Frequently Asked Questions about Ceremonies

Why Choose an Interfaith Minister?

Here are some of the reasons you might prefer to choose an Interfaith Minister:

• You want complete freedom in the design of your ceremony and support to create it the way you want.
• You want a ceremony that is meaningful, personal and memorable for you.
• Your views or spiritual beliefs do not fit in with an established faith but you still want support from a higher force.
• You are a couple, either from different religious backgrounds, or perhaps same-gender, and you want a celebration that bridges your traditions and honours both of you.
• You are a couple looking to personalize your wedding vows or renew your commitment together.
• You are seeking a ceremony that is not offered in your usual faith tradition – such as a house blessing, a pet blessing or a divorce ceremony.
• You feel uncomfortable with traditional religious approaches.
• You are seeking something outside the restrictions of a particular denomination.
• You want your ceremony to include your own personal combination of religious, non-religious and contemporary wisdom and approaches.
• You have specific needs - spiritual, religious or agnostic – that you feel would be best met through an interfaith approach.

I’d like an Interfaith Ceremony. What do I do now?

1. First of all, make sure you’ve had a good look around my website. I’ve done my best to include a lot of the background information you’ll need.
2. Then, get in touch via e-mail claire@alternative-ceremonies.org.uk  or telephone 07957 418 985. We’ll arrange a time for a preliminary chat when you’ll be able to ask questions and discuss your requirements. This appointment is FREE OF CHARGE and places you under NO OBLIGATION TO PROCEED. We’ll also discuss the dates and location you have in mind for the actual ceremony, to make sure that I would be available for you.  If I can’t make that date, I can always refer you to one of the other 100+ interfaith ministers in the UK who might be able to help.
   
   Then what happens?
   
   
3. If you decide to go ahead, we’ll begin the process of creating your unique ceremony. This will start at our first meeting, when I can also show you examples of what other people have chosen to do. We’ll be working closely together to include the music and readings or poetry that is meaningful to you, and to make sure that your significant family members and friends can have a role on the day if you’d like them to.
4. After the first meeting, you will need to gather any readings and music you’d like to include, and to think about anyone you’d like to involve on the day. You’ll send or email me this information so that I can incorporate it in the first draft of your ceremony. I’ll email this to you for approval.
5. Once you’ve looked at the first draft, you’ll email me your comments and we’ll meet by phone to finalise the ceremony outline.
6. Once that’s done, we’ll discuss whether you’d like to meet beforehand for a rehearsal (which can be very helpful for ‘choreographing’ the ceremony - who needs to be where and when).
7. Occasionally we may need one or more personal meetings. That’s most likely the case in more complicated ceremonies, such as weddings, where it is important to honour the wishes of both of you, and there may be an integration of two or more faith traditions.
   
   On the day itself:
   
   
8. I’ll meet you at the ceremony venue at least half an hour before the ceremony, longer, if we’ll need to run through anything beforehand. And then your beautiful, personal ceremony takes place!

Where will the ceremony take place?

This is up to you. Some venues will be dictated by the ceremony itself. A house blessing, for example, will take place in the house to be blessed; a cremation will take place at the crematorium. Other venues, such as weddings or memorial services can take place indoors or outdoors in the setting of your choice. Castles, hotels, gardens, woodland and the seaside are popular venues.  I will be able to advise you on the practicalities of some venues in accordance with the ceremony you have decided on.

Do you ever refuse to work with someone?

My commitment is to serving those of all faiths and none, free of prejudice and with an open heart. Sometimes, I will not be available on the date you have in mind. And very occasionally there will be other practical, personal, health or ethical reasons that will prevent me from working in particular circumstances. But please do call me to discuss your specific needs.