I have worked as a Wedding Celebrant for over 18 years helping many couples celebrate their special day.
Wedding Ceremonies
As your Wedding Celebrant, I will use my extensive experience to create your own unique ceremony. I have lived all over the world and have a great imagination and flair influenced by many different cultures. Combining this with my planning skills I can ensure a well-planned creative wedding ceremony that celebrates the couple as well as the two individuals.
Catherine & Michael – Luke Hayden Photography
“Your engagement in our wedding surpassed duty and any expectations. You went above and beyond, from helping with planning specifics on the day to easing family relationships. Your kind but no ‘bull’ approach was just perfect and we cherish all the times you stepped in to make your mark. You helped make our ceremony the most beautiful and memorable and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We look forward to your presence throughout our future life events.” – Mike and Catherine
Planning a wedding should be a happy time but it can also be stressful and hard work. Having a good, imaginative and competent Wedding Celebrant is essential. I will understand and support you and your partner in making sure that your aspirations and wishes happen on your special day with joy, humour and fun. I have also worked as an Event Planner and Professional Caterer during my career, which allows me a more thorough understanding of weddings than most.
Ceremonies conducted for my happy couples have taken place in diverse locations from hotels in central London to a Community Centre in Kilburn, a forest glade in Epping Forest to a beach in Italy, a cornfield in Croatia and a mountainside in Sardinia.
I am happy to conduct ceremonies outside, on hilltops, in gardens, beaches, wherever. Rain or shine. I have also conducted many weddings abroad for couples, travelling to the country and location of their choice.
Humanist wedding ceremonies are planned, created and written by the Celebrant working closely with the couple. The couple themselves often write their own promises and commitments. The ceremony can and often includes music and readings. The advantage of a humanist ceremony is that couples can have exactly the kind of ceremony they want. Humanist ceremonies are very flexible and can be as elaborate or as simple as desired.
“We could not have picked a better person to officiate our wedding ceremony. Jill created a wonderful, happy and relaxed atmosphere that was perfect for our small, intimate setting.” – Elsa & Tom
A Humanist wedding ceremony has no religious content. The focus is on the couple and their commitment to each other (and their children if they have any, and our responsibilities to each other as fellow human beings). That said it is quite acceptable to have a moment or two during the ceremony where guests with a different cultural or religious belief may have a private moment for personal reflection.
“Many thanks to you for the most beautiful ceremony that I have had a privilege to witness. I was really impressed and touched by everything. It was the place, your words and voice, the happy couple, who have become so important to me.” Anissi
Prices
UK based Weddings – £1,300 guide price subject to agreement of final details
My charge for a ceremony in London is currently £1,300. If the ceremony involves travel and accommodation outside of London, expenses are charged. I spend over 40 hours working on each wedding ceremony so this does represent good value for such an important day.
The guide price is the total cost with no extras charged. It assumes that we can meet locally for the 3-6 meetings we will need and it includes all my travel costs, a rehearsal event held at the actual location a day or two before the wedding itself, the preparation and delivery of the ceremony and a final copy of the script to keep for the couple. Copyright is retained.
Weddings Abroad
The fees for weddings abroad start at £1,600 and depend on the length of stay. All travel expenses including flight, accommodation and meals are the responsibility of the wedding couple. Please remember these are not legal ceremonies.
Contract and Deposit
On agreement we will sign a standard contract and half of the fee is to be paid as a deposit. The balance of the fee is due a week in advance of the wedding.
Contact Me
FAQ
How do I choose a Celebrant?
It is a good idea to talk to a number of Humanists UK celebrants on the phone, and perhaps arrange a local meeting before making your choice. All BHA celebrants are well trained and skilled. However our life experiences and skill sets vary and a couple should choose a Celebrant they like, get on with and who has a feeling for them and their unique day. As I always tell couples; you will know which Celebrant is the right one for you.
How does your wedding ceremony planning work?
I usually conduct between four and six meetings with the couple including reviewing their aspirations, family histories, likes, dislikes and views on marriage, partnership and the ceremony itself. Meetings often include:
- Meeting with the couples to plan their wedding ceremony together
- Conducting both separate and individual interviews
- Visiting the wedding location in advance
- Delivering and then discussing the draft of the wedding script
- Conducting an advance rehearsal at the wedding venue
- Conducting the wedding or partnership ceremony
Is it a legal ceremony?
No! The unfair laws in England mean that any Humanists UK marriageor civil partnership ceremonies cannot confer the legal state of marriage on a couple – that still has to be confirmed at a Registry Office or by a Registrar. (In Northern Ireland & Scotland you can have a legal Humanist Marriage or civil partnership.) The legal and humanist ceremonies have to be conducted separately. They can be in the same week or even on the same day. Usually, couples choose to have a legal ceremony in advance or after the humanist ceremony. Some couples choose just to have only a Humanist ceremony, but please remember this currently has no legal standing in English Law.
Most couples view the humanist ceremony as the time when they truly commit themselves to marriage in front of their family and friends. My events can be creative and highly unique. Humanist wedding ceremonies are not limited to taking place in premises with the required license for legal ceremonies.
How far in advance do I need to book you?
Because of the way I work and its heavy workload I prefer as much notice as possible. However I have managed to write and conduct weddings at extremely short notice, and I will try my best to accommodate you if possible. Please remember that dates in summer months – including September and October – do get booked up well in advance.
Do you work with couples living abroad ?
I have often worked via Skype, Zoom or WhatsApp with couples living abroad and coming to the UK for their wedding.
Do you conduct LBGTQIA+ weddings and partnerships ceremonies ?
Yes. I have conducted many LBGTQIA+ ceremonies.