Introduction

Hi, my name is Dick Combeer, I am entering my fifth year as a Humanist Officiant with Humanist Canada.

Summer 2017, I had occasion to officiate at weddings on a Toronto Historic Streetcar, at Pier 37, at Toronto Island, at a Yonge Street restaurant, and in a back garden in Kitchener; In the Summer of 2018, at Graydon Hall, The Fermenting Cellar, The George Restaurant, and St James Park. Summer of 2019, at The Fifth Terrace, and the Granite Club Golf Club. Spring 2020 I decided to furlough my officiant activities until such time as the world, and the world of weddings, returned to a semblance of normality; hopefully, this coming Summer 2022 will bring that semblance of normality.

I'm in the process of rebuilding this website, please call or email if you have any questions.

Humanist Officiants are certified by the Province of Ontario to officiate at secular Wedding Ceremonies and other secular Life Ceremonies in the Province of Ontario.

For an outline of Humanism, please see the section Amsterdam Declaration 2002 – definition of Humanism that starts on page 62 of this document, or visit http://iheu.org/humanism/the-amsterdam-declaration/. National, Provincial and local Humanist Associations have their own definitions of Humanism based on the Amsterdam declaration.

My background: My own journey to being an officiant began with the weddings of my three children. I was both honoured and moved to be able to speak at each of their weddings, to speak of their strengths, their foibles, their humour, their affection, and my passionate hopes for their futures. I very very much want to do the same for other couples. I hope you will be one such couple.

2017, 2018 and 2019 were all fascinating years, gaining experience at officiating weddings, and meeting many, many good people.

And here we are in 2022. As you plan your wedding ceremony, please consider getting in touch with me.

Phone: 416-985-4756, email: dick.combeer@outlook.com.

Before Your Wedding Day:

As both you and I need to know that we are mutually the right fit to create the ceremony you already have in your mind's eye for your Wedding Day, we'll arrange our first meeting. At that first meeting we explore together some of the wedding ceremony formats, requirements, personal styles and approaches, to come as close as possible to an outline for your vision for the Day.

If you decide to work with me, we need to complete the preliminary documents and the agreement, and make a partial deposit or full payment to confirm your wedding date. Cheque, Interac or credit card all accepted.

Over a period of some weeks, we collaborate and finalize details of your wedding ceremony. We can do this in whichever way works best for you - in person visits, phone calls, postal mail, Skype, Google Hangout, email, join.me, Word, Google Doc, whichever works best for you.

Approximately two weeks before your wedding. I suggest we meet again to finalize the details of your ceremony such as the procession, who will have the rings, how you would like to be standing, and deal with any other questions you may have.

I am hoping to keep the business aspects simple, and, to state the obvious, I too really really want your wedding to go off smoothly and well. So my $500 fee covers as many visits, discussions, versions, rehearsals as we both need to feel well prepared and ready.

On your Wedding Day, I intend to be at your wedding venue at least an hour before the ceremony, simply to allow time to deal with any unexpected delays or issues. I guarantee that your wedding will be the only commitment I have that day.

The following pages offer lots of information about the forms and procedures that lead up to the Ceremony, about what is required, and many examples of different ceremony formats for you to begin to choose your own ceremony.

All the Very Best,

Dick Combeer