Ceremonies
Our lay chaplains are licensed by the Province of Ontario to perform marriage ceremonies. We also offer ceremonies of other kinds, such as renewal of vows, handfasting, memorials, funerals, child dedications or blessings, house blessings or pet memorials. Each service is custom designed in collaboration with those who are directly involved.
Trained and sponsored by the Canadian Unitarian Council, we respect all faith traditions and will be happy to work with you to reflect your own religious background, if you wish to do so. If you prefer an entirely non-religious ceremony, we can offer you a choice of many beautiful secular readings, vows and selections of poetry.
Weddings
We enjoy working with engaged couples to help you create the perfect ceremony to express your relationship, your individuality and your decision to marry. Each couple is unique and we recognize that no one template ceremony will work for all couples. We look forward to offering you suggestions and guidance to help craft a ceremony that celebrates your love and hopes for the future on your Big Day.
Funerals or Memorial Services
For a funeral or memorial service, many people find themselves without a Minister or Officiant at the time of a death. KUF Lay Chaplains are available to meet with the bereaved to plan and conduct a meaningful service, at a location of your choice.
Discuss your ceremony with us
Contact our Lay Chaplains to answer questions or start planning your ceremony now.
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Susan Young
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Mara Shaw
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Ceremony Locations
The services may be held in a location of your choice:
in your home, a park, backyard garden
at a restaurant, a hotel, B & B, or a hall
at the Kingston Unitarian Fellowship (explore KUF room rentals)
Resources and Links
Lay Chaplains will provide you with choices of wording and readings for services, and also recommend the following for ideas:
Wedding Ceremony Booklet (from the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa).
Testimonials for Funerals/Memorials/Celebrations of Life
“Your presence, during our darkest days, brought us calm at the visitations and funeral. Your sincerity and demeanour brought people divided by race, religion, economic status and age differences together as one.”
— J
“The way you put the celebration of her life together brought us all together in giving thanks for the pleasure she gave us all.”
— M
“My family really appreciated the time you took to put together a wonderful service for my father’s Celebration of Life. I know we did our part but your words throughout really pulled it together.”
— L