Over the past decade, Ireland, much like many parts of the world, has witnessed a remarkable shift in how couples choose to mark life’s most significant moments.
In the 2022 Census, over 14% of Ireland’s population reported having no religion, up from 10.1% in the 2016 census, marking a 63% increase over the six-year period.
While religious rites remain meaningful for many, an increasing number of people prefer ceremonies that reflect their personal values, family stories, and unique connections without a religious framework. This is where the humanist celebrant comes in: an expert in designing and delivering deeply personal, non-religious ceremonies that honour individuals’ beliefs, backgrounds, and dreams.
At its core, a humanist celebrant’s work is about storytelling. Each ceremony is an opportunity to encapsulate your journey, humour, hopes and the essence of your relationship, into a cohesive, heartfelt story. Rather than reciting standardised vows or following a rigid liturgical format, your humanist celebrant spends the time with you to understand:
- Your values and worldview: What principles guide your life together.
- Family traditions and cultural roots: Are there family rituals or symbols you wish to include?
- Personal anecdotes and stories: Which moments in your relationship best illustrate you as a couple?
- Creative elements: you might want poetry, music, or a symbolic ritual (such as a handfasting, sand ceremony, or unity candle) woven into the ceremony.
By focusing on these elements, as a humanist celebrant, Patrick ensures that each wedding (or commitment or renewal ceremony) becomes not just an event, but a living reflection of you, the people at its centre.
To become a fully accredited humanist celebrant in Ireland, Patrick was required to be trained and accredited by the Humanist Association of Ireland (HAI). This programme includes:
Formal Training, understanding humanist philosophy, ceremony structure, and ethical framework.
Being coached in public speaking, voice modulation, and storytelling techniques.
Mentorship, which involved an extended period of being mentored by experienced Humanist celebrants at real ceremonies to learn logistical details, how to manage timing, adapt to unexpected changes, and liaise with vendors and venues.
Qualifying meant demonstrating competency in creating a ceremony script, conducting client consultations, and adhering to the legal requirements for civil solemnisation.
Prior experience in related fields, such as counselling, life coaching or public speaking is invaluable, as it helps the celebrant connect more deeply with couples and deliver their words in a way that resonates with them.
Crafting a tailored ceremony for every couple is unique and so is every Humanist ceremony. Here’s a glimpse into the process:
Initial Consultation, a relaxed meeting, often over coffee or a Zoom call, where the Patrick asks open-ended questions to draw out the couple’s personality, shared passions, and vision for their Wedding ceremony.
Rehearsal and Final Touches (The Wedding Planning Meeting), involves a walk-through where roles are assigned (readers, musicians), timing is fine-tuned and any special cues (e.g., music fade-ins, processional timing) are agreed.
On the big day, Patrick will arrive about an hour and a quarter early to check that everything is set up as planned, meet with the wedding coordinator, the music provider and photographer/videographer, to ensure that everyone knows their role.
During the ceremony, Patrick will read from a tablet or printed script, but it will feel entirely spontaneous, with genuine eye contact, gentle humour, and a warm energy that keeps your guests engaged. There will be a welcome and opening words, setting the tone and acknowledging guests.
Your script will include personal stories (if you wish), highlighting how you met, overcame challenges, or simply things to make each other laugh.
It will include readings and music with favourite poems, meaningful songs (live or recorded), or short reflections from friends/family.
You will be assisted in writing your personalised vows, guiding you to write your own promises, whether humorous, traditional, or poetic.
You can include symbolic rituals such as handfasting, unity candles, or sand-pouring symbols that visually represent your unity, or indeed something else that you feel reflects you as a couple.
Then closing wishes or affirmations which is a moment to send you forward with goodwill and best wishes for your future life together.
Many ceremonies blend literary excerpts, from classic poets, contemporary writers, or even original pieces penned by loved ones. You can work closely with Patrick to select passages that speak directly to you.
The final run over (the Wedding Planning Meeting) ensures that timing, music cues and logistics flow seamlessly. You’ll feel more at ease knowing exactly how the ceremony will unfold. There will be no surprises!
As a Humanist Celebrant, Patrick is deeply committed to principles of equality, diversity, and respect. In practice, this means:
Gender Equality: Each partner is given equal prominence. Vows and rituals are framed in gender-neutral language, unless the couple prefers otherwise.
Cultural Sensitivity: If families come from different backgrounds, perhaps one partner has Irish roots, and the other is from abroad, Patrick helps to blend traditions respectfully, whether that includes a bilingual reading or a ritual that reflects a partner’s culture.
LGBTQ+ Affirmation: HAI Humanist celebrants pride themselves on being fully affirming and celebratory of all orientations and gender identities, ensuring every couple feels recognised and honoured.
Ethical Foundations: Because there is no religious scriptural or dogmatic requirement, Patrick can speak freely about ethics, kindness, compassion, community and encourage your guests to carry these values forward in their own lives.
Testimonials from Couples
“We wanted a ceremony that felt true to who we are, quirky, fun, and completely unserious about tradition. Patrick not only got our vibe immediately but delivered remarks that had everyone in stitches (and reaching for tissues). Our friends still talk about the ten-minute story of how we first argued over a pizza topping, he turned it into a metaphor for teamwork!”
Liam & Lukasz, Dublin
“As two people from very different faith backgrounds, figuring out a ceremony was daunting. When we met Patrick, all our worries melted away. He guided us through selecting readings in both English and Irish and even helped us design a new tradition involving weaving our handfasting cords as did my grandparents. It was everything we dreamed of, intimate, heartfelt, and 100% us.”
Aidan & Fatima, Limerick
So why do couples choose a Humanist Celebrant?
For authenticity, because there is no one-size-fits-all script. The ceremony is designed from the ground up, reflecting your story rather than following a template.
Flexibility, do you want to ask a close friend to read a poem specially written for you, or walk up the aisle to a classic tune you both love? All of it is possible.
All HAI Humanist celebrants are fully authorised solemnisers. That means they can register your marriage legally without the need for a separate civil registrar and your guests get to witness that special moment.
By investing time to get to know you and often some of your family members, Patrick builds genuine rapport and emotional connection that allows for moments of humour, tears and surprise that feel natural.
So, if you’re considering a humanist ceremony for your wedding, schedule a meeting with Patrick to discuss your vision, timeline, and any special requests. There is no commitment, he will listen first, then offer ideas, sample scripts and potential rituals.
Enjoy the Ceremony and when the day arrives, you can trust Patrick to guide guests, cue music, and keep the atmosphere warm and engaging. All you have to do is be present, soak it all in, and maybe laugh at that joke you put into your vows!
For Patrick, being a humanist celebrant is more than simply reading scripted words into a microphone, it’s about creating moments of genuine connection, standing alongside couples as they embark on life’s greatest adventure. In a world that’s ever more diverse and pluralistic, his ceremonies offer freedom to speak from the heart, to honour family legacies, to blend cultures, and to build traditions that feel truly your own.
Patrick is honoured to practice as a Humanist Celebrant and travel to conduct meaningful ceremonies, from Cork to Donegal, and everywhere in between, serving couples, families, and individuals across the entire Republic of Ireland.
Whatever your vision is for your ceremony, he will tailor every detail so that your ceremony not only reflects who you are but also resonates with every person witnessing it. Your love story is unique, so why not tell it in a way that’s as original as the two of you?
For more infirmation about Partick and his services please visit www.patrickcassidy.ie
