Frequently Asked Questions
The Basics
What actually is a celebrant?
Someone who writes and leads ceremonies. I’m independent, which means I’m not tied to a church, a register office or a funeral director, and I have no rules imposed on me about what your ceremony can contain.
What’s the difference between a celebrant and a registrar?
A registrar handles the legal marriage. They work to a fixed format, can only officiate at approved venues, and cannot include anything religious or spiritual. I can marry you anywhere, include anything you want and write every word around you. The trade off is that my ceremony isn’t the legal one.
Can you legally marry us?
Not in England and Wales, no. Nobody working as an independent celebrant can. You’ll do the legal formality at your local register office, which costs around £50 and takes about ten minutes, then have your real ceremony with me. This is completely normal and thousands of couples do it every year.
What qualifications do you have?
I trained and am accredited with the Academy of Modern Celebrancy for both wedding and funeral celebrancy, and I’m a Guild member. Behind that sits thirty years in corporate leadership, training, events, MC work and public speaking.
Where, When and How Much
Where can we hold a ceremony?
Anywhere you like. Manor houses, barns, village halls, woodland, gardens and open countryside are where I’m happiest. There’s no approved venue list and no licence required, because the legal formality happens separately.
What areas do you cover?
Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire, and I’ll travel further for the right ceremony. I also take a small number of destination weddings in Italy each year, working with my niece Emma who is a wedding planner on Lake Garda.
How much does it cost?
Funerals and celebrations of life start at £250, and £450 for a complex bespoke ceremony. Weddings start at £550, and £850 for the full package including MC duties. Full details sit on each ceremony page.
How far in advance should we book?
For weddings, as early as you can, especially for summer Saturdays. For funerals, get in touch straight away and I’ll tell you honestly whether I’m free. For naming ceremonies, a couple of months is usually plenty.
When It’s Actually Happening
Can our friends and family be involved?
Please do involve them. Readers, musicians, children with something to say. I’ll rehearse with anyone who’s nervous and I’ll be standing right there if they wobble.
What if it rains?
We’ll have agreed the wet weather plan well in advance, and on the day I’ll make the call so nobody else has to. Every outdoor ceremony I lead has a plan B ready.
Can we include religious or spiritual elements?
Yes, and you can include several traditions at once. I was raised Christian, now pagan and am a Reiki healer, so I’m genuinely at home blending different beliefs with respect.
Questions About Funerals
Do we have to use the celebrant our funeral director suggests?
No. That’s the single most useful thing on this page. Your funeral director will usually propose someone, but you’re free to ask for me by name and they’ll arrange it.
Can you read a tribute for us?
Yes. Write it in your own words and hand it to me, and I’ll deliver it properly. Nobody should have to worry about getting through it on the day.
Can we still have hymns and prayers?
Of course. An independent celebrant can include as much or as little faith as your family wants, and can hold more than one tradition in the same service.
Questions About Naming Ceremonies
Is a naming ceremony legally binding?
No, and neither is a christening. Registering the birth was the legal step. A naming ceremony is about meaning, promises and gathering your people.
Can older children have one?
Yes, and they often enjoy it more because they can help write it. Naming ceremonies work beautifully for adoptions, blended families and children who never had a ceremony as babies.
Still Wondering Something?
Ask me. There’s no such thing as a silly question and I’ve almost certainly been asked it before.