Weddings and Handfastings
Did you know that in the UK there are other options for marriage besides a church wedding or registry office?
By choosing a celebrant, you can pick the right wedding venue for you regardless of whether you want to include religious, spiritual or civil elements in your ceremony.
I have officiated ceremonies in all manner of places, such as a Maori Marae in New Zealand, public gardens in New Zealand and Australia, Ironage replica roundhouse, bushlands, meadow, private gardens, by a river, and a stone circle in Yorkshire.
Officiating Your Wedding
As an independent celebrant, I am free to officiate your wedding in your favourite place or somewhere that is particularly special to you, such as a beach or on top of a mountain.
Some people choose to marry in a wildflower meadow or the privacy of their own garden, while others prefer the indoors. Wherever you want to marry, I am happy to officiate there, be it a cherry orchard, beach, upland meadow, woodland or candlelit labyrinth.
Choosing an independent celebrant means that you are not limited to licensed venues, and have the freedom of enjoying your ceremony in the place you desire, including the outdoors. You also have the choice of who to use for flowers, catering, etc. Some registered venues insist you use suppliers of their choice.
Need a Celebrant?
Honouring and Affirming Life’s Special Moments with Personalised Ceremonies
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My Promise
As an independent celebrant, I can help you create your dream wedding ceremony wherever you like. You will, however, have to register your marriage by completing the legalities at your local Register Office. This will require two witnesses, and costs around £50.
My promise: I will create, write and deliver a bespoke wedding ceremony with a script that is unique to you. At all times, you will have the freedom of making your ceremony religious, spiritual or secular.
A Local Authority Registrar offers you little contact before the ceremony, and the script used will be one of about three options with no personalisation allowed. As an independent celebrant, I write individualised ceremonies. I do not rush proceedings, and unlike those in register offices, you will not be confined to a short time slot.
I include a rehearsal beforehand, if desired. This does not happen at a registry office.
As part of my fee, I am available via phone, email and face-to-face. I do not work office hours, so if you fancy being married beneath the moonlight on New Year’s Eve or at sunrise on the Summer Solstice, I’ll be there.
Until the law changes in England, please note that the ceremony itself is not legal, but as far as your guests are concerned, your ceremony is your wedding.
My Fee
You can make your declaration at the Register Office a day or two before the ceremony, and receive a marriage certificate – this is a Registration only, not a ceremony, and two witnesses are allowed.
As your celebrant, I will create for you a ceremony that is the celebration your friends and family will call your wedding day.
My fee includes unlimited contact, plus the rehearsal. It takes many hours for me to get to know you better, and create a script that is unique to you.
I have a high-quality amplifier and microphone, so you can be assured your guests will hear the ceremony. We can also use this to play music before and during your ceremony, too, if desired
My fee: £550 (for ceremonies as of January 1st 2018)
20% deposit payable upon booking. Balance due by BACS one week before the event.
Katie and Loz’s Wedding and Handfasting
Keld, North Yorkshire
1st July, 2017“Thank you soooooo much for our beautiful day. Everything was simply perfect.”
Mr and Mrs Johnston
Gift of a Wedding
I am delighted to be a supplier for Gift of a Wedding (www.giftofawedding.org), a distinctive UK charity which provides free weddings to people with a terminal illness, regardless of age, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
No Obligation Enquiry
If you’d like to make a no-obligation enquiry to check on my availability, please get in touch, with your details, such as ceremony date, location, venue and if you have a particular theme in mind.
Please note: Ceremonies 50 miles or more from Penrith will be liable to a travel fee of 45p per mile (after the first fifty miles).