Sub-project: Humanist Ceremonies
In the ceremonies sub-project we started working with humanist weddings. In 2026 we move on to humanist funerals. Later we will deal with other humanist ceremonies.
Vision for the sub-project on humanist weddings:
- To make humanist ceremonies in Europe available to everyone, regardless of where they live.
This sub-project works along the following tracks:
Standardization and accreditation
By the end of 2024, EHSN partners agreed on a European Humanist wedding standard and a protocol to accredit our partner’s wedding services according to this standard. An accreditation board assessed the partner’s wedding services during the first months of 2026, and concluded at a meeting in Oslo 9 May 26. 14 humanist wedding services in Europe were formally accredited. In 2026 we have started negotiating a standard for humanist funerals, just like we have already done with humanist weddings.
Conclusive EHSN accreditation board meeting in Oslo, 9 May 2026
Spreading the word about humanist weddings to everyone in Europe and beyond
In September 2025, we launched a European Humanist wedding portal at Humanistweddings.eu. 17 countries are represented by January 2026. Through 2026 we will try to market the portal and develop it further.
Targeted growth initiatives
These are initiatives to improve our capacity to deliver accredited humanist weddings in areas where there is room for improvement. We have started a pilot project in Luxembourg.
Educational platform:
In 2026, we hope to develop a joint e-learning platform for humanist celebrants, that is aimed at making it easier to establish and maintain educational programs for humanist celebrants among our partners.
The sub-project is led by Even Gran from the EHSN management team, and has a working group with the following representatives from our partner organizations:
- Bob Reuter (Luxembourg)
- Denise Odekerken (Belgium)
- Eivind Eggen (Norway)
- Elena Patamsė (Lithuania)
- Emy Spekschoor (Netherlands)
- Erla Rán Friðriksdóttir (Iceland)
- Frank Schulze (Germany, HV)
- Franziska Schneider (Germany, HVD)
- Gail Debono (Malta)
- Gemma Sinclair (Scotland)
- Hristofor Gality (Hungary)
- Kaja Bryx (Poland)
- Kamilė Dovidauskienė (Lithuania)
- Leilia Dore (United Kingdom)
- Niamh Clowry (Ireland)
- Maria Pacini (Italy)
- Monica Belitoiu (Romania)
- Morten Peeraer (Belgium)
- Susanna Leino (Finland)
- Tale Pleym (Norway)
- Thomas Oppermann (Germany, HVD)
- Urte Žukauskaitė-Zabukė (Lithuania)
EHSN work group members from Luxembourg, Poland, Iceland and Romania discussing accreditation of wedding services during our seminar in Antwerp, October 2024.