No matter their age, welcoming a child into your family is an occasion to be celebrated and shared. An adoption ceremony is an opportunity to introduce your new son or daughter to their new community of family and friends as you tell the story of how you and your child found each other. This will also be an opportunity for your child to share some of who he or she is and feel embraced by their new life, while acknowledging their past.


When two families combine in marriage, the focus of the ceremony is usually on the bride and groom, but this is also a time of transition for the child. Whether it's part of your wedding or a separate ceremony, giving your child the opportunity to actively participate in marking the creation of your new family can be source of assurance and empowerment for him or her and an opportunity to establish bonds and commitments between all members of the family. Through interviews with parent, step-parent, and child I can create a ceremony that gives you all a chance to declare your hopes for the future and make a conscious start of your new life together.


As children grow into young adults, their lives change dramatically, as do the lives of parents and siblings. New responsibilities are taken on by the teenager as parents must learn to let go a little and leave them to their own judgment. Be it 13, 15, 16 or any other age significant to your family, these ages of transition deserve to be celebrated and marked as the significant turning points they represent. Ceremony can play a vital role in guiding your teenager (and your family) through this transition. Your child's input, as well as your own will be vital in making this ceremony a meaningful and rewarding experience for all of you.