CROSSING A THRESHOLD

Barbara Parker – Life-Cycle Celebrant, Wedding Officiant

You are approaching a threshold – a significant moment, and don’t want to let the opportunity slip by without marking it in some way. You have a feeling that putting your beliefs, your life and your thoughts at the heart of a personal ceremony could be a powerful way to engage with your family and your friends. How right you are!

When we acknowledge our lives as a worthy of attention, we are saying, hey, before this moment slips away, let’s look at this. We slow down. We breathe deeper.

To create a ceremony to mark an occasion is a profoundly creative and satisfying act. It is familiar, and timeless and absolutely fresh. It is how we change our lives.

We stop to praise and celebrate love. We gather together, to rejoice at new life, we encourage and celebrate one another as we move through passages of age, work or relationship. We bear witness to the crossroads in our lives. We say good-bye.

And when we do this in community – well, that’s when we really start to sing.

HOW IT WORKS

STARTING THE
CONVERSATION

First, we talk. You tell me your ideas. I explain the possibilities. We get to know each other. We laugh, we cry, we share stories. Sometimes we brainstorm right from the beginning. It’s a creative process!

CO-CREATING
ORIGINAL CEREMONY

A process of discussion and reflection helps me begin the writing process. I always provide copy for you to edit, and I will deliver an approved ceremony. So you can relax and savour the moment.

BRINGING CEREMONY
TO LIFE

I bring a warm presence and my full attention to your ceremony day, and we walk it together. The energy of our attention works its magic, creating memories that linger long after.

Work With Barbara Parker

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KIND WORDS

Marie

Thanks for the wonderful service. Everyone said it was nice, not religious, just about who Pauline was.

Don

Thank you Barb…through your words and wisdom you have made me feel much more comfortable about death.
It is inevitable but it doesn’t have to be the end…our gifts to our children and to our grandchildren continue, as does follow through from great-grandparents, history etc.

Don

Jason and Christine

Barbara June came to our rescue at a very difficult time in our lives. She helped us make sense of our feelings and ground us enough to focus on what needed to be done in order to honour our dear friend who died in a tragic accident. Words that come to mind when I think if Barbara – calm, professional, genuine, sincere, sweet, clear, supportive, caring and compassionate…
Thank you Barbara for being all those things and so much more.

Jason and Christine

Henry and Stacey

Words cannot describe how grateful we are to have shared out special day with you. Our ceremony was perfect. You brought so much genuine love, kindness and heart to every word, and your words will be forever ingrained on our hearts.
Thank you!

Henry and Stacey

Christophe

Not only were you the rock and key figure, helping us beyond what words can describe, going through the ordeal of burying a best friend who lost his life in a very untimely accident; your obvious empathy and compassion meant the world to all of us in the darkest times possible in a human life.

But also your experience in the matter, and your professionalism allowed our whole group to give our departed buddy a wonderful, touching and genuine farewell.
You helped us focus, and guided us with the right frame of mind, to build a very nice ceremony, to which the ones who participated were just able to each add their personal touch and testimonies.

Without you the funeral would not have been half as nice as we wanted it to be.
As well, I personally really appreciated the non-religious but spiritual metaphors (lighting of the candles etc…) and analogies that filled this special time, in a spirit that I know Arnaud would have appreciated. His family sure was amazed despite the pain.

Thanks again, I know you are the best advisor anyone could hope for.

Christophe

Aaron and Katrina

I’m glad things are going well for you and you’re still doing what you love! You’re very good at it. I think people can experience ‘wedding fatigue’ but a customized ceremony that is tailored to the people actually getting married and offers a chance to reflect on why people partner for life is a good antidote to that.

Take care,
Aaron and Katrina

Lesley

On behalf of our whole family, I would like to thank you for your dedication and skill and warmth, in this job you did with grace. It was beautiful! As I said before, you are truly gifted!

Lesley

Arwen and Tandy

Thank you for your beautiful ceremony. We loved all that you said and how you delivered it. We received so many compliments about the ceremony which is a reflection of the passion and unique individualized approach you use. Thank you for the beautiful start to our love story.

Arwen and Tandy

Iola and Max

It’s been five months since our wedding and I still cannot put into words the heart and craft that goes into Barb’s spoken poetry. From our first meeting to each and every time we run into her in town now we feel like we’ve known her forever. We crafted a ceremony that reflected us. Truly us. She took the time to get to know us together and individually and gave us moments that we will truly remember and cherish always. There were tears and laughs and “rock, paper, scissors”. She gave us… us. We could not have asked for a better celebrant. Our guests still tell us that our ceremony was so fitting, so intimate and precious. She is a true artist and has the warmest soul. We are so grateful to have worked with her.

Iola and Max

Wendy

Thank you again for the fantastic service and for connecting with Carol so well—as I mentioned, I truly believe you became her voice and it must have been such a gift for her to be involved with someone who understood her, despite her communication challenges. I think most people went away from the service inspired, and Carol would have loved that. I shall read and reread the poem you read by the Bow—the words and images are powerful.

All the best—you captured Carols essence so well,

Wendy

Sam and Blair

Just wanted to reach out and thank you again so much for everything last weekend. It was so magical, and people couldn’t stop talking about how fantastic you were (and we agree, of course!)

Sam and Blair

Joel + Elizabeth

Thank you so much for your support and guidance through our ceremony. It was the most incredible day, and both of us were so emotionally affected by your beautiful ceremony. I think it’s safe to say that everyone really was! Going into our wedding planning we thought we would just have a short ceremony to make things official, but through the process we realized how much we wanted to say about our relationship and our life together. Your words and your presence took the ceremony to another level we didn’t know we needed, but we are so incredibly thankful it went there. Joel and I both agreed that we could have ended the day right there, at the end of the ceremony, because it was so perfect! That’s all we needed! And it’s all thanks to you.

Again, Barbara, thank you so much for being a part of our wedding. It wasn’t just the day, it was the days leading up – you got to know our families, you spent time with us, you became a part of the journey. It was really beautiful and something we will cherish.

Joel + Elizabeth

Karie

I just wanted to send you a note to let you know how beautiful you made yesterday for Jenn and Kev to have their happily ever after and share their wonderful story of commitment and love. We all left feeling we know them a little more deeply and dearly and our lives with be touched infinitely.

Yesterday allowed me to revisit my vows from 11 years ago with my husband and celebrate all the reasons we chose to marry each other.

Thank you for the work you do on the planet to inspire celebration!

Karie

Rhona and Dan

Married life is only just starting to get back to normal and oh how we are loving it!
We cannot thank you enough for everything you did for us, from helping us prepare for the day to making us feel comfortable and confident and embracing our family and friends on our special day.

The number of compliments we had about the ceremony were amazing, everyone was touched and thrilled by your kind and honest words. And to receive them bound so wonderfully will be something we cherish forever.

Rhona and Dan

Corrie

You have no idea how much peace you have given us last night, just to know that it’s going to go as we had envisioned it. You will be guided I have no doubt. But there is something in your eyes in your actions in your words what gives ease , to look at and to listen to.

Corrie

The Boekel Family

Thank you so much for agreeing to take on the task of being the celebrant at Corrie’s funeral. We couldn’t have asked for a better person to lift our spirits. You did an incredible and thorough job, Corrie would have loved it. Thank you for being able to pass on her message so clearly. We are so thankful for your vibrant, positive and happy presence in our lives.

The Boekel Family

Andy and Lindsey

When we started looking for an officiant, one of the main reasons we chose Barbara was her passion for this! Her care, effort, and experience were evident in every step.

Her experience helped us to craft a custom ceremony, with deep meaning, and significance in every detail (oh, and mild pyrotechnics in the finale of our ceremony!).

We loved one of her goals; that couples will leave their wedding ceremony and truly “FEEL” married. Through her questionnaires that we completed, our meetings with all together, and finally the big day itself, we are happy to say that this goal was achieved.

Andy and Lindsey

Eileen

I was so very pleased with the way that everything went yesterday. We really managed to bring very many memories of Jim to the front of our minds and truly appreciate him. I know that he would have been so amazed and so proud. Thank you again for helping me to make this happen.

Eileen

Joel Abrahamson

I just want to express my admiration and appreciation for the meticulous, wonderful work you do. I’d like to think I have a faint idea of everything you put into a ceremony and I believe a sincere ‘beautifully and exceptionally done’ is in order.

As a witness to many officiants’ differing styles and work ethics I can say, in all honesty, that you are the best at what you do.

Joel Abrahamson

Megs

WOW! Just simply WOW! I love all your ceremonies, but the attention and heart that you infuse into each ceremony, with each couple, their love, and their story really is a true gift.

Have a most incredible adventure tomorrow! Raf is super excited to see you all at the trailhead.

Warmest,
Megs

Paul

Thank you so much for the beautiful service you orchestrated for Esha. I know Esha loved the ceremony and Liam and I certainly did.

Paul

Heather

I can’t thank you enough Barbara for the service you delivered and for the healing you gave to all of us. The time you spent with us recollecting was invaluable in our process. I had almost everyone at the funeral approach us and say it was the most memorable funeral that they have ever attended and I believe much of that is due to you. One relative said that you brought our mom into the room I know that was your intention. Thank you also for encouraging me to share my poetry. It was special to bring that to the family.

Heather

Portia and Nick

Both Misha and I were so glad that you were here to help create such a heartfelt, meaningful ceremony. It was without a doubt the highlight of our trip. Your idea for moving the ceremony from one destination to the next was so thoughtful, and symbolized our journey so wonderfully.

And thank you again for the lovely ceremony keepsake! We plan to begin a tradition of reading through our vows on every anniversary. It will be a treasured keepsake and memory. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Alice (and Misha)

We travelled from the UK for a special elopement in June. We had a vision to be dancing away on the mountain side above Lake Peyto surrounded by epic vistas and bundles of love. Barbara understood our vision from day one and created the most beautiful ceremony for us. I cannot imagine anyone more perfect to share our special day with. Barbara truly went above and beyond for us, scaling the mountain with us to ensure we had the most perfect spot. Barbara had such an impact on our day that we were sad to see her leave. Thank you Babs, you truly are one amazing human!

Portia and Nick

Lakeisha, James & Beau

Once again we were so happy opening our box and re-reading through our ceremony and vows. You did such a great job and we just can’t thank you enough for everything you did for us.
We got to open our wine this year, we are now a family of three…plus two fur babies! Beau was born February 18 and is the happiest, sweetest little man! Life is sure different but in the best way possible.
Great to hear from you!

Lakeisha, James & Beau

Carmen and Bill

Thank you so much for your amazing work! We have just found time to read your draft together. It required a few breaks to wipe away tears and for tender kisses. We are awed and pleased by how you so beautifully encapsulated our thoughts, words and feelings. We think you are magic!

Carmen and Bill

Get to know me a little more

I am Barbara, Life-Cycle Celebrant and founder of Threshold Ceremonies. I work with clients to create original ceremony that brings story and meaning to life’s important passages.

Meet Barbara