Looking for a Spiritualist Ceremony in Ireland?

Meet Rev Brenda O’Grady, a registered Wedding Solemniser based in the midlands Ireland.

Interfaith Ceremony,  Spiritualist Ceremony,  Humanist Ceremony or Civil Ceremony in Ireland?

The Background: 

Friday May 22 2015 was a red letter day for Ireland when we became the first country to approve same-sex marriage, with 1.2 million people voting in its favour. This vote sealed the changing of our Constitution to extend civil marriage rights to same-sex couples.
This was a historical day for Ireland, a social revolution and opened the conversation for freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. In turn the growing trend toward the Solemnisation of marriage outside of the parameters of mainstream Churches has also expanded and more and more couples are choosing to have their marriage solemnised in an Interfaith Ceremony,  Spiritualist Ceremony,  Humanist Ceremony or Civil Ceremony of marriage.

Now couples have now more choice than ever when it comes to their special day but they do need to decide what they are prepared to forgo in terms of cost, location, and content. 

In choosing your venue remember that for legal solemnising your venue must be a building or be attached to a building, have an identifiable address and be open to the public. Your venue can be outdoors providing it meets this criteria.

Everyone getting married in Ireland must register their Intent to Marry, NO LESS THAN THREE MONTHS prior to their intended wedding dat.

If you  decide to marry in your venue how do you decide which option to choose for your wedding ceremony? An Interfaith, Spiritualist, Humanist or Civil Ceremony?

What is an Interfaith Wedding Ceremony?

Meet Rev Brenda O’Grady, who is a HSE Registered Wedding Solemniser and an Ordained Interfaith Minister based in the midlands Ireland.

An Interfaith Wedding Ceremony is a legal Wedding Ceremony for persons of all beliefs or none led by an Ordained Interfaith Minister who is registered with the HSE as a Solemniser of Marriage, can Legally Solemnise marriage in Ireland. 

Interfaith Ministers have taken a vow of inclusivity, welcome diversity of beliefs, gender, orientation, colour, nationality, ability and culture within the bounds of Irish law. Interfaith Ministers can hold your Ceremony on any day of the year at any time including Bank holidays, Saturday or Sunday.

Interfaith Ministers are Ordained Ministers professionally trained in different religious traditions, ritual  and spiritual or humanistic beliefs. Interfaith Ministers actively promote understanding between persons of different religions or beliefs and persons of no belief to increase acceptance of others, rather than to alienate.

An Interfaith Minister will guide you through the process of creating your humanist, spiritual, secular or atheist Ceremony written just for you ensuring that it reflects your beliefs and wishes, personal stories, philosophy of life, and personality. They will help make the planning through to delivery of your ceremony as stress-free and simple as possible.

Your Interfaith Minister will provide you with ample sample reflections, affirmations/ blessings and vows. Interfaith Ministers have the freedom to create your ceremony, your way and have no requirement to speak about any parent organisation during your ceremony.

The length of the ceremony will depend on the number of reflections, or the music you include.

Your Ceremony can include bespoke elements including Hand Wrapping/ Hand Fasting, Secret Box, Truce Bell, Sand, Stone, Unity Candle, Jumping the Broom,  and many more.

In Ireland Interfaith Ministers have been professionally trained in the creation of bespoke legal ceremonies, are independent, are booked directly with the Celebrant usually following an introductory meeting, they are not booked not centrally and they provide a personalised service to you.

An Interfaith Ceremony typically costs €550 / €650 with most Celebrants forgoing an additional charge for travel and providing the materials for ceremony enhancements.

What is a Spiritual Ceremony In Ireland?

A Spiritual wedding Ceremony be performed any day of the week, in the venue of choice, indoors or outdoors.

Spiritualism is a religious movement based on the belief that the spirits of the dead exist and have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living. The afterlife, or the “spirit world”, is seen by spiritualists, not as a static place, but as one in which spirits continue to evolve
Modern Spiritualism can include a very wide range of beliefs and world-views. Those who follow it are united in believing that communication with spirits is possible. Spiritualists communicate with the spirits of people who have physically died. Such communication is thought to be beneficial to the dead and the living.
In Ireland spiritual is defined as ‘ A religious person may be spiritual, but a spiritual person is not necessarily religious, thus all activity be it physical, emotional, intuitional and so forth that leads towards greater perfection, goodness and wholeness is therefore spiritual.’ (Wickapedia )

Spiritual Ceremonies can incorporate references, either in music or content to prayers.

Spiritual Celebrants are booked and allocated to couples centrally through the Spiritual Ceremonies website.
A Spiritual Ceremonies typically charge a fee with an additional charge for travel and the couple provides their own materials for ceremony enhancements.

What is a Humanist Ceremony?

A Humanist wedding ceremony is a secular, non-religious ceremony that is legally recognised. 

Humanists do not believe in God or the supernatural, instead relying on scientific evidence and human achievements. Humanist ceremonies are open to any couple who have similar philosophical beliefs and are often an option for couples that have different beliefs. You can personalise a Humanist Ceremony but it cannot include any religious references. The Humanist Ceremony does not permit, the inclusion of references to an afterlife, angels, God or prayers, music or reading with a religious content.
Humanist solemnisers are booked individually and they can occur on any day of the week. 

A Humanist Ceremony is restricted by content as the Solemniser is obliged to open the ceremony by outlining what humanism is.
Humanist Ceremonies typically charge a fee with an additional charge for travel and the couple provides their own materials for ceremony enhancements.

What is a Civil Ceremony?

A civil ceremony is a non-secular (non-religious) and legally-binding way to get married in Ireland. If you choose to have a civil ceremony, there can be no mention of anything religious or spiritual in the ceremony. This exclusion extends to musical choices (no songs, hymns or prayers nor references to Angel’s or an afterlife) no religious iconography (no statues, no crucifixes present or religious pictures)
In a civil ceremony, a marriage registrar (a person who works for the HSE / State) will solemnise the marriage. 

Civil Ceremonies fulfil the requirements of the State to legally perform the solemnisation of marriage, they can be held Monday to Friday and cannot be performed on Bank holidays, Saturday or Sunday.
You can have a civil marriage ceremony in either a registry office, or in a public venue that has been approved by the registry office. 

Civil Ceremonies tend to be impersonal and very short. Although in response to demand Civil Registrars have adopted and are more accommodating in assisting couples to develop their Ceremony.
The HSE Registrar typically charges a fee with an additional charge for travel to your venue and the couple provides their own materials for ceremony enhancements.

Frequently Asked Questions