What’s Beyond Belief?

Welcome to my blog! (Do folks still say that?) This isn’t my first blog, but it’s my first post on this blog. I figured we should start at the beginning.

Weddings (noun): rituals of love commitment.

Beyond (preposition): farther away, after, outside of.

Belief (noun): confidence in the unseen; faith.

Weddings are a very good place to start, a place of love and connection. Yes, I’m authorized to legalize marriages, but there’s so much more to making people “feel married.” The 364th day before your first anniversary is also not the only time you’re authorized to celebrate. I’ve found some vow renewals to be even more memorable than weddings. And for the “official” ceremony, if the paperwork has a different date than the big day, what of that?

Beyond can mean many things, of course, as often symbolic as it is literal. In my little trademark of Weddings Beyond Belief™, it’s not a value judgment. To be beyond belief is to have a different context or perspective, not to be against or above it. It’s meant to be all-welcoming, like a non-denominational, interfaith, naturalist, or non-religious ceremony.

Belief, oh, you tricky little noun. What do you believe? Do you and your soulmate have to believe the same way? As long as you believe in each other, I think the rest will take care of itself. Do you want everyone at your wedding celebration to feel loved and honored, regardless of their faith tradition? That’s beyond belief.

As for me, I put values ahead of beliefs. I value compassion, human life, reason, love, and beauty. Also, good food and drink!