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Your Choice Ceremonies

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Heather-Bartsch-Your-Choice-Ceremonies-Celebrant-Weddings-Funerals-Vow-Renewals-Naming-Ceremonies

Available for

Countries Covered

I travel Nationally & Internationally

Specialisms

I love to include a mix of traditions, cultures and beliefs, family blendings and Unity Rituals.

Affiliations

Association Of Independent Celebrant, The Funeral Accord, Ceremony Matters,

Languages

English

Hi, I'm Heather

I was born in London and I grew up in Sudbury, Suffolk, where I now live. I enjoy reading, walking, cycling, canoeing and entertaining friends and family. I love planning holidays and celebration events. As an Independent Celebrant and a fully-trained member of the Association of Independent Celebrants, I can confidently create and deliver beautiful, bespoke and heartfelt ceremonies of your choice to mark life’s key milestones. From weddings, vow renewals and naming ceremonies to unity rituals and funerals. I can help you write your personalised wedding vows, your commitments to your child or your own eulogy. I am happy to work indoors or outdoors, large or small and intimate, fun and quirky or traditional, religious or non-religious. That is the joy of having a celebrant led ceremony, almost anything goes! If you’re planning a celebration event or service and are seeking a truly personalised experience that reflects your wishes, your values and your choices, I’d love to chat.

What's my ceremony style?

I am calm, kind, inclusive and caring. I will go out of my way to help make sure your special day runs smoothly and is everything you could wish it to be. With a background in Human Resources, people development and training, I have spent many years working with all kinds of people with differing experiences, traditions and values, supporting them during some of the most significant times in their lives.

For over ten years I chaired and now champion a leading environmental educational charity and I am passionate about the benefits of nature to our physical and mental health and wellbeing. I love to incorporate elements of nature into my ceremonies. I love helping people and organising things. Nothing can beat the feeling of doing a good job!

Prices From

Wedding - £760 / Vow Renewal - £690 / Naming Ceremony - £390 / Funeral - £250 / Unity Ritual - Prices on request

Highlight

An extraordinary life!

I had the great privilege of delivering a funeral service last week for a lovely gentleman, B, who was born in Hackney in 1930. He very thoughtfully wrote a journal of his early memories so that his daughters had a record of his life before them. Amongst his stories (some of which I couldn’t possibly repeat!) he remembers how he and his two little mates would sit over a drain and catch flies. They would put one in their mouth and feel them buzzing around before opening their mouths to let them fly out. It was good fun but unfortunately this was how B caught scarlet fever! He wrote how he would earn money from a bombed-out house by using a cheap saw from Woolworths to cut up the floor beams and sell as firewood for a penny a bundle, until someone realised the danger and put a stop to it.
B became a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, adored by family and friends alike.
Despite his wonderful age, at 90, he was incredibly modern in his outlook. He loved gadgets, the internet, current affairs and all things technical. He was an artist, a poet, a magician and a practical joker. He wrote computer programmes, knew how to download music, send emails, bank online and loved his Alexa……. a world away from sitting over a drain plying with the flies!
I am constantly amazed by the extraordinary life stories I hear about as a celebrant. This job is a joy!

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Why choose Heather?

I am passionate about making sure you feel looked after and in safe hands. I am very organised and love a list or three! As a wife, mother and grandmother I understand and cherish family bonds, traditions and differences. No two couple are the same, no two families are the same and I pride myself in being able to create ceremonies that truly represent couples and families in a way that celebrates their unique love and relationships. I adore meeting new people to find out about themselves and their loved ones in order to create a personalised service that they will remember and treasure forever. I love to hear your ideas, combine old and new traditions and mix things up a little. We can add extra special touches such as hand tying, tree planting, ring warming, to name just a few. Almost anything goes and the only limit is your imagination!

What do I offer?

Heather-Bartsch-Celebrant-Your-Choice-Ceremonies-Weddings-Funerals-Vow Renewals-Naming-Ceremonies

Weddings

More and more couples are seeking the freedom of choice when deciding upon the location for their wedding ceremony and to make their day truly unique and memorable without any restrictions. As your Celebrant I can help you turn your romantic dream into reality by designing a ceremony of distinction and style with no restrictions on venue, words, readings, music, vows, religious or symbolic elements. I will create and deliver a beautiful, bespoke and heartfelt ceremony to reflect Your Wishes, Your Values, Your Choice!

Package that includes:
Initial consultation in person or via video call
Ceremony planning meeting in person (can be combined with venue visit)
Help with readings, vows and content
Creation of a beautiful, bespoke and heartfelt personal ceremony script
Unlimited edits, emails, calls, video calls
Rehearsal and full logistical walk-through at venue in person
Ceremony professionally delivered on the day
Printed keepsake copy of ceremony script, readings and vows
Mini ceremonies can be added to make your special day even more memorable.

Prices From

£760

Why choose Heather for your wedding?

I am passionate about making sure you feel looked after and in safe hands. I am very organised and love a list or three! I enjoy meeting people to find out about themselves and their loved ones in order to create a unique service that they will remember and treasure forever. I love to hear your ideas, combine old and new traditions and mix things up a little. Almost anything goes and the only limit is your imagination!

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Baby naming 8

Naming Ceremonies

One of the most exciting events in a family’s life is the arrival of a new baby and many of us want to celebrate the occasion in a memorable and special way. A Naming Ceremony can also be a wonderful opportunity to welcome an adopted child or stepchildren into your family. I design and create unique Naming Ceremonies to suit your values, beliefs and wishes, providing an ideal opportunity for you to publicly declare your commitment to nurture and care for your child and to declare your hopes and aspirations for their future in the way you choose.

I offer a package that includes:
Ceremony planning meeting in person or via video call
Help with readings and promises
Creation of a beautiful, bespoke and heartfelt personal ceremony script
Unlimited edits, emails, calls, video chats
Phone call to finalise ceremony logistics
Ceremony professionally delivered on the day
Printed keepsake copy of ceremony script, readings and promises
Mini ceremonies can be added to make your special day even more memorable.

Prices From

£390

Why choose Heather for your naming ceremony?

I am passionate about making sure my families feel looked after and in safe hands. I am very organised and love a list or three! I enjoy meeting people to find out about themselves and their loved ones in order to create a unique service that they will remember and treasure forever. I love to hear your ideas, combine old and new traditions and mix things up a little. Almost anything goes and the only limit is your imagination!

Heather-Bartsch-Your-Choice-Ceremonies-Celebrant-Weddings-Funerals-Vow-Renewals-Naming-Ceremonies
Heather-Bartsch-Your-Choice-Ceremonies-Celebrant-Weddings-Funerals-Vow-Renewals-Naming-Ceremonies

Renewal of Vows

A Renewal of Marriage Vows Ceremony is a wonderful way of publicly declaring your continued love and commitment to one another, to celebrate your love and reaffirm the promises you made to each other on your wedding day. You may choose to have an intimate ceremony inviting just close family and friends or a large celebration to mark the occasion. I offer a truly magical and memorable ceremony to reflect your individual tastes, styles, personalities and your choice!

My package includes:
Initial consultation in person or via video call
Ceremony planning meeting in person (can be combined with venue visit)
Help with readings, vows and content
Creation of a beautiful, bespoke and heartfelt personal ceremony script
Unlimited edits, emails, calls, video chats
Ceremony professionally delivered on the day
Printed keepsake copy of ceremony script, readings and vows
Mini ceremonies can be added to make your special day even more memorable.

Prices From

£690

Why choose Heather for your renewal of vows?

I am passionate about making sure my couples feel looked after and in safe hands. I am very organised and love a list or three! I enjoy meeting people to find out about themselves and their loved ones in order to create a unique service that they will remember and treasure forever. I love to hear your ideas, combine old and new traditions and mix things up a little. Almost anything goes and the only limit is your imagination!

Heather-Bartsch-Your-Choice-Ceremonies-Celebrant-Weddings-Funerals-Vow-Renewals-Naming-Ceremonies
Heather-Bartsch-Your-Choice-Ceremonies-Celebrant-Weddings-Funerals-Vow-Renewals-Naming-Ceremonies-funerals-heart-flowers

Funerals

When a loved one dies there are, inevitably, decisions to be taken about the funeral arrangements, perhaps most importantly, what kind of funeral do you actually want? Not everyone wishes to have the same kind of funeral, because not all families are the same. I will help you to create a ceremony that reflects your loved one’s beliefs about life and death, one that pays a fitting, dignified and meaningful tribute to their journey through life. Readings, poems, hymns, prayers and music are all welcome to make the service unique and personal – a celebration of life. The choice is yours.

Package includes:
Service planning meeting in person or via video call
Help with music, readings, tributes
Creation of a beautiful, bespoke and heartfelt personal celebration of life ceremony for your loved one
Liaise closely with yourselves and the Funeral Director/Arranger
Service professionally delivered on the day
Printed commemorative copy of service script

You may also want to consider planning your Eulogy. Rather than a tribute being collated and written after you have died (which of course you will never hear), a Living Eulogy can be co-created with you involved. Members of your family and friends can also contribute and the tribute can be read and appreciated while you are with them. I will meet with you to hear your life story as you would like it to be told. The funeral service will then be written and checked with you. You will get 2 copies of the funeral service, one to keep with your last will and testament, the other to hand to your next-of-kin.

Prices From

£250

Why choose Heather for your funeral?

I am passionate about making sure my families feel looked after and in safe hands. I always feel it is such a privilege to meet people and to find out about their loved ones in order to create a unique service that they will remember and treasure forever. I am calm, kind and caring and will go out of my way to help make sure you can say goodbye in the way that feels right for you and your loved one.

Heather-Bartsch-Your-Choice-Ceremonies-Celebrant-Weddings-Funerals-Vow-Renewals-Naming-Ceremonies

Reviews for Your Choice Ceremonies

Total Reviews: 23

Average Rating: 5

reviews (23)

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Our Surprise Vow Renewal

5 Stars
Suzanne Strunkey

Renewal Of Vows | 04/29/2023 | Mistley Village Hall

Heather took our surprise wedding renewal at my 40th birthday party. It was truly amazing with all our family and friends around us. It was so personal to my husband & I, she included our friends in the big surprise, with a flash mob dance. Heather really gets to know you both with appointments before, with love questionnaires. Then she ties it all together. To ensure the service is all about you both, your family and friends. From all the information about us, lovely readings from our friends included, our children in the hand tying part. She really was a good sport and very professional. We cannot recommend Heather enough. She will make your day wonderful and so special. We are forever grateful. Xx

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New Years Eve Wedding

5 Stars
Jennifer

Wedding | 12/31/2022 | Assembly House, Norwich

If you’re looking for a celebrant for your wedding – we could not recommend Your Choice Ceremonies more! Heather is clearly very experienced and overall working with her was incredibly reassuring. Her communication is great and in the lead up to the wedding we really appreciated being able to meet and speak to her regularly. She helped us to create a very personalised ceremony, and put a lot of time into researching some different ideas based on our interests that we ended up incorporating. Having the chance to do a rehearsal the night before was very helpful and reduced the pressure on the day. She’s also a warm and friendly person – who was able to bring the perfect balance of fun and seriousness in how she conducted the ceremony. We had a lot of compliments from friends and family about how unique our ceremony was! Thank you Heather for your part in our special day 🤍

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Celebration of Life and Interment service

5 Stars
Dominic Le Claire

Funeral | 10/28/2022 | Arbory Trust Woodland Burial Ground

Heather was a wonderful celebrant for our recent funeral service needs; providing guidance and kindness in equal amounts. She made a painful day just that little bit easier for our family, and we’re very grateful for that. Would highly recommend. Thank you.

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