Valerie Russell – Humanist Officiant

Last reviewed: August 12, 2026. Business status: Active.

Last reviewed: August 12, 2026. Valerie Russell is a registered Humanist officiant based in Gores Landing, Ontario. For couples searching for a Cobourg wedding officiant with a secular approach, her official website identifies weddings and elopements among the ceremonies she offers across Durham County, Northumberland County, Peterborough County and beyond.

Her published information centres on ceremonies that reflect the couple’s relationship and preferences, from short and simple to longer and more elaborate formats. The site also states that she officiates weddings for couples of all gender identities. This profile is based on her current official website; it does not treat older directory details as confirmation of services, location or pricing.

Services and specialization

Valerie Russell’s official About page describes her as a registered Officiant with the Humanist Association of Canada. Her wedding work is presented as secular: she crafts and officiates secular wedding ceremonies for couples of all backgrounds.

The published wedding-related services are weddings and elopements. Her website frames the ceremony as a symbolic representation of the couple’s relationship and says the format can be short and simple or longer and more elaborate. That makes the documented offering relevant to couples who want a non-religious ceremony shaped around their own relationship rather than a prescribed religious service.

• Secular wedding ceremonies
• Elopements
• Short, simple ceremonies or longer, more elaborate ceremonies
• Ceremonies for couples of all gender identities

Service area and who it may suit

Russell states that she is based in Gores Landing and is available in Durham County, Northumberland County, Peterborough County and beyond. The official site does not provide a fixed travel boundary, travel policy or list of towns, so couples outside those named counties should ask directly whether their ceremony location can be accommodated.

Her stated approach may suit couples seeking a Humanist, secular ceremony and those looking for a format that ranges from intimate to more elaborate. The website does not publish a specific religious, cultural or ritual menu, so any requested readings, traditions or ceremony elements should be discussed before booking.

• Based in Gores Landing, Ontario
• Names Durham, Northumberland and Peterborough counties
• Also says service is available “beyond”; exact limits are not published

Garden option for simple ceremonies

For small, intimate outdoor ceremonies, Russell’s official simple-marriage page says she offers her garden in Gores’ Landing. This is a documented ceremony setting, but the page does not publish an address, guest capacity, weather plan, accessibility details, rental terms or what is included.

The garden reference should therefore be treated as an option to ask about, not as a fully described wedding venue. Couples considering it should request current details in writing, including the number of people it can host, parking, washrooms, timing, rain arrangements and any site-specific fees.

• Small and intimate outdoor ceremony option
• Garden location in Gores’ Landing
• No capacity, address or inclusions published

Confirmed strengths and practical limitations

A confirmed feature is Russell’s stated Humanist and secular focus. Her official site also documents a flexible ceremony-length approach and explicitly says she officiates weddings for couples of all gender identities. Those are business-described features rather than third-party endorsements.

Practical information is limited on the public site. No public calendar, turnaround time, ceremony package list, travel fee policy, rehearsal information, contract terms or cancellation policy was located on the confirmed official pages reviewed. This does not indicate a problem; it means these details should be confirmed directly.

• Confirmed: registered Humanist officiant
• Confirmed: secular ceremony focus
• Confirmed: small/simple through longer/elaborate formats
• Limitation: package and policy details are not publicly published

Pricing

Current pricing is not explicitly published. The confirmed official website does not list wedding, elopement, garden-setting, travel or other ceremony rates on the pages reviewed.

Ask for a written quote that identifies the ceremony type, planning or drafting work, travel, the garden option if relevant, taxes, payment schedule, change fees and any additional costs. A quote is especially useful when comparing a simple ceremony with a more customized wedding ceremony.

Current prices are not published on the official pages reviewed.

• No current public rate card found on the official website
• Request a written, itemized quote before committing

Contact and booking

The official contact page lists phone 905.342.2893 and email valerierussellofficiant@gmail.com. It directs visitors to contact Valerie Russell directly. The business website is the most appropriate starting point for a current inquiry because it is the confirmed first-party source.

When reaching out, include the ceremony date, municipality or venue, expected guest count, desired ceremony format and whether you are asking about an elopement or the Gores’ Landing garden. The official site provides a contact route but does not publish real-time availability, so availability must be confirmed directly.

• Phone: 905.342.2893
• Email: valerierussellofficiant@gmail.com
• Official website: valerierussellofficiant.com

What couples should confirm

Before booking, confirm the exact service scope and whether Russell is available for your date and location. Ask how the ceremony is developed, how revisions are handled, what legal paperwork support is included, and what happens if the ceremony must move or be postponed.

For an outdoor garden ceremony, confirm the operational details that are not published: address, capacity, accessibility, weather contingency, parking, washrooms, setup responsibilities, timing and fees. Also request the complete price and payment terms in writing.

• Date and travel availability
• Ceremony planning process and revision limits
• Legal paperwork responsibilities
• Written price, taxes, payment and cancellation terms
• Garden logistics if that option is being considered

Continue planning

• Canada Wedding Directory
• Wedding Bridal Guide

Frequently asked questions

Is Valerie Russell a Humanist wedding officiant?

Yes. Her official About page identifies her as a registered Officiant with the Humanist Association of Canada and says she crafts and officiates secular wedding ceremonies.

Which areas does Valerie Russell say she serves?

Her official site names Durham County, Northumberland County and Peterborough County, and says “beyond.” Confirm your exact ceremony location directly because a detailed travel boundary is not published.

Does Valerie Russell offer elopements?

Yes. Elopements are listed on her official About page.

Is there a Gores’ Landing ceremony option?

Her official simple-marriage page says she offers her garden in Gores’ Landing for small, intimate outdoor ceremonies. Contact her directly for current logistics and terms.

Are wedding prices published?

Current pricing is not explicitly published. Request a written quote for your ceremony type, location and any garden or travel requirements.

Sources checked

• About — Valerie Russell – Humanist Officiant
• Simple Marriage Ceremonies — Valerie Russell – Humanist Officiant
• Contact — Valerie Russell – Humanist Officiant
• Additional Services — Valerie Russell – Humanist Officiant

Phone: 905.342.2893

Website: https://www.valerierussellofficiant.com/