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!
An Unexpected USP
Modesty aside for this blog! After I trained to become a civil celebrant, I became aware of some of my assets. People liked working with me because I am business-like, but friendly. I listen and offer advice. I am thorough, but not OCD. I am passionate about my...
Are Mixed-Faith Ceremonies like Icebergs?
Need I say it, but religion can be the cause of considerable tension, and even worse, among families! I have met many a couple whose relationship has been strained because they’re of different religions. Because of the potential for conflict, I have heard mixed-faith...
Explaining the Mystery of What a Civil Celebrant Actually Does
I became a civil celebrant over 10 years ago, shortly after meeting my first celebrant. Until that day, I had no idea that such a thing even existed! So it seems entirely reasonable to me that other people should have little or no idea what a civil celebrant does. I’d...
Handfasting – what’s that?
The majority of people I come into contact with may have heard of “handfasting”, but don’t know what it is. They certainly don’t know how or why they can be part of a handfasting ceremony, and how it can enhance their event. History Its origins are pagan. No, there’s...
De-stressing a Ceremony
A ceremony such as a wedding is major. It comes with stress. You are centre-stage. Itssuccess matters to you. You also want to enjoy it, so you need to de-stress. By the way, I am not saying that a little bit of adrenaline on the day isn’t natural. It’seven quite...
Isn’t a Civil Celebrant a Luxury?
Well, of course, you need to define what you consider luxury. Cons There aren’t really too many cons, in truth. The bottom line is that you can have a ceremony without a celebrant. If it’s a wedding, you can go down the Church or Register Office routes. They cover...
Ever Considered a Vow Renewal?
There seems to be increasing demand for Vow Renewals. They were popular before COVID (as so many things were), but there are compelling reasons to consider them again. Timing Whereas you are welcome to mark a major life event with a Vow Renewal on (or near) the exact...
The “bad” side of Weddings
Sometimes weddings bring out the worst in people. Luckily for me, I have only experienced a few examples of this, but not everything has always gone entirely smoothly! Of course, I have been at the receiving end of rudeness, or shall we say, thoughtlessness. People...
Choosing your Wedding Readings
I'm often asked for help with choosing wedding readings. It's a tricky one indeed! You have to factor in individual preferences, the tone of the ceremony, length of reading (and proficiency of the reader!), and the message (if any). So the piece can be partly - or...