“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do” -Rumi

Meet your celebrant and officiant

Shea Armstrong

I design and facilitate unique ceremonies for people who want an authentic and beautifully curated experience.

Hello! I’m Shea. (she/her)

I’m a ceremony lover, Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant, Professional Officiant, and story teller that thrives in crafting meaningful ceremonies to mark life’s important moments.

Born and raised in the heartland, I’ve been leading ceremonies for friends and family for almost twenty years. But my spark for becoming a professional ceremonialist ignited after hearing a canned script during a beloved friend’s funeral.

The memorial should have been honoring their life story. Instead, it was a fill-in-the-blank ceremony that felt cold and impersonal. Those who had gathered did not take that final ceremony for granted, but it seemed like the ceremony leader did. In that moment I thought, “there must be a better way to show up for each other and mark important moments like this.”

Life-cycle Celebrant and Officiant Shea Armstrong

turns out, there is a better way

Now more than ever there is a growing desire for ceremonies that help us feel connected and give us the experience of belonging. To ditch the cookie cutter and honor the moment with an inspired, personalized experience. To have a ceremony that sets the tone not just for the day but for a lifetime.

Life-Cycle Celebrants are meeting this desire by crafting heartfelt, one-of-a-kind ceremonies for those who want an unforgettable experience.

which brings me to you

If you’re here, it’s probably because you’re looking for someone to beautifully perform your ceremony, your way. You want to make this special moment come alive for yourselves and your loved ones. And you’re excited about having a unique ceremony that celebrates your love story as the centerpiece of your day. Sound like you? Let’s talk!

you deserve a memorable ceremony

Custom-crafted, personalized ceremonies are my specialty. I excel at weaving beautiful ceremonies that leave a lasting heartfelt impression because I love what I do. From that place of joy, we work closely together to ensure your ceremony reflects your voice, your values, and your story. I am deeply committed to creating a memorable experience for you and your loved ones.

Learn more about the in-depth design process here.

"Come, come, whoever you are..." -Rumi

The ceremonies I lead are joyful and inclusive. All are welcome and celebrated at Kinship Ceremonies. All genders, countries of origin, and beliefs.. All sexual orientations, races and ethnicities. All abilities. All languages.

I’m your ally in creating beauty.

More about shea

I'm the friend...

You laugh with until your cheeks hurt.
You call when going through something big.
Who sends song texts just to brighten your day.
You ask to recite a poem.
That hides little notes for you to find.
You ask to listen to your story.
Curiosity is my love language

A few things it’s led me to:
Certification as a Life-Cycle Celebrant
Certification as a Wilderness First Responder
An MA in Ecopsycholoy
An BS in Wildlife Biology
Certification in Permaculture Design
The mountains are calling

And I must go.
For about a decade, I have been guiding Wilderness Rites of Passage trips in the Rockies and beyond. As a Wilderness Guide, I have the rare privilege to support people in crossing life’s biggest thresholds through a multi-day wilderness fasting experience. But that’s a story for another time.
Now for something completely different

Not many Celebrants get their start as a wildlife biologist. For twenty years, I worked to recover endangered species in various roles. During one project, I met some friends who taught me about self-generated ceremony. Two decades later, and I’m still weaving ceremonial life with my love for animals.