wedding ceremonies
Your ceremony is incredibly personal, and as your celebrant it’s my job to make sure that on the day, you and your guests are bowled over by how very “you” the service is. There are no cut and paste, ChatGPT or textbook speeches here. I work with you to craft something truly special - as it should be, it’s your wedding day!
A humanist wedding ceremony, in a nutshell, is one that isn’t religious; it also isn’t legally binding. But don’t let that alarm you! Most couples do ‘the legal bit’ a few days before or after their actual ceremony; it’s a short ceremony in a registry office, and it’s up to you whether you’re joined by any guests other than your witnesses.
The humanist ceremony is the celebration - the time when you reflect on why you chose each other, and what it means for you to take this next exciting step in your lives together.
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The Process
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1. Discovery chat
We start with a free 30 minute discovery chat - in person or online - so that we can learn a bit more about each other and you can ask any questions. This will help you know if I’m the right celebrant for you!
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2. Start planning
Once you’ve booked in, we start planning! We’ll meet again, for longer this time, to plan how your ceremony will look. There is absolutely no set formula for this, but I’ve got ideas if you need them! We’ll refine the initial plan over time so that by the time the big day arrives, it’s exactly what you hope for.
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3. Write your story
To make your ceremony perfectly “you”, I’ll ask you some questions (in person or in writing - whichever you’re more comfortable with) to learn more about you as a couple. From this I’ll write your wedding script, which we will collaborate on so that there are no surprises - unless you want them!
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4. the big day!
When the day arrives, I’ll be there well before you to make sure everything is set up perfectly, then I’ll say hello to you both (and help calm any nerves!) and greet your guests. By this point, we’ve moulded and tweaked your ceremony to the point where all you have to do is enjoy having everyone you love together, celebrating your partnership before you head off to continue your celebrations!
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A celebrant writes and leads your ceremony. They work with you in the run up to your wedding to plan what you want, including any readings, symbolic gestures or music, and to write a script that pulls everything together beautifully.
On the day, they’re there to make sure everything is in place before the ceremony starts, to run the ceremony itself, and to make sure everyone knows what they’re meant to be doing at the end!
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Pretty much anywhere you want! Celebrant-led ceremonies aren’t bound by any rules, so you can pick anywhere that’s meaningful to you. That includes outside, at your house, the pub where you had your first date, a roller rink, or of course, more traditional venues.
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Yes, that’s exactly what I’m here for! When we meet to plan your ceremony, we’ll have a chat about how you want your ceremony to feel and will build out from there - I have loads of ideas! On the other hand, if you already have a good idea of what you want, I can help you turn that into a ceremony that flows beautifully and captures exactly the magic you’re after.
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I’m training with Humanists UK, which is some of the most rigorous celebrant training in the UK. I’ve spent the last three months attending in person and online training, receiving mentoring, completing assignments, shadowing celebrants and immersing myself in all things weddings. I’m assessed at each stage and signed off to move onto the next, to make sure I’ve not only got the hang of all the technicalities, but am displaying the qualities and competencies expected of a humanist celebrant. It’s hard work and I’m loving every minute!
On the successful completion of my training, I’ll become formally accredited by Humanists UK. Part of that accreditation is also to continue training and mentoring - so you know that I’m always building on my skills and never becoming complacent!
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My fees start at £650 for a wedding ceremony within 30 miles of Folkestone, Kent. Ceremonies further afield will incur travel and potentially accommodation costs, but these will always be agreed before signing any contract.
Those fees include meeting in advance to plan your ceremony and get to know you; writing your full wedding script (including edits); a rehearsal beforehand; leading your ceremony on the day; and a presentation script afterwards so that you can remember your ceremony.
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I will do everything in my power to make it to your ceremony! In case of truly exceptional circumstances which mean I can’t make it, a huge benefit of being part of the Humanists UK celebrant network is that another trained celebrant would step in.
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Of course! A celebrant-led wedding is however you want it to look, and if that’s a special ceremony just between the two of you, we’ll come up with something beautiful.
LET’S GET STARTED