celebrants are the ideal choice for families looking for something personal and unique.

Four funny poems to read at your humanist wedding vow renewal ceremony

If you’ve faced serious illness, time apart, or other stressful situations as a couple, and are now wanting to celebrate your relationship with a renewal ceremony, your humanist celebrant can help you find a poem or reading that expresses how you are feeling about renewing your vows and what you mean to one another.

Many classic romantic poems, such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s ‘How Do I Love Thee’ and ‘Love’s Philosophy’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley, feature religious references and may, therefore, not be first choice for humanists for their vow renewal poetry reading. However, fear not because our celebrants have a selection of classic and modern love poems for you to peruse. Here are a few for you to consider…

‘A Red, Red Rose’ by Robert Burns, ‘Love is Giving’ (Anon), and ‘Fidelity’ by DH Lawrence.

Find the ideal modern love poem or reading for a wedding vow renewal ceremony. Whether you’re looking for something traditional, or more unusual, you’ll find it here.

A wedding vow renewal ceremony is an ideal way to celebrate your marriage — and you get to say ‘I do’ all over again. Renewing your marriage vows means declaring your love and making a commitment to one another in front of those you hold dear. 

Just what is a vow renewal ceremony? And how can you do it your way? Humanist celebrant Dawn Rees shares her top ten tips for renewing your wedding vows in memorable and meaningful style.

What motivates a couple to renew their wedding vows inevitably varies from couple to couple. Celebrant of the Year, humanist wedding celebrant Jane Blackman looks at the many and varied reasons for couples to renew their wedding vows. 

After ten or twenty years or more, maybe a couple kids, several house moves – and everything that life throws at you in between – your wedding may seem like a distant memory. Your wedding photos might look dated, and perhaps it wasn’t the kind of ceremony you’d choose today. Maybe you don’t like the dress anymore, and some of the guests you hardly see at all these days. Don’t worry! One of the great joys of life is that we continue making fond memories – and that’s why at Humanist Ceremonies we think couples should continue to celebrate enduring love.

Humanist wedding celebrant Lauren Stone is here to tell us what happens at a humanist wedding vow renewal ceremony.

A wedding anniversary is the perfect time to reflect on the years you’ve spent together as a couple and to remember the vows you made to one another on your wedding day. And what better way to combine the past, present, and future than with a wedding vow renewal ceremony on your wedding anniversary?

We all know that traditionally, each wedding anniversary has a different gift associated with it, but did you know that there are also different flowers associated with each anniversary?

If you’re thinking of combining your wedding anniversary with a wedding vow renewal ceremony and are interested in learning about the tradition of flowers for different anniversaries, our handy (lighthearted)  guide will help! 

After 21 years of marriage, Steve Parry wanted to renew his wedding vows to Tracey as a public demonstration of his love for her. To make it all the more special, he planned the vow renewal ceremony in secret and held the ceremony as a surprise, enlisting the help of humanist celebrant Dawn Davies to help plan the renewal of vows. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK lockdown and social distancing rules have meant that celebrants and families have needed to find creative ways to hold humanist ceremonies.

Humanist naming celebrant, Felicity Harvest tells us about the planning and delivery of an online, socially distanced naming ceremony she conducted recently, which was a  meaningful, moving, and memorable occasion for family and friends.

Baroness Joan Bakewell, talks about the lockdown, the important work of humanist funeral celebrants, and why we all need video technology skills.

After the first legal same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland, Laura Wylie reflects on what legal marriage means to her and her partner, Erica. When we first think of marriage, I guess we think of all the lovely things that go along with it – making pancakes on a Sunday, watching our children take their first steps, growing old together side by side, or fighting over the remote. But when we really consider what the current changes in law in Northern Ireland really mean for couples like us, it can be summed up by an equal right to the security, acceptance, […]

Committal rituals can help the bereaved to say goodbye. When there isn’t a committal, symbolic gestures can be a substitute. As well as being a way of saying farewell, they can help mourners to feel connected to the person who has died, and express love, closeness or admiration.

During the lockdown, many people will be physically alone, while dealing with grief. As a nation, our attendance at funerals, memorials, and wakes may be severely restricted at this time. But as individuals, our support for grieving friends and relatives remains unlimited.

Saturday 11 April 2020 was meant to be the wedding day of Hannah Broadbridge and Matt Saleh, who had been planning for two years to have their humanist wedding at the beautiful Ufton Court in Reading. Humanist wedding celebrant Lauren Stone was meant to be marrying them, however, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, they had to postpone their wedding until 2021.  They decided to mark the date with a surprise pre-wedding celebration ceremony. Lauren tells us the story… ‘I met Hannah and Matt one and a half years ago and have been getting to know them ever since, as we worked […]

Imagine the disappointment of having to postpone your wedding because of the coronavirus pandemic. What are you meant to do with yourselves when the date you had planned comes around?

Humanist funeral celebrant, Adele Chaplin shares her experiences of using technology in the planning and delivery of funeral and memorial ceremonies.

Humanist funeral celebrant Cate Quinn has made a short video explaining what you can do before, during, and after a bereavement, to say a meaningful and dignified goodbye to a loved one during the lockdown.

In the event that you and your family cannot gather together to attend a funeral, we want to reassure you that there are still ways to celebrate a life lived and say goodbye to a loved one without the need to bring people together physically in one place: a humanist memorial ceremony that is shared online.

When siblings who haven’t spoken to one another in years suddenly face planning a funeral or a memorial for a parent, a humanist funeral celebrant can often become an intermediary trying to make sure everyone’s wishes are met. 

Planning a funeral for a loved one is emotional and potentially stressful at any time, but during the coronavirus (COVID-19)  pandemic there are additional factors to take into consideration. You’ll want to know how the virus may affect the funeral ceremony and what steps you can take to limit its effect.

With civil partnerships becoming legal for opposite-sex couples across the UK, a lot of couples have been wondering on social media ‘Can I make it a humanist ceremony?’ In the UK and crown dependencies, there are different laws governing civil partnerships in different countries. There are also different laws covering the legality of humanist ceremonies. The short answer is this: if you want to have a humanist ceremony to recognise your partnership, you absolutely can! But how you go about that will vary depending on where you live in the UK. You can have a humanist ceremony alongside your civil […]

Humanist Ceremonies wedding celebrant Laura Gimson was named ‘Best Celebrant’ at the UK Wedding Awards last week. That’s three in a row for Humanist Ceremonies celebrants, as this win comes hot on the heels of Emma Bailie and Jane Blackham each winning best celebrant at The Northern Ireland Wedding Awards and The Wedding Industry Awards respectively. Isabel Russo, Head of Ceremonies at Humanists UK said: ‘We set the highest standards for our celebrants and this is being reflected in the number of top wedding industry awards being presented to members of our network this year. ‘Humanist weddings are personal reflections […]

Since the first lockdown, the rules on attending funerals have kept changing – and there are more changes ahead in England as lockdown restrictions begin to ease.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we live, but it has also changed the way funerals are conducted and how we support friends and relatives who are grieving. Here are seven ways the coronavirus pandemic has changed how humanist funerals are being planned and conducted by humanist funeral celebrants in the UK during the lockdown.