So what is and what kind of Celebrant am I?
Well, you can probably guess a Celebrant refers to celebrations as the name suggests, but sometimes people can look a little puzzled at hearing the word so if it’s new to you, then you’re not alone!
So I am an Independent Celebrant and my role is to help take you on a personal journey whereby I write and conduct a bespoke ceremony for you by creating a unique story for one of your special events as you celebrate your life and love with family and friends that mean the world to you.
One of my favourite films is the classic ‘Love Actually’; the words spoken at the beginning of the film resonate with me each time I watch it and it’s that sense of ‘pure uncomplicated love’ that people feel as friends and family welcome their arriving loved ones at an airport, that makes you realise that those three words are just so true.
Uniting soulmates, embracing change, boldness and beauty, naming a precious child, applauding the journey, cherishing memories as a life lives on and any milestone event in between.
The Independent bit means I work for myself and importantly just for you. I can incorporate a religion, or not. You have some great ideas and something really specific, let’s weave that in!
But referring specifically to marriage, I’m not a Registrar, so I can’t officially and legally ‘marry’ you – that’s a separate ceremony and the ‘serious’ signing part, BUT what I can do is create the extra special bit thereafter, the same day or on a separate day at the venue of your choice and this part is absolutely all about you, your loved ones and the friends in your world, a ceremony, uniquely yours.
Weddings
It’s all about you! Today is yours and your partner’s day so let’s make this happen one way and definitely your way!
Let’s meet, let’s chat, let me get your background, your humour, your hopes, your aspirations, your quirks!
Let me design a ceremony and reveal your love story to make the crowd giggle and guffaw, heckle and tease … or stay silent and refined! But whatever your style, let my words capture the essence of you both so everyone present will be in the moment, the day, and every step of the way, grinning from ear to ear!
Namings
Celebrate the arrival of your child with a Naming Ceremony. How as parents can we truly convey how we feel the day our lives have changed forever?
Those big innocent eyes that search your face, those little arms outstretched, the trust they place in us and that unconditional love you as a parent will feel for your child for the rest of your lives, no matter what … and yes… including the terrible twos and the teenage years!
Let’s meet, let’s chat, let me discover what becoming a parent means to you, your parenting style, your hopes and aspirations for your child and whatever else you wish to share and include! Let me write those words to make you literally beam and tingle creating a ceremony perfect for you.
Take pride and delight in welcoming your little one to the world and your life; this precious celebration, the perfect first of so many to come!
Renewals
Wedding days, they pass in a blur… the memory of that important day so often fades in our minds as the years speed by and whilst never forgotten, we rarely revisit.
Yet as we start to slow down a bit, our lives and priorities change and once again we start focussing just a little more on ourselves.
So reflect a while… cast your mind back to that special day, take a long look at your partner and see how the years have moulded and changed you both (ok a few more wrinkles too!) and yet with around eight billion people in the world, you’ve chosen to still remain married to each other, how fantastic is that! So just why so? If you know exactly why, then it’s time to celebrate the ‘why’ and start planning your renewal ceremony with a little help from me!
Celebrate how you still only wish to be with each other and tell your family and friends, old and new exactly how it’s been, how it is and how it’s still going to be! Write new vows to each other and then cap it off with a really good party too as probably this time round, there may just be a little more cash to spend on that most excellent champagne… think about it, get in touch, let’s chat and let’s create!
Funerals
Thoughts of our mortality is an intensely personal experience for us all.
For some it’s acceptance, for some relief and peace, and for some anticipation of the next world to come. But for all, life is surely about love, kindness, learning, growing, and experiencing an individual and unique journey… a journey to be applauded for a life having been lived and for a being having been loved.
I will respectfully listen to the story of your loved one and with empathy, strive to produce a ceremony befitting their memory and in the style in which you wish their journey to be conveyed. Tears perhaps of sadness, but joy and laughter too since all so closely connect but most importantly a story of love, respect and gratitude for the life lived and for those so privileged to have been a part of it.
I would be honoured to be a part of your precious celebration of life and very much welcome your call.
And Anything Else!
So let’s party!
A ceremony can be designed for absolutely anything you wish to celebrate.
If there’s a celebration to be had, there’s a ceremony to be created and a conversation to be held so just get in touch and let’s get talking!
About me
I started my Celebrancy journey following a truly emotional year in which I lost my precious big sister and my beautiful mum, both within three months of each other.
My sister to cancer, my mum to dementia. Not only did I lose my sister and mum, I lost my two very best friends. It was excruciating to begin with and some days it can still hit me hard, but the circle of life is all about acceptance and working through my grief I rediscovered my love of writing and a respected friend’s comment of “you should be a Celebrant” set my little mind racing…
So researching the best kind of Celebrancy training for me, I chose and was accepted to train with the amazing Celebrants Collective and well, here I am! On my own journey towards developing and growing as a Celebrant and having the incredible opportunity of being a tiny part of so many people’s lives – how very lucky me!
In a nutshell: Harrogate girl, living in Lincolnshire. Married to a fabulous, laid back man who is so thankfully at times, yin to my yang! We have a stunning, amazing, brilliant son (no bias of course!), a scruffy terrier called Peppa and the latest hilarious hamster is named Beans (you should see him on his wheel!).
I’m passionate about animals and particularly mad for dogs, am a veggie, like a glass of red, adore sunflowers, dislike cooking, love a mown lawn but hit and miss at gardening! I burn endless patchouli joss sticks, have owned motorbikes, love my little black cabriolet mini. Music, most styles go except punk and rap (sorry punks and rappers) …. I quite like an artistic tattoo.
Some classical music takes my breath away (love and sang a couple of times in The Albert Hall with a large choir – tiny brag!), worked for many years in London and lived in America for a while. Travelled quite a bit… love Spanish but don’t speak it well. South of France is my heaven on earth, forever waiting to feel settled, but just not feeling it yet… must still be lots to do!
My Celebrancy is dedicated to my darling sis and mum, two of my most favourite people ever. So grateful I am still a part of you both, forever in my world and always in my heart …
PS: Remember this is YOUR ceremony; it’s all about you and getting the right Celebrant for you is absolutely key!
There are lots of Celebrants to choose from as it’s an amazing and so popular a profession to be in. Since I’m obviously conveying ‘my vibe for my tribe’ my fingers are crossed that my tribe will soon include you!
FAQs
Just what is the process?
From initial enquiry to delivery of your particular Ceremony there will have been lots of communication between us.
Firstly, let’s have a good chat on the phone or make contact by email and then if we both feel there is a mutual connection and we wish to pursue a meet up in person, then that’s the next step!
Typically at the first meeting, I will spend around an hour or so with you where we get to know each other better. We can discuss your particular ceremony in greater detail, I can gain an insight into your wishes and note down heaps of information from which I can then start to create the ceremony I will be conducting for you.
- Weddings
The legal part:
Remember as an Independent Celebrant I’m not able to legally marry you.
The legal part is a separate ceremony – no frills, no religion, but even so the nitty gritty legal stuff – guidance and costs are here for Lincolnshire: Lincolnshire Civil Ceremonies guide but likely to be the same or similar for whatever county you live in.
The Independent Celebrant part:
This is the time to really think about the type of ceremony you wish to hold if you really want more than just the registry office or a Registrar can offer you!
So if it is that special ceremony, totally unique to you, that you are hoping for – and since you are here reading my website then I’m thinking that may very well be the case – you will appreciate that your bespoke ceremony will of course take some time to create as I assure you there are no tick box templates here! If you feel you would like to work with me after our chat on the phone / by email, then our initial meeting in person, will be the sharing of ideas and one at which you will be providing me with tons of info about the two of you.
We can discuss extra special things like including readings, songs, special rituals – please see Ritual Section below – from unity candles, sand ceremonies, hand fasting, ring warming and literally anything you think you want to include because this is your day and there is no law about what has or hasn’t to be done – there are traditions but really that’s all they are! So have your own spin on things or of course go the traditional route but there is absolutely no right or wrong just so long as it makes you happy and everyone feels completely at ease!
- Renewals
After the initial chat on the phone and we both feel we’d like to work with each other, the same arrangements take place as per Weddings (apart from you having to get legally married again of course!) – so pretty much as if you are doing it again for the first time, it’s the same set up so please refer to the Wedding details above!
- Namings
After the initial chat on the phone, and if we both feel we’d like to work with each other, I will then arrange to meet with you. We will chat for an hour or so whereby you will provide me with key info and share your ideas for the ceremony. Think poetry, think songs, think readings, whatever you wish and with that information I will then start to create your Naming Ceremony
- Funerals
After we have had an initial telephone conversation or email communication, and if you do wish to meet with me, I will then arrange a time with you whereupon we will spend a couple of hours together. At this meeting we will discuss the ceremony in greater detail and any specific wishes to be incorporated; information shared with me will form the basis of the ceremony I will then create and conduct for you.
- And Anything Else!
So if you’ve got a celebration in mind from milestone birthdays, to retirement, to divorce parties to graduation to moving home to transitioning to a new life – just remember where there’s an event, there can be a celebration, and where there is a celebration there’s a ceremony and a great conversation to hold!
Rituals
Incorporating a Ritual into your Ceremony is entirely your choice – to do or not to do! Below are some ideas as food for thought … or why not come up with ideas of your own? I can’t say it enough – there really is no right or wrong!
Some examples are as follows:
- Sand Ceremony:
The Sand Ceremony is a ritual that involves each individual taking part, be it just you the couple, or perhaps any children, parents or whoever you wish to be a part of this ceremony who is important to you. Each person has a container of sand which is a different colour. Each person takes it in turn to fill a vessel with their coloured sand with the vessel ultimately sealed with an appropriate lid.
The idea behind the Sand Ceremony is that the coloured sands represent different layers to represent each person with their ‘colour’ being their personality and qualities and so whilst the sands do not blend they are permanently joined whilst also remaining individual.
- Ring Blessing / Warming
This is a perfect way to involve all guests involved in the ceremony.
The rings are tied together with ribbon or placed in a little box or bag and everyone is invited to hold the rings for a few moments, mentally filling them with their love and heartfelt wishes for the couple before passing them on to the next person until eventually the rings are returned to the couple in readiness for the exchange of vows. The idea is that the rings are ‘warmed’ up with everyone’s blessings in readiness for being placed onto each other’s finger.
With the rings having been warmed the couple will be reminded of the circle of friends and family who were invited to support them on their special day and their hopes for a wonderful marriage.
- Handfasting
Handfasting has been a ritual that has demonstrated commitment for many hundreds of years and is a powerful symbol of being joined together
Handfasting can be done with cord or ribbon or anything meaningful for the couple and as with the Sand Ceremony the ribbons or cord can be different colours and each person involved in the ritual will each have a different colour and will be invited to lay their colour over the couple’s hands whereupon the Celebrant will then ultimately tie them all together. It could just be the couple themselves having one ribbon / cord each or they may invite children or parents or again whoever they wish to play a part.
Consider the saying ‘tie the knot’ – a ritual pagan in origin – but now you know where this age-old saying actually comes from!
- Jumping The Broom
This is a ritual that can often go well with Handfasting as it too is purported, amongst other roots, to have pagan connections in origin. The couple have a Besom broom which is often beautifully decorated and it is used to symbolically sweep away any past difficulties before laying it down on the floor for the couple to jump over – you could use it for your own interpretation but it does have its own ‘history’ so if you are wishing to use this ritual then it’s helpful to know as much about the origin as possible by doing your own research to see whether this ritual really is the right and an appropriate one for you!
- Wine Box Ceremony
This is a simple but lovely ritual. The couple get a bottle of their favourite wine and a suitable wooden box to place it in. The couple write letters to each other on the eve of their wedding saying whatever they wish .. it could be their hopes for the future, what marriage means to them, or something funny and unusual – no right or wrong! Then as part of the ceremony the letters are placed inside the box alongside the bottle of wine and then the box is sealed with the intention that the box is opened on the first wedding anniversary, at which the couple will read each other’s letters whilst enjoying the fine wine! This could be a tradition that then happens year on year …
- Unity Candle
This is once again such a lovely, simple but symbolic ritual.
Two taper candles are lit – you can invite members of the family or friends to initially light the two taper candles; these are then handed to the wedding couple. They in turn whilst holding their own candle, simultaneously light a central pillar candle with the sharing of flames representing the joining of each other whilst still retaining their own individuality as they each hold their taper; importantly the candles are kept alight throughout the ceremony.
- Create your own ritual
Come up with ideas of your own! Change wine for cocktails, introduce a coloured layer cake, present each other with a meaningful gift, highlight your identical tattoos…
Remember this is absolutely YOUR ceremony and getting the right Celebrant for you is absolutely key!
There are lots of Celebrants to choose from as it’s an amazing and so popular a profession to be in. Since I’m obviously conveying ‘my vibe for my tribe’ my fingers are crossed that my tribe will soon include you!
Areas Covered
Covering Lincolnshire/Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire within a 40 minute radius of Cranwell Village.
Further distance journeys will incur additional travel charges.
Payment
Ceremony prices start from £250.00, please contact me for individual pricing.
- To secure a booking a 50% NON-REFUNDABLE booking fee is required. The remaining 50% is required six weeks prior to the event. Booking Agreement T&Cs provided on request.
- Funeral payments will differ, please contact for details.
Contact Me
Please fill out the form below or call 07984 712939 to get in touch
