Weddings and Commitment Ceremonies
A wedding ceremony should feel like the two of you — not like something that could have been written for any couple.
Whether you’re getting married, renewing your vows or choosing a commitment ceremony, we’ll create something personal, relaxed and full of the people, stories and moments that matter to you. It can be traditional, completely unconventional, or somewhere happily in between.
What could your ceremony include?
- Your story — how you met, what brought you here and the bits worth telling
- Personal vows or promises
- Readings, poems or music
- Contributions from friends, family or chosen family
- Symbolic elements or rituals
- Remembering someone important who can’t be there
- A completely bespoke ceremony script, written with you and approved by you
Why choose a celebrant?
A celebrant-led ceremony gives you much more freedom to decide what your wedding looks and feels like. You’re not tied to a standard script or format, and your ceremony can take place in a venue or setting that’s meaningful to you.
We can include your story, your own vows, favourite music, readings, family and friends, traditions — or invent something completely new. The important thing is that the ceremony feels like your wedding, rather than simply the formal bit before the celebrations begin.
In England and Wales, a celebrant-led ceremony doesn’t usually complete the legal marriage itself, so you’ll need to arrange the legal formalities separately with a registrar. Many couples choose to do this simply before or after their celebrant ceremony.
Not sure how that works? Read my post ‘Celebrant or Registrar?’ for a straightforward explanation of the difference and how the two can work together.
Ceremonies created around real lives
There isn’t one right way to be a couple, and there isn’t one right way to celebrate your relationship.
I create ceremonies for weddings, commitment ceremonies, second marriages, blended families, vow renewals, same-sex couples and couples bringing together different cultures, traditions or families.
Some couples want all the familiar elements of a wedding ceremony. Others want to throw the rulebook away. Most are probably somewhere in between. Wherever you are, we’ll start with you rather than with a template.
- Same-sex weddings
- Commitment ceremonies
- Second marriages
- Blended family celebrations
- Vow renewals
- Couples from different cultural backgrounds
- Relationships that do not fit a conventional mould
The process
It starts with a conversation. I’ll get to know you both, hear your story and find out what you want your ceremony to feel like — as well as anything you definitely don’t want.
From there, I’ll create your ceremony from scratch. I can help with vows, readings, music, symbolic elements and ways to involve family and friends, or you can come with ideas of your own. You’ll have the opportunity to read through the ceremony beforehand and we can make changes until it feels right.
On the day, I’ll be there to lead the ceremony, keep everything flowing and make sure you can concentrate on the important bit: each other.
Let’s create something personal
You don’t need to have it all planned before you get in touch. If you’ve got a date, a vague idea, a venue — or simply know that you want something a bit more personal — that’s enough to start a conversation.
Tell me what you’re planning and we’ll take it from there.