CeremoniesMatter.com

Weddings, Joinings, Renewal of V

Whether the wedding or special event you are planning will be large or small, formal or intimate, your ceremony is about much more than what you wear, where it will be held, and the words you will say. With proper attention, Ceremonies Matter will insure that every detail of your ceremony weaves together a tapestry of meaning for you and for any others who will attend. Your ceremony becomes a solid foundation for your future, in the same way secure footings are the foundation to your home. Indoors or out-of-doors, Southwest Michigan offers prime locations for your very special ceremony.

You will begin the process with an initial phone call or email message. Once we know that the date you have selected will work for us, we will begin to craft your ceremony from the essence of who you really are. The location you choose may help shape the timing and the feeling of your event. Your religious or spiritual path may help determine the language you choose.

Contemporary or traditional, your having a deeper understanding of the history or intention of the rituals you use in your ceremony will add specail significance. Some people value including a moment of remembrance for loved ones passed, creating a vow to children in a blended-family ceremony, or even holding a sacred ritual of uncoupling when appropriate. Just your awareness that these are all possible can often soothe ragged emotions and you are able to experience a deep peace flowing beneath the surface of your event.

Once it is determined what you both want to be able to look back on with fond memories, your ceremony will take shape. You can be confident that your ceremony is going to be just exactly what you desire. You will be able to negotiate rehearsal time, counseling, or other specific needs as well. Each of us is committed to helping you take this next right step in the way that is truly meant to be.

b.corondan@hotmail.com

Funerals or Memorial Services

Today many individuals find spiritual meaning outside of organized religious communities. At the time of death, often there is a need for caring facilitation of a funeral or memorial service. Our commitment is to find ways to allow you to honor the wishes of your loved one. Events can be held at a funeral home or church, out in nature, or in a setting that is appropriate. Our intention is to help you celebrate the life of your loved one, and to enable you to express that celebration in ways that is most meaningful to you and to your family and friends. 

Able to view life and death, and recognizing the rituals from around the world as common to all humanity when seen through a multi-cultural lens, we will assist you in creating a meaningful event that provides the sacred grounding for your witnessing the movement from one dimension of life to the next.  

The trend to more personal funerals and memorial services is widely recognized and most professionals are very supportive of personal expressions. Creating a video sharing of memories, including favorite music, offering special objects, can all be blended seamlessly into an otherwise traditional offering. Like the tasteful use of spices in the creation of a culinary masterpiece, you will sprinkle in those things that have meaning and purpose for you and for those you love. 

b.corondan@hotmail.com

House Blessings or Clearings

From times long now gone by, our sacred connection to space and land has been a rich arena of ritual. Folklore, such as the idea that you can bury a statue of St. Joseph in your yard to insure the sale of your home gives way to a fuller appreciation for the phrase you are standing on holy ground. Asian cultures work with Feng Shui, the study of energy and space. Whatever the meaning for you, being intentional about the space in which you live and work can make an important contribution to the quality of your life there.
 
Using ancient or modern symbolism, you can benefit from the way a simple act like washing your hands or taking a shower can also represent your releasing worry or other challenging emotions. Rituals around blessing the past when you are selling a previous location, or welcoming a new phase of your life when buying or building, can bring peace of mind to troubling times or enriched sense of well-being in joyful times. 

Ritual for inviting prosperity or the success of a business can include a blessing of the space. Going beyond the sense of how to get customers, you will recognize the profound honor of serving. Some people find that you know yourself as blessed because you are able to do what you enjoy and you are financially rewarded for it.

b.corondan@hotmail.com

Dedications or Baptisms

If you have watched the Lion King movie, you already recognize the deep need for offering a dedication when your child comes into your family. While this can be done as a Christian christening, or, in some traditions, an infant baptism, these are done in a formal religious setting. Many times you find your unique expression of your spirituality includes your desire to participate in the honoring of a life that goes beyond the Christian community. This is truly part of the fiber of our humanity.


Whether done in lieu of a formal service, or as an addition, if your child is not yet born, you may include a ritual of blessing during your pregnancy, labor, and delivery by the use of a special guided imagery CD. To read more, visit www.scs-matters.com/products.sthml and scroll down to Welcome Baby! This CD is a perfect, "So you just found out you are expecting!" gift for everyone you know. Every baby should be welcome.

b.corondan@hotmail.com