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Cortney Pasternak
Cortney Pasternak is licensed by the Registrar General of Ontario and the Ontario Humanist Society to provide Humanist (similar to civil or legal) marriage ceremonies in Ontario (though she is happy to officiate at many other life cycle events as well). She has been screened and trained by the Ontario Humanist Society, which is a vibrant, dynamic and growing organization. More about Cortney →
Tag Archives: Humanist weddings
Do Your Wedding Right the First Time
I often hear from couples getting married for the second time (or for those who are learning about Humanist Officiants for the first time) that they often feel (or felt) they had little power or control over their wedding – … Continue reading
Posted in Blog
Tagged covid 19, humanist officiant, Humanist weddings, marriage prep, married, pre-marital counselling
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What do people really want at the end of their lives?
The quieter season for weddings in Canada is upon us. I find it is a good time to reflect on the many beautiful Humanist weddings I officiated this past summer. I’m always comforted by the couples, who, in the collaborative … Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Uncategorized
Tagged death, humanist officiant, Humanist weddings, life passages, marriage
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Alternative Weddings: Resisting Pressure
I met a groom-to-be recently who told me that he and his fiance had wanted a tiny, quiet wedding at City Hall. However, when the bride’s parents discovered their plans, they were so upset that the couple bowed to the … Continue reading
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Tagged alternative weddings, green weddings, Humanist weddings
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Surprise wedding plans? Risky business.
Personally, I think it’s a pretty brave person that attempts a surprise wedding. It’s one thing if your guests don’t know about it (read my last blog here). It’s quite another if your spouse doesn’t know about it. In some … Continue reading
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Tagged humanist officiants, Humanist weddings, Surprise Weddings
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Getting Married? Take That Trip Down Memory Lane
OK I acknowledge the article I am posting here may not be exactly the thing you want to read so close to Valentine’s day (or your wedding day!) but no doubt many of you reading this article will silently agree … Continue reading
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Tagged Humanist Wedding Officiant, Humanist weddings, personalized wedding ceremonies
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Wedding Selfies – To snap or not to snap…that is the question
I used to always begin my wedding ceremonies by asking members of the audience (and sometimes the groom — never the bride so far) to turn off their cel phones for the duration of the ceremony. The idea was to … Continue reading
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Tagged humanist officiant, Humanist weddings, photography, selfie
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Planning the Interfaith and Intercultural Wedding with a Humanist Officiant
I’m no wedding planner. However, as a Humanist Officiant, I do plan, build, write and conduct Humanist weddings and other life cycle ceremonies in a collaborative and creative way with couples and families. These ceremonies are grounded Humanist principles; a … Continue reading
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Tagged humanist ceremonies, humanist officiant, Humanist weddings, intercultural, interfaith weddings, non-religious
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Mixing it up: Marriage Unions Becoming More Diverse in Canada
Increasingly, the couples and families I find calling for a Humanist wedding do so for a couple of key reasons. One reason is that they don’t follow the religious traditions of their parents or grandparents and they want a ceremony … Continue reading
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Tagged blended weddings, humanist officiants, Humanist weddings, mixed marriages
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Humanist Weddings: Honouring Cross-Cultural Diversity and Modernizing Rituals
One of many things I love about conducting weddings in Toronto is that there is a good chance that the city’s multicultural landscape and energy will be reflected in the couples that decide to marry. Indeed many of the couples … Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Uncategorized
Tagged Greek Orthodox, humanist ceremonies, humanist officiants, Humanist weddings, Jewish, rituals, traditions
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Wedding Season and Officiant Bargain Hunting
Gorgeous spring weather is such a great reminder that wedding season is fast approaching. I’m reminded how much I enjoy hearing from couples searching for a wedding officiant — even those working more last minute with very little time to … Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Uncategorized
Tagged bridal gowns, brides, ceremonies, Humanist, humanist officiant, Humanist weddings, toronto wedding officiants, wedding officiant, weddings
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