What is a humanist wedding?

A humanist wedding ceremony is non-religious or secular, and gives every couple the freedom to have a ceremony that is totally bespoke to them.

Do you have to be humanist to have a humanist wedding? No, you don’t!

People might choose to have a humanist wedding for a number of reasons, for example: to have a wedding that’s still inclusive of their different cultural backgrounds, or flexible to adapt to their own shared values, or a wedding outdoors or in a particular location or at an unusual time of day, or their own origin story told to the people they love most, or to set the tone they want for the rest of their wedding day.

Whatever the reasons, I’m yet to meet anyone who hasn’t absolutely LOVED their own humanist wedding! (We always glow in awesome feedback from their friends and families afterwards too!)

What is humanism?

Like for anything, there are several slightly different definitions. However, I really like this one from Humanists International, which also includes the optimistic and important role of humanism in building of a more humane society:

Humanism is a democratic and ethical lifestance which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethics based on human and other natural values in a spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.
– Humanists International

I’ve found that many Humanists share an appreciation and love of people and places, as well as animals, the environment, science and art.

Having not heard of Humanism until my mid-30s (10 years’ ago), I’ve been very happy to hang my hat on Humanism to explain my ethical stance and outlook on life.

Since learning more about Humanists UK, I’ve found out many good things that it has done in its rich history, since it was called the Union of Ethical Societies, including: