Rewriting the Ceremony: A Conversation with Humanist Celebrant Katherine Hunter
Katherine Hunter does not just officiate weddings; she builds them. Working as a humanist celebrant, she creates ceremonies that reflect the values, identities, and relationships of the couples she works with, often outside the bounds of religious tradition. In a space historically shaped by faith, Hunter’s work offers something different: ceremonies grounded not in doctrine, but in human connection. In conversation with the American Humanist Association, Hunter spoke about how she found her way into this work, what it means to create meaningful secular ceremonies, and why humanism often resonates with couples, even when they don’t name it. How did you become a celebrant? I happened to be coming out of a period of not being employed, and celebrant work just neatly fit a skill set of mine. I’m comfortable with public speaking, I’m comfortable with writing, and I’m very curious about how people see the world and make sense of it. I’m also very drawn to emotional intelligence. Those things ended up being really strong assets. That’s kind of how I got my start. …
