Find meaning in life-changing events

The Life-Cycle Celebrant™ Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics 

The certified Life-Cycle Celebrant™ will:

• Provide Celebrancy services that align with the client’s needs, wishes, values, philosophical and spiritual beliefs, and cultural backgrounds.
• Not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or national origin.
• Not exclude any individual from participation in, deny the benefits of, or subject any individual to discrimination or harassment (including all forms of sexual harassment and sexual violence) under any program or activity.
• Maintain required licensing and keep current with all laws and regulation regarding marriage or other ceremonies in the jurisdiction(s) where the Celebrant practices.
• Strive to be culturally sensitive and work with each client to avoid and discourage rituals, elements, or language that trivialize, appropriate, or misrepresent aspects of other cultures outside of their own.
• Help clients be inspired by traditional views, rituals, and ceremonies, reimagine them with collaboration, reinvent them through consultation, personalize them within context, and give proper attribution and credit were due.
• Be aware of and in compliance with all copyright and intellectual property regulations and to uphold the highest standards of attribution and citations of all sources of origin for any content referenced in ceremonies, marketing, or branding. 

• Create ceremonies and rituals, with client collaboration, using AI tools in limited ways that support but do not replace their professional creative work.

• Promote Celebrancy and Celebrant services by communicating the value of marking life’s milestones in personal and authentic ways, and advocate for the power of ceremony and ritual for building community.
• Be an engaged member of the NTI community by supporting and contributing to NTI’s core mission and goals.

Standards of Practice

The certified Life-Cycle Celebrant™ will

• Serve each client with respect, sensitivity, and professionalism and provide all services in a timely manner.
• Co-create with each client a ceremony that elevates their personal story as shared with the Celebrant in interviews and/or questionnaires.
• Ensure that clients have complete choice of and final approval of their ceremonies; the Celebrant’s personal beliefs are immaterial to this process.
• Work with clients as a peer rather than as an authority figure by ensuring a collaborative process of ceremony creation
• Propose the Life-Cycle Celebrant hallmark of “standing to the side” (figuratively and often literally) during the ceremony.
• Clearly outline the scope of service and include cancellation and refund policies in the Celebrant service agreement.
• Make a reasonable effort to refer clients to celebrant colleagues or to appropriate alternatives if the celebrant is unable to provide services.
• Conduct a rehearsal where necessary for the ceremony.
• Perform the ceremony in a prepared, appropriate and professional manner.
• Maintain the confidentiality and privacy of all client information, stories, and personal details, except where explicit permission is granted by the client in writing.
• Where applicable, gift the client/honoree a keepsake copy of their ceremony.
• Commit to ongoing education and professional growth to serve their communities with integrity, inclusivity, and creative excellence.