Laura Fitz Humanist Celebrant

21/06/2024

[image description: text as follows, on navy blue slides with pink starry borders]

It could be said that atheism is the answer to a question:

‘do you believe in a god?’

‘No.’

Someone being an atheist doesn’t tell you much about that person’s worldview or approach to life.

You can be atheist, and not a humanist.

Humanism is so much more than whether or not you believe in any gods or goddesses.
It is a philosophy rooted in reason and rationality.
Humanists see the world as a natural place, shaped by humans and not by supernatural beings or forces.
Humanists look to science to make sense of the mysteries of our universe.


As an approach to life, humanism encourages compassion and kindness.
Humanists champion human rights and equality for all people, regardless of their beliefs - as long as they do not harm the rights of others. This includes protecting the rights of people to hold and practise their religious beliefs.

I wasn’t born into a humanist family.
I went to a Catholic primary and a non-denominational (though still Christian) post-primary school. (In N.Ireland, with the exception of Irish-language schools, all our
schools are Christian.)

It took me years of questioning and debating and arguing and reflecting to find out that humanism was the philosophy that resonated with me.

There are many countries around the world where you can be imprisoned or killed for being openly non-religious.

Today, on World Humanist Day, I stand by all those who have come to harm because of their humanist beliefs.I acknowledge my incredible luck to have a family who support my freedom to choose what I believe.

I choose to be humanist.

It’s not through tradition,
it’s not through faith,
it’s not what I was born into.

Humanism is my choice,
and I’m grateful for it.

18/06/2024

You’ll often hear people talk about how much fun a humanist wedding ceremony is, and it’s true! We are telling your story, and no relationship is without it’s funny stories and moments of light! However, we also recognise the seriousness of the commitment you are making to each other, and give that its due respect. We acknowledge the legal aspect of your union and honour the personal undertaking you have committed to, hopefully for the rest of your lives. Let it never be said that a humanist marriage is lesser than a religious marriage in any way. Because it just is not.

A moment of reflection for Lauren and Craig, during what was a ceremony full of all the feels!

[image description: me standing in the centre of the aisle delivering the ceremony, with bride Lauren and groom Craig sitting beside me]

05/06/2024

I’ve just watched the documentary ‘Blood on the Dancefloor’ by - one of the most important records of our history, and a must-watch, harrowing as it is. Thank you to all those involved for telling this story.

We must never forget that LGBTQ rights have been and continue to be a matter of life and death.

In memory of Darren Bradshaw and all those who died because of who they happened to love 🏳️‍🌈💚🏳️‍⚧️

28/05/2024

A few weeks ago we went out for family lunch to celebrate my mum’s birthday. Baby Oliver was the centre of attention, getting so many smiles from everyone around us. My dad (a former French teacher) cited this verse, by Victor Hugo. I thought it was so apt, and would be lovely to include in Oliver’s naming ceremony.

It popped into my head again this morning, thinking about Rafah. How lucky we are to have the luxury of being able to choose readings to celebrate new life, in a way which suits us - no one dictating to us how we should live our lives, being able to enjoy the freedom of choice.

Being able to live, at all.
Being able to bring a child into the world without fear of death and destruction being wrought upon their little lives.

All those sweet, shining faces. All that innocence and joy, wiped out in an instant, by fully informed adults operating in the full knowledge of the consequences of their abhorrent actions. They can have no claim to innocence whatsoever.

My heart is with the families of Rafah today ❤️💚🖤

26/04/2024

Hello from me and baby Oliver! He is an absolute dreamboat and we are all delighted with him. Larry is a very loving and proud big bro 😍

🌟 7 weeks old
🌟Born on International Women’s Day 💚💜🤍
🌟 9lb 2 - biggest baby born in the hospital that day!

Recovery from C-section is no walk in the park but I’m feeling much better this week than I have done so far and hoping to get driving again over the weekend 🤞 (probably could have attempted it a few days ago but broke my glasses and would have been breaking the law by driving!)

I would love to share more photos of beautiful Oliver but feel a bit uneasy sharing newborn pics so publicly, hence this photo which is mainly my exhausted (but happy!) face heavily filtered in black and white 😆

Hope you are all keeping well - lots of love xoxo

[image description: black and white image of me holding a sleeping Oliver]

07/03/2024

Throwback to last summer, at the fun-filled wedding of Jordane and Lee . I had no idea I was in the early stages of pregnancy that very day - here we are nine months later at the end of this journey and preparing for another new chapter! A rollercoaster ride of emotions.

That June day last year was full of laughter and craic and this pic brought me right back to that feeling of fun in the room. It’s a cliché but it’s true - who says the ceremony has to be the boring bit?! Your humanist ceremony is anything but boring 🌟

[image description: side view of ceremony in mid-flow. Bride Jordane and groom Lee are sitting down, I am standing. I am looking at them and laughing about something funny someone has just said!]

21/02/2024

It's a big day for our Faith to Faithless service!

Please, if you support our work, like this post. It could help us reach someone in need. So often 'apostates' are incognito on Facebook, and posts like this could be a real lifeline.

15/02/2024

✅ first wedding of 2024 done!
✅ 37 weeks pregnant today - baby boy incoming!
✅maternity leave officially activated 😎

If you’ve seen me in real life over the last 9 months you’ll have seen me looking grey-faced and totally exhausted 😵‍💫 How nice it was today to get glammed up for the wedding of Nikki & Harry - it won’t be happening again for a while now!

Have got so much wedding loveliness to share from the last year and am hoping pre-baby maternity leave gives me a bit of time to share it.

In the meantime, I hope all is well with you - it’s been too long!

[image description: me, sporting enormous baby bump, after a wedding ceremony in the Clandeboye with rows of seats in the background and a fabulous, ornate dried flower and festoon lighting installation above my head.]

07/02/2024

Sign the petition - ban conversion therapy

It takes 30 seconds

22/01/2024

'I wouldn’t even say I’m religious, though I grew up with that background. But I have a lot of faith in myself and I’ve been so blessed to have been around great people my whole life, my Uncle Bill and my family being supportive, and all the people I met along the way.'

Dolly Parton in the latest New Humanist magazine (‼)

10/01/2024

Do you support a more compassionate assisted dying law, the most important thing you can do right now is sign this petition. ✔️

Your support is vital in ending the inhumanity, and introducing a compassionate law centered on dignity and personal choice.

Link in the comments! Signed? Let us know!

29/12/2023

GNU Terry Pratchett.

28/11/2023

What is a humanist?

Well, let us get you started!

20/11/2023

Look how delighted I was to marry David and Graeme earlier this year! These two sweethearts have been together for over 20 years and came home to NI to celebrate their marriage on home turf after holding their wedding in Australia, where they now live.

It felt like we had known each other forever and I’ve already booked them in for a catch-up next time they are back from Oz… whenever that may be!

Thank you so much you two for inviting me to be a part of your day. It was wonderful and I’ll cherish the memory always 💚

Fab photo by the equally fab 📸

[image description: a black and white photo of grooms David and Graeme either side of me, each giving me a wee peck on the cheek. Beside us is a sign welcoming guests to their wedding day]

19/11/2023

A little snap taken as we prepared to welcome the beautiful bride at my most recent wedding, way back in September. We had the best craic at Catriona and Christopher’s ceremony , with plenty more pics to come!

I’ve been back to teaching full-time the last year or so and as a result, have reduced the amount of weddings I’ve been able to conduct. Life has been busy and Insta has been neglected! I have so many class weddings and couples to share and look forward to getting back into the swing of posting and celebrating all those wonderful love stories!

In the meantime, I hope you have been keeping well and that life is as good as can be.

[image description: me at the top of the aisle, wearing a purple dress and holding my celebrant folder. The groom and groomsmen are standing beside me, all wearing blue suits. Guests are seated and ready to rock!]

09/11/2023

“I was born in 1990 and gay marriage wasn’t made legal in the north until 2020 so it wasn’t something I had necessarily envisaged happening for me.”

A married couple from Northern Ireland are set to star in a new programme about weddings, talking about how special their big day was for them. https://tinyurl.com/mr29a3un

27/10/2023

Paul and his husband Martin live in Belfast and adopted their son just before the Covid pandemic.

25/10/2023

On this day 78 years ago, the United Nations Charter came into effect. The ideals that led to the UN's foundation – a human yearning for peace and unity – remain as critical as ever.

02/10/2023

5 years of legal humanist weddings thanks to Humanists UK Northern Ireland Humanists Laura Lacole and Eunan O’Kane 👏🌟👌🤗🎉

The glamorous NI couple paved the way for a law change to recognise humanist weddings five years ago

25/09/2023

What are the values which shape how humanists see the world?

19/09/2023

The fair takes place on Sunday, September 24 in the Waterfront Hall

18/09/2023

How did religion evolve? And why does it endure today?

✝️☪️✡️🕉️

What is religion’s evolutionary purpose ❓🤔

Every society in the history of humanity has lived with religion. And, in our wildly popular lecture, evolutionary psychologist Professor Robin Dunbar tracks the origin of religion back to what he terms the ‘mystical stance’ – the aspect of human psychology that predisposes us to believe in a transcendent world, and which makes an encounter with the spiritual possible.

(Link in comments) ✔️

03/09/2023

In case you didn’t know, have a read below to find out why there’s so much more to humanism in Northern Ireland than weddings!

Proud to be part of the Humanists UK Northern Ireland Humanists Humanist Ceremonies network alongside these fantastic Celebrant colleagues:








michael

28/08/2023

Congrats to these two honey bunches who got married this weekend 🌟

Ciara from Larne and Sam from Cork first met over 3,000 miles away from our wee island when they worked as summer camp counsellors in the USA. A summer romance became the love of a lifetime, and it was my huge pleasure to share their lovely Love Story with their families and friends, who cried the whole way through their ceremony - it was full of emotion but full of fun too, as is the way with Ciara and Sam 💚

It was brilliant to catch up with Gabi and Dearbhaile after something ridiculous like 18 months since our last wedding together! Lovely to meet Fiona at last too. Wee dream team right there!

Thank you so much Mrs and Mr T for inviting me to be a part of your beautiful day. Wishing you both every happiness in life!

[image description: groom Sam wearing a burgundy velvet tux, me in a blue floral dress, and bride Ciara in an ornate white gown with her hair in a mermaid style pony]

27/08/2023

Happy Weekiversary to my lovely Nicki and Michael! They wanted a super relaxed ceremony that focused not only on them as a couple but as parents to their darling son, and that’s exactly what they had

provided a gorgeous and chilled backdrop for their ceremony which was light and fun. Their son totally stole the show - as they predicted he would - with his adorable character and mischievous smile. Wee dote!

I was so very happy to finally work with Grace - what a talent! Amazing to hear Fabolous’ 1998 absolute CHOON ‘So Into You’ played by a classical pianist for the bride’s entrance 😂😂😂 And for the exit of the newlyweds, another cracker choice - ‘Another Night’ by The Real McCoy, iconic 1990s! Love it when couples surprise us seasoned professionals with something we have never encountered before 🙌

Mrs and Mr McW, I loved getting to know you both and thank you for inviting me to be a part of your day. I loved it 😁

Shout out to for their fantastic service and looking after us all so well 🌟

[image description: groom Michael wearing a navy shirt and beige chinos, me in a blue and white maxi dress and bride Nicola in a simple but stunning white cowl-necked gown. We are outside Café Parisien on a rare dry day in Belfast!]

14/08/2023

9 years married today!

Rocking our first dance: a dramatic, ridiculous, Addams Family inspired Tango choreographed by my superstar cousin

Next year’s the decade!

Photo by David Cavan Photography

[image description: husband and I mid-Tango, with bunting and home-made light bottles behind us]

11/08/2023

Did you know that our wonderful Northern Ireland Humanists Celebrants offer Funeral services as well as weddings and Namings?

At a Humanist Funeral, the Celebrant shares the unique life story of your loved one, having spent time talking with family and friends about the person whose life is being remembered.

Just as each humanist wedding is bespoke, personalised and all about the two people being married, a humanist funeral is also bespoke, personalised and all about the individual at the heart of it.

My colleague Celebrant Michael - Humanist & Non Religious Ceremonies has shared a little bit about a special person he helped to celebrate today.

Yesterday we said goodbye to Holly. Holly arrived into her parents life 29 years ago. The excitement of being new parents turned into not really knowing what the future held for Holly as she was diagnosed with a rare condition that effected her mental and physical development. That didn’t hinder them being the best parents the could be for Holly, always advocating for her needs.

Holly was a young woman who knew what she wanted, she just loved Primark and would pick all of her own clothes. Holly also LOVED DVD’s, she has a collection of 2500 of them. Her favourite though was Toy Story - she watched it every night as it helped out her to sleep.

She moved into Shaftesbury Mews supported living and had the best care from a great team. Her parents told me that she always got great care over the years and they felt very fortunate for this. The team at Shaftsbury Mews had movie nights, pamper nights and girly nights in Hollys room which she just loved. She always looked forward to returning to her family home each weekend to spend time with her family.

Holly didn’t know her own strength, she would often signal to people she knew and strangers for a hug. You can only imagine the shock on people’s face when she pulled them closer and wouldn’t let go. They underestimated the strength of a young woman in a wheelchair.

She saved her parents a small fortune in Tescos as usually she’d eat almost the entire bunch of grapes and other treats before she got to the checkout
And because the packets were empty she was rarely charged for what she consumed.

While life has its challenges for Holly and her family they all know that Holly loved a full life despite the adversity she faced.

Holly had an impact on so many people and her legacy will continue to ripple through all those as who knew her.

It was an honour to help her family say goodby to her and celebrate her life. Thinking of all who knew her and who will miss her.

“To infinity and beyond”

08/08/2023

A year on from their incredibly special day, I loved receiving these stunning photos from Mrs & Mrs A 💚

Theirs was a story of love at first sight, with a long road ahead to reach the magical moment of their marriage vows.

The Moon Garden Drenagh House Estate is such a special place and on this August day there was an extra sense of magic in the air. I’ll never forget standing there listening to the powerful words of the American Supreme Court ruling on Same S*x Marriage being read by two of the brides’ best friends. It was a spine tingling moment.

Thank you Vicki Maher Photography for capturing the essence of this emotional ceremony so perfectly, and congrats to my wonderful couple on one year as wife and wife!

[image description: mid-ceremony shots in the Moon Garden - a 16th Century outdoor ruin. One of the brides is wearing a sparkly jumpsuit and one is wearing a long white wedding dress]

Humanist Ceremonies Northern Ireland Humanists

04/08/2023

Four years ago today I conducted my first ever humanist wedding! 🌟

Paula & Andrew got married in the grounds of their old school, where they met as wee First Years, aged 11!

Their ceremony was outside, in the rain, on the edge of a cliff in Portstewart and it was every bit as magical as you’d imagine!

After the ceremony, they went back into their old classroom for these cracker wedding portraits, taken by the phenomenal .martins.photography

Super memories of a super day with super people! So much love to you both Paula and Andrew on your fourth anniversary, and your growing crew! 😍

[image description - the wedding party having a raucous time in their old classroom, with bride Paula rocking a school blazer over her wedding dress!]

03/08/2023

Humanists accept that morality is inherent to the human condition, grounded in the ability of living things to suffer and flourish, motivated by the benefits of helping and not harming, enabled by reason and compassion, and needing no source outside of humanity.

(Taken from Amsterdam Declaration 2022. Link in comments.)