Wedding ceremonies

As an independent celebrant, my ceremonies can:

  • take place anywhere! Be it a beach, in a forest or in a castle, the only limit to where the ceremony can take place is your imagination (and getting permission from the required land owner!).
  • be any time of day - so if you wish to have a moonlit ceremony or to say your vows as the sun rises then that can be arranged.
  • include anything you want (as long as it's legal!) as all ceremonies are written from scratch for each couple to suit them perfectly!

A wedding ceremony lead by a celebrant is not legally binding, but that leaves you and your partner free to express your love and commitment in any way you see fit! In past ceremonies I've help couples celebrate through their favourite video games, their shared love or TTRPGs, or mentioning that it was a role playing website for their favourite book series as the way they met. Whether your ceremony includes multiple elements, a multi-page Tolkien reading (which yes, I have done before!) or is short and sweet, I can help you have a ceremony that is truly bespoke to you.

Vow Renewals

Vow renewals are another type of ceremony I offer, and they can also take place whenever and wherever suits you best! Perhaps you have done the Big White Wedding and want something more personal and intimate, or you missed the larger affair before and want that now, whatever level you want your event to be at I will ensure your ceremony will reflect that.

So whether it's been one year or fifty since your vows, I'll be sure to make these ones equally as special if not more so than your original vows!

Commitment Ceremonies

Perhaps you don't want to label your ceremony a wedding - and that's ok! I can also do commitment ceremonies, something that allows you to tell each other how much you mean and that you'll be there to support each other no matter what. This could in the form of something more like an elopement or something bigger with gathered friends and families that some might consider a wedding but describing it as such doesn't suit you. Whatever you want I can help you make it real and allow you to make a commitment to each other with no expectations of what the ceremony has to look or feel like.

Photo by Matt Glover of a handtying as part of a commitment ceremony.
Photo by Matt Glover of a handtying as part of a commitment ceremony.

What could we include?

By hiring a celebrant you can have whatever you want in your ceremony! This could be readings from your favourite book or film, poems, traditions from different cultures or places, ring exchanges and vows, and more often than not a 'symbolic element'. These can take place at any point in your ceremony and can be personalised totally to you and your interests, hobbies and personalities. Some examples include:

Handfasting/'tying the knot': this is a tradition that involves tying ribbons, cords, or any other material that will work around the couples held hands as a blessing or vows are taken.

Jumping the broom: traditionally taking place just before the couple or family leaves, jumping the broom symbolises sweeping the past away and stepping into your new lives together.

Lighting of candles: any number of candles could be lit to symbolise an infinite number of meanings, from having a candle representing each partners family and using those to light a unity candle or having a person from each generation lighting a candle to represent a family coming together.

Unmasking: arrive wearing a mask of your choosing, and have your partner unmask you at some point during the ceremony to reveal your true self to them and your gathered trusted guests.

Other examples of a symbolic element include drinking from the same cup or glass traditionally called 'The Loving Cup', planting and watering a tree, and pouring sand together in a unity sand ceremony.

Photo by Doodah Photography
Photo by Doodah Photography

Looking for a quote?

Take a look through my prices and services, and feel free to use the contact me page to get a personalised quote!