Barbara, Asheville Celebrant
*Would you love a down-to-earth, personalized ceremony where your voice is heard through the telling of your unique story from the heart and soul, inspiring you and your circle of guests?
*Do you care mostly about your ceremony or ritual having real meaning, touching the hearts of all involved while fulfilling your highest intention?
*Is it important to you to honor your life passages and transitions through healing and celebratory ceremonies in a small community of close friends, family and colleagues?
Welcome to my Ministry & Ceremonies website! I hold sacred space that empowers you to honor your life passages and transitions through meaningful ceremony and ritual. As a Certified Celebrant Leader and Interfaith Minister, I provide an inspiring, nurturing presence, co-creating and officiating at wedding ceremonies, commitment ceremonies, self-marriage ceremonies, divorce ceremonies, healing ceremonies, end-of-life ceremonies, and other personalized ceremonies and rituals, based on my clients’ unique values and beliefs.
My focus is on smaller heart-based, wedding, commitment, memorial, healing, and other ceremonies; down-to-earth, authentic healing and celebratory ceremonies with anywhere from 1 to 50 people without a lot of pomp and circumstance. Ceremonies where your voice is heard, whether you choose to speak yourself or have me or someone else speak for you.
When was the last time you were at a wedding where either the officiant or bride and groom shared the couples’ personal love story? How would it have felt to you to hear from one or both of them?
Regardless what the nature of your ceremony is, when your unique story is expressed authentically from the heart, your ceremony becomes infused with meaning and energy that enlivens, connects and inspires you and your community of guests. My role is to co-create your ceremony with you, offering ideas on the structure, music, symbolism, colors, themes, readings, special rituals, prayers and blessings, based on what you want. You have the final say over every word spoken in your ceremony. The result is a ceremony that has your unique stamp and name on it. As a result of really having your voice heard, you’ll also experience a greater sense of freedom, empowerment and peace.
Background on Ministry and Celebrancy: Over the last 10 years my work in Asheville, NC has been as a Life & Business Coach, specializing in transitions, and as an Intercultural trainer, helping managers and executives along with their spouses/partners adjust more easily to the transition of moving to a new culture. In 2012 I became a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist® with the Grief Recovery Institute (www.griefrecoverymethod.com) which enables me to support those experiencing any kind of loss like death, divorce, illness, etc., at a deeper level.
In the spring of 2008 I was led to becoming an Interfaith Minister and Celebrant Leader when my friend Eileen, whose wedding I attended in New Jersey, had a marriage party in Asheville three weeks later, and asked me to officiate at her local “wedding ceremony”. When she asked me, the “Hell, yes!” that resonated in my heart made me take notice. The morning of her wedding ceremony I sat with her and her husband over bagels and coffee to co-create their unique, personalized celebration. It was such an honor and it felt so magical to hold space for this special ceremony, where 80 friends and family were gathered in love to support this wonderful couple, that I knew I wanted to serve as the officiant for more weddings, and other ceremonies. Shortly following Eileen’s wedding ceremony, I became ordained as an Interfaith Minister through James Twyman’s Beloved Community (www.emissaryoflight.com). It was an in-depth rigorous process focusing on how to be a spiritual peacemaker in the world, and I found it to be empowering and unifying.
Eileen and Lars Marriage Celebration, Asheville NC May 2008
I serve clients living in or traveling to Asheville, North Carolina and those desiring their ceremony be held in Asheville, or in towns within an hour’s drive of Asheville.
Please call me at: 828-989-1980 or email me at: barbara@barbarasceremonies.com to learn more.
Warmly,
Barbara
Celebrant Foundation & Institute
