This work involves private stories, strong emotion, and moments that can’t be repeated.

Clear boundaries and shared expectations are essential.

Policies & Ethics

Ceremony involves trust.

People share personal history, private grief, family complexity, and moments they don’t want mishandled. I take that responsibility seriously — and I work within clear ethical boundaries to protect everyone involved, including myself.

This page exists so expectations are explicit, not assumed.

Confidentiality

What is shared in preparation for a ceremony is treated as private.

Personal stories, family dynamics, health information, and emotional details are never reused, shared, or referenced outside the ceremony without consent. I do not record conversations. I do not share drafts. I do not repurpose language.

Some moments are meant to be witnessed once.

Consent & Representation

Ceremony language is collaborative — never imposed.

I will not include:

• jokes at someone’s expense
  
  

• personal details that haven’t been approved
  
  

• symbolic elements that make anyone uncomfortable
  
  

• language that misrepresents a person’s beliefs or identity
  
  

If humor is appropriate, it is used with care.
If seriousness is required, it is respected.

Consent is ongoing and mutual.

Tone & Responsibility

I do not perform irony at important moments.

I do not sensationalize grief or dilute joy with spectacle. I am attentive to the emotional temperature of the room and adjust in real time when needed.

My responsibility is not to entertain — it is to hold the moment steady.

Religious & Spiritual Boundaries

I am not clergy.

I officiate secular and non-religious ceremonies, including spiritual or symbolic elements when requested and clearly defined. I do not perform ceremonies that require religious authority I do not claim.

I am happy to collaborate respectfully with religious family members when appropriate, but I do not pretend to be something I’m not.

Inclusivity

I work with people of different identities, relationships, histories, and family structures.

I will not officiate ceremonies that:

• demean or exclude others
  
  

• involve coercion or lack of consent
  
  

• require language that denies someone’s humanity
  
  

Respect is not optional.

Emotional Labor & Boundaries

I care deeply about this work — and I maintain boundaries so I can do it well.

I am not:

• a therapist
  
  

• a mediator for unresolved family conflict
  
  

• available on demand at all hours
  
  

I listen carefully, respond thoughtfully, and create space — but I do not replace professional support when it’s needed.

Refusal & Withdrawal

I reserve the right to decline or withdraw from a ceremony if:

• ethical boundaries are crossed
  
  

• expectations change materially without discussion
  
  

• I’m asked to perform in a way that feels dishonest, unsafe, or disrespectful
  
  

This is rare — and always handled directly and respectfully.

Professional Integrity

I arrive prepared.
I show up sober, focused, and grounded.
I treat every ceremony — regardless of size — with equal seriousness.

This work matters to me.

In Closing

Ceremony is not neutral.
Words shape memory.
Presence carries weight.

These policies exist to protect the integrity of moments that cannot be repeated.