Welcome to my blog
This blog is a compilation of thoughts, musings and experiences of my life as a Civil Celebrant, mixed in with my reactions to relevant current events and news stories. There’s always lots to talk about!
Deciding on Your Wedding Venue
Deciding on your wedding venue should not just be about cost. Of course, you have to be guided by your budget – you certainly don’t want to over-commit. But the venue can make such a difference to the atmosphere of your big day that you need to put an enormous amount...
A Mixed Year
This is going to be my last blog this year (I allow myself time off for good behaviour between Christmas and New Year!). As is traditional, I intend to briefly look back on the past year before signing off for 2022. The Bad Apart from the expected coughs and colds,...
Crystal Ball Gazing
Looking back on one of my posts from about a year ago (“Expectations”), I see how accurately I foresaw that this year would go. I advised ignoring fear and pessimism, and encouraged booking those weddings, vow renewals, namings, handfastings, and the like. In the...
The Real Value of a Civil Celebrant
There’s a lot of confusion about what a civil celebrant offers and, indeed, why you should use one. I'd like to clear things up now. This does add to the mix, but we are awaiting a possible change in the law, due to be promulgated in July 2023. This could allow civil...
Wedding Suppliers
Dealing with wedding suppliers is often a new experience for couples. How do you know whether the service you’re asking about is a necessity or a luxury? What questions should you be asking? How much should you expect to be paying? How do you know that the suppliers...
My first Celebratory Event
Last week I spoke about how I fell into celebrancy. After training, I eased my way into leading funerals, but avoided the more cheerful ceremonies. This was frankly because I was scared. That doesn't make much sense, I know. Why should a wedding be more scary than a...
Becoming a Celebrant by Accident!
It may somehow have escaped your notice, but it’s World Celebrants Week this week. I’d like to tell you why I became an independent Civil Celebrant ten years ago, if I may. I certainly had no plan to become one - in fact, I had never heard of such a thing! In 2010 and...
How to Plan Your Wedding
Getting Started Planning your wedding can be fun and really exciting. You’re working together with your loved one (well, usually!) and you’ve got a wonderful target in mind. You can watch the elements gradually coming together and your vision becoming a reality. That...
Halloween
By the time you read this, Halloween will be all over and done with for another year! But did you appreciate or endure (or even ignore!) it? Perhaps you wondered how such a bizarre custom became part of our calendar? Origins The festival dates back some 2,000 years...