Wordways Ceremonies

13/06/2026

𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒆
People sometimes look a little surprised when I tell them how much I value the funeral work I do.
But here's the truth: being asked to create and conduct a funeral is one of the deepest honours I know.
A family is at their most vulnerable. They are grieving, exhausted, and trying to hold themselves together. And in the middle of all of that, they trust me with the most important thing they have left, which is the story of someone they loved.
My job is to listen. To gather the memories, the laughter, the quirks, the legacy. To find the words that make people in that room nod and cry and smile all at once, because they feel truly seen and truly heard.
A good celebration of life ceremony doesn't minimise loss. It honours a life. It gives the people left behind something to hold onto.
I never take that lightly. Not for a single service.
If you have ever trusted me with that task ~ thank you.

11/06/2026

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠?
Human beings are natural meaning-makers. We look for significance in the events of our lives, especially during times of change, joy, loss, and transition.
A ceremony creates a space to pause and reflect on what a moment means to us.
At a funeral, it can help us make sense of a life that has ended by sharing stories, values, achievements, and relationships.
At a wedding, it allows a couple to express what their commitment means and what they hope to build together.
At a baby naming ceremony, it celebrates the hopes, dreams, and connections that surround a new child.
A non-religious celebrant helps people create ceremonies that reflect their own beliefs, values, and experiences. Rather than relying on prescribed words or traditions, the ceremony is shaped around the people at its centre and the meaning they wish to express.
Ceremonies do not just mark important moments. They help us understand them.

09/06/2026

𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒘𝒆𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈?
Simple legal signing, full-length ceremony with readings, rings and rituals, or something in between?
Call Vanessa for a Gauteng ceremony: 083 507 3886

08/06/2026

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒀𝒐𝒖
We have written before about how our families have introduced us to so many very special songs. This is an abiding favourite:
Heaven In You
Song by Hugh Masekela, Ft J’Something

Man you take me so higher
Yes you get me so inspired
Oohh you take me so higher
Yeah you get me so inspired

07/06/2026

𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒚?
Reach out to Vanessa: 083 507 3886, if you are planning a non-religious baby naming, wedding or celebration of life ceremony.
Together we can plan a warm, personal and unique ceremony.

04/06/2026

𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑵𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝑳𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒍 𝑾𝒆𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈?
Marriage Officers get asked some strange questions sometimes.
“My fiancé stays in Papua New Guinea and I am in South Africa. Is it possible for us to get married legally without him being present in SA? Can we maybe we do it over teams or google meet? And I take the documents for him to sign and bring it back to register?”
No! You both have to be physically present. The Civil Union Act lays down that the “marriage officer must solemnise and register a civil union … in the presence of the parties themselves and at least two competent witnesses.”
“My sister is sick in hospital, so she can’t be at the wedding, but I wanted her to be one of our witnesses. Is it ok if she just gives me a certified copy of her ID?”
Sorry, but no! A witness is someone who sees an event firsthand. At a legal wedding the witnesses observe the Marriage Officer solemnising the marriage, as well as the signing of the documents.
“My fiancée is in Australia. Can her friend stand in for her at the wedding or must she actually be here?”
No! She must be here. The Civil Union specifically states: ”No person is competent to enter into a civil union through any other person acting as his or her representative.”

03/06/2026

𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒂 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒔 𝑴𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝑯𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝑵𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔
Life's important moments are about more than paperwork or tradition. They help us meet deep human needs: for meaning, belonging, connection, remembrance, identity, hope, gratitude, and love.
Non-religious celebrants create ceremonies that help people mark life's milestones in ways that reflect their own values and beliefs.
Over the coming weeks, we'll explore some of the human needs that ceremonies can help meet.

01/06/2026

The family’s choice of a non-religious funeral venue can fully capture the personality of the loved one whose life they are celebrating.

The family’s choice of a non-religious funeral venue can fully capture the personality of the loved one whose life they are celebrating.

30/05/2026

𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

28/05/2026