Your questions, answered
your story. beautifully told
these are the questions I am asked the most
What is a celebrant?
A celebrant is someone who works with you to create and lead a ceremony that is genuinely, specifically yours. Not a script pulled from a drawer – a living, breathing reflection of who you are, what you believe, and the people you love.
What's the difference between a celebrant and a registrar?
A registrar’s role is to make your marriage legal, and they do that beautifully – but they work within a fixed framework, at a licensed venue, with set wording. A celebrant starts with a blank page and builds everything around you. The two can work wonderfully together, with the legal part handled quietly and separately, leaving your celebration completely free to be whatever you want it to be.
Can a celebrant legally marry us in the UK?
In England and Wales, celebrant-led ceremonies aren’t yet legally binding – though there is real momentum behind changing this, and we’re watching that space with great excitement. In the meantime, most couples pop to their local registry office for a short, simple legal appointment, and then pour all their energy into creating a ceremony that truly means something. Many couples tell me the registry office bit barely registered – it’s the celebration they remember.
How much does a celebrant cost?
It varies – experience, location, and what’s involved all play a part. Across the industry you’ll find fees ranging quite widely. My own packages start at £950, and you’ll find everything laid out clearly below so there are no surprises.
Where can we hold our ceremony?
Wherever feels right. A clifftop, a kitchen garden, a pub courtyard, a field belonging to someone you love – celebrants aren’t bound by venue licensing, so the location is entirely your call. If it’s meaningful to you, it works for me.
Can we include religious or spiritual elements?
Yes, and I think the mixing of the sacred and the personal can be genuinely beautiful. As an independent celebrant I can include religious readings, prayers, blessings, or spiritual rituals alongside secular elements – whatever reflects the fullness of who you are. There are no rules here about what belongs and what doesn’t.
Will our ceremony be completely unique?
I don’t work from templates – I don’t own any. Every ceremony I write begins with a conversation, grows through our time together, and ends up as something that could only ever belong to you. I’ve never written the same ceremony twice, and I never will.
Can we write our own vows?
Yes – and some of my favourite ceremony moments have come from couples who’ve written their own words. If you’d love to but aren’t sure where to start, I’ll help you find your way in. If you’d rather we write them together, we’ll do that. If the thought of writing makes you want to hide, I’ll take care of it and make sure they still sound like you. And if you want to keep them secret from each other until the moment itself – one of my favourite things – I’ll hold that secret with great care.
How long will our ceremony be?
Long enough to do justice to your story, and not a moment longer than it needs to be. In practice, most ceremonies fall somewhere between 20 and 45 minutes – but we shape yours together, so every element is there because it belongs.
How much do you charge?
I offer four wedding packages:
- Package 1 – £950 Ceremony planning and writing
- Package 2 – £1,250 Ceremony and vow planning and writing
- Package 3 – £1,850 Ceremony and vow planning, writing, and MC for the full wedding day
- Package 4 – £1,850 plus travel and accommodation Destination weddings – ceremony planning and writing
How far ahead should we book?
Earlier is always easier – Saturdays in summer fill up quickly, and I only ever take one booking per date. That said, if your date is sooner than you’d like, please still get in touch. Last-minute isn’t always too late.
Do you do elopements?
With absolute joy. An elopement is one of the most intimate, intentional things two people can do, and being trusted to be part of that is something I never take lightly.
Do you do rehearsals?
If you’d like one, yes – absolutely. If you’d rather not, that’s completely fine too. By the time your day comes around you’ll know your ceremony well, and I’ll be right there with you from the moment I arrive. Most couples find that a relaxed walk-through of the entrance is all they need. Whatever helps you feel ready, that’s what we’ll do.
How do we book?
You have 2 options – Fill in the enquiry form and I’ll be in touch to arrange a relaxed, no-obligation conversation – just the two of us talking about what you’re dreaming of. If it feels right, we’ll take it from there. Or if you prefer – book direct via the online calendar and I’ll see you at the time you choose…
Do you charge for travel?
I’m based in Surrey and travel is included within a 15 mile radius. Beyond that, I charge 45p per mile – the standard HMRC approved rate – which will always be confirmed clearly before you book. For destination weddings and elopements abroad, travel and accommodation are discussed and agreed separately. There are never any hidden costs.
Do you do funerals?
Some farewells are also celebrations – full of laughter, favourite songs, and stories that make a room feel like the person never left. If that’s the kind of goodbye you’re planning, I’m fully trained and I’d love to help you create it.
if your question is not listed here, just get in touch
Warm & Genuine
No templates
Completely Yours
No strangers
Love, Joy & Laughter
Your story matters
Personal & Heartfelt
No two the same
Warm & Genuine
No templates
Completely Yours
No strangers
Love, Joy & Laughter
Your story matters
Personal & Heartfelt
No two the same
Not all celebrants are the same
what makes this different
A ceremony isn’t just an event – it’s a performance of your love story, and it deserves someone who truly understands the art of storytelling.
With a background in marketing and theatre, I bring something most celebrants simply can’t: an instinct for narrative, a feel for pacing and emotion, and the ability to hold a room. I know how to craft words that land, how to read an audience, and how to create those goosebump moments that stay with people long after the confetti has settled.
But beneath all of that craft is something much simpler – a genuine love of people, their stories, and the joy of bringing those stories to life. When you choose me, you’re not just booking a celebrant. You’re choosing someone who will treat your ceremony with the care of a director, the heart of a friend, and the dedication of someone who believes your story is worth telling beautifully.
In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine.
maya angelou