Naming Ceremonies and Baby Blessings
In 2004 Celebrant Michele heard the Dalai Lama read the Covenant for Child Honouring. She remembers, “I was blown away! It was a crystallizing moment for sure.” Written by BC’s very own Raffi Cavourkian, the Covenant expresses a universal vision and speaks eloquently to how children are here to learn, but also to be our teachers. And so, when she founded Modern Celebrant, her very first ceremony was a Baby Naming ceremony. A few years ago, Michele was thrilled (and nervous!) to have a private lunch with Raffi to share about her ceremonial approach to celebrating children. Raffi generously gave his blessing to use his Covenant within them and even call the ceremonies Child Honourings if parents wish, instead of a Baby Naming or Baby Blessing. Nice to have options!
Reconnecting with old Traditions but in a beautiful NEW way!
Whether your child arrives through birth or adoption, he or she represents the gift of life and a new beginning. Since times beyond memory, people of every culture and faith have gathered to celebrate the birth of their children. Baptisms, christenings, and other religious services were some of the ways. However, many parents today do not feel a strong connection to these ceremonies. We believe it is truly a loss for them as parents – and for all of us – to end up doing nothing as result. Because when we fail to rejoice at the new life in our midst, we fail as a society to nurture our humanity. Michele visioned our children’s ceremonies to fill this very natural yearning. And to do so in a secular, family-based and non-denominational way that we can all relate to.
Creating Family Memories
Your child’s ceremony affirms your important role as parents. And recognizes the life-shifting step you’re taking into the many lessons and truths of parenthood. HUGE isn’t it! Just as importantly, these ceremonies support healthy relationships by bringing your family and friends into your child’s life, and your son or daughter into theirs. Your child will be surrounded by love and intention on this day, as we hope he or she will be for their entire life. It still takes a village. That’s why involve everyone in the ceremony — it’s not just us talking! Grandparents, friends, siblings, mamas and papas…We guide you and provide ideas and inspirations for the experience. Woven through the ceremony are our thoughtful words to elevate the tenderness and joy of the ceremony even further. Your family ceremony will lay a foundation for memories and traditions. There will be laughter, more than a few tears, and an exuberant community closing.
Baby Namings, Baby Blessings, and Child Honouring Ceremonies are the most joyful part of our practice. We love that many of our wedding couples reconnect to create a special ceremony when they have their sons and daughters. Our children’s ceremonies begin at $495. Longer storytelling ceremonies are possible too. Interested? Let’s start a conversation!
Coming of Age and Transition Ceremonies
Just as we gather to welcome a precious new life, there are profound moments along the journey that call out to be acknowledged and blessed. The leap from childhood into young adulthood is one of the most powerful thresholds a person ever crosses. Michele has designed Coming of Age ceremonies that honour this rite of passage in a way that is deeply meaningful to today’s youth and their families. Rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all approach, each ceremony is co‑created with the young person at its heart—exploring their interests, their values, and the kind of adult they aspire to become. Parents, mentors, and friends can offer symbolic gifts, words of wisdom, or hand‑written letters that the child will treasure for a lifetime.
What makes these Transformational CeremoniesTM so special is that they are not tied to any fixed religious or cultural script. A family might weave in elements of their heritage—a grandmother’s blessing, a drumming circle, a planting ritual—while the teen might choose to share a piece of music or art that expresses who they are. For young people adopted later in childhood, a ceremony can also mark their formal welcome into the family and community at an age when they can actively participate. Michele recalls one unforgettable ceremony where a 13‑year‑old stood at a crossroad of flower petals, chose the path symbolizing “kindness,” and walked into a circle of loved ones, emerging from it to cheers and tears. It becomes a milestone that anchors them, a story they carry forward into the world.
Weddings and Commitment Ceremonies that Reflect Who You Are
Your wedding day should feel like the two of you—not like a formula. Michele has spent years listening to couples who say, “We want something different, something that truly tells our story.” That’s where the magic of a Modern Celebrant begins. Whether you dream of an intimate elopement on a windswept beach, a forest gathering with a handfasting ritual, or a lively backyard celebration that blends multiple cultures and languages, Michele works with you to create a ceremony that leaves every guest saying, “That was so them!” No two love stories are alike, and neither should be the ceremony that starts your married life.
From the first conversation, Michele helps you dig into the details that matter: how you met, the moment you knew, the quirks that make your relationship sing. Then she weaves these into a narrative that is equal parts laughter, happy tears, and heartfelt promises. Couples can honour family traditions—perhaps a Celtic quaich cup or a Mexican lazo—while also writing their own vows, selecting readings from favourite books, or even inviting a child from a previous relationship to share in a family blending ritual. It’s all about choice and creativity, and the result is a wedding ceremony that feels both deeply personal and timelessly sacred. As Michele often says, “When the ceremony is a true mirror of your love, the commitment lands in a place that words alone can’t reach.”
Celebrations of Life and Memorial Ceremonies
When someone we cherish slips from this world, the pain can feel unbearable. Yet within the grief lies an opportunity to honour a life in a way that is as unique as the person who lived it. Michele’s approach to end‑of‑life ceremonies—whether you call them a Celebration of Life, a memorial, or a funeral—is rooted in deep listening and tender care. She sits with families, hears the stories that made the person special, and designs a ceremony that captures their spirit. Perhaps it’s a service where friends share anecdotes while holding photos, a sunset scattering of petals, or a sing‑along of the songs they loved. There is no “right” way to say goodbye; there is only your way.
By steering away from rigid formats, families find they can create a space where laughter and tears mingle freely, where grief begins to feel a little less isolating. Michele often incorporates simple, symbolic gestures—lighting a candle for each decade of life, writing final messages on biodegradable paper to be released, or asking everyone present to take a smooth stone and later place it in a garden as a living memorial. She gently guides even the youngest members of the family to participate, honouring the truth that children, too, need ways to process loss. It is a final act of love, a ceremony that says, “You mattered. You are remembered. And we will carry your light forward.”
Vow Renewals and Relationship Milestones
Love is not a static thing—it grows, it weathers storms, it deepens into something richer with each passing year. So why should the biggest celebrations be reserved only for the wedding day? Michele has had the joy of officiating vow renewals for couples marking a decade, a silver anniversary, or even a recommitment after a season of challenge. These ceremonies are a powerful way to look back on everything you’ve built together and declare, “I’d choose you all over again.” They can be as intimate as a handful of witnesses in your living room, or as grand as a full affair with the very same friends who stood with you years ago.
What makes a vow renewal through Modern Celebrant so transformative is the chance to rewrite your story. Couples often include their children in the ceremony, with each family member adding a ribbon to a unity wreath or pouring coloured sand into a keepsake vessel—showing how far the family has come. Michele helps you craft new vows that reflect the people you are now, not just the young dreamers you were. And for relationships that have navigated serious illness, loss, or even a period of estrangement, the ceremony becomes a profound testament to resilience and grace. It’s not just about looking back; it’s about stepping boldly into your next chapter together, with your community rallying around you, cheering you on.