Get in touch ...
Shortlist ...
Ceremonies by Bel
reviews (1) - leave a review
Available for
Countries Covered
Specialisms
Putting people at ease and striking precisely the tone they want for their special celebration
Affiliations
I am a member of The Association of Independent Celebrants
Hi, I'm Bel
I’m a qualified celebrant who’s been story-telling my whole working life. A true ‘people person’ with a passion for words, I spent 32 years (yikes, still do a double take at that!) in women’s magazines, including 14 at HELLO!, where I interviewed a host of famous couples about life, love and romance, attended their weddings, met their new babies and captured it all in my writing.
I now create and deliver sparkling ceremonies for couples and families that truly reflect who they are, how they feel and what matters to them. And it’s a total joy!
Whatever your celebration, at its heart it’s a story of love, each one unique and special and deserving of a ceremony that allows that individuality to shine through. By taking the time to understand your vision, I will craft a ceremony that strikes the perfect balance between heartfelt and humour and incorporates all the meaningful details that make your story yours.
What's my ceremony style?
Love is life’s greatest treasure and I embrace the chance to celebrate it in all its glorious forms. One of the wonderful things for me about being a celebrant is you’re always having new ideas sparked by the fantastic couples and families you work with, so you’re always learning, adapting, expanding your creativity.
I love glamour and glitz and the timeless elegance of a traditional-style ceremony with a modern twist. Equally, there is something beautifully romantic to me about intimate, relaxed celebrations – be it in the wild outdoors, on a beach, in a loved one’s back garden; anywhere that holds meaning.
What matters is YOUR style and what will make the day the perfect fit for you. Whatever your vision and vibe, you can rest assured I’ll get behind it 100 per cent and help you create an experience you and your guests will remember for all the best reasons.
Prices From
Weddings£700, Vow Renewals £600, Naming Ceremonies £400
Highlight
Getting a lovely message back from your couple or family after you’ve sent them the first draft of their ceremony saying you’ve captured their story perfectly is always wonderful. When they tell you they’ve laughed and cried reading it, and can’t wait to share it with their guests, you know you’ve done a good job.
Why choose Bel?
Because I’m Team You all the way! The bond we build is so important to me and I’ll be there for you through the entire ceremony process.
We’ll have fun, too! This is your day, you call the shots, but I love contributing ideas where welcome, conspiring on new twists on traditions and devising ways to weave the essence of you into your ceremony for the ultimate “so you!” experience.
Those I’ve worked with have said I’m warm, trustworthy and have “a good energy” and my aim is always to create an inclusive atmosphere in which everyone feels at ease.
What do I offer?
Weddings
My ideal couple want their ceremony to be the beating heart of their special day. They want to have fun with it and take full advantage of the freedom a celebrant-led ceremony gives them, without in any way diminishing the meaningfulness of why they are there. They want a ceremony that acknowledges and conveys the depth of their feelings for each other, but with the humour and endearing (or infuriating!) quirks that make them one another’s “The One”. Charming but not cheesy, respectful yet relaxed, fun but never frivolous is their “vibe”.
Choosing the person to create and conduct your ceremony is such a personal thing. We’ll be communicating a lot. So let’s start with a no obligation chat – phone, Zoom or, depending on your location, face-to-face. Then, if you decide I’m right for you, I offer:
– Unlimited email/telephone chats as we plan your ceremony
– Guidance on readings, poems, songs, symbolic gestures
– Writing and editing your bespoke ceremony (a work in progress until you are 100 per cent happy with it)
– Help with writing your personal vows if wanted
– A pre-ceremony run through with ‘key players’ (depending on availability and location of your venue, this may be on Zoom)
– Conducting your ceremony (I will arrive AT LEAST an hour ahead of your start time on the day, to ensure things are as planned and check in with those involved
– Commemorative wedding certificate (if requested)
Prices From
£700
Why choose Bel for your wedding?
I pride myself on always going that extra mile to ensure the couples and families I work with really love what I create for them. My extensive experience in writing and interviewing has equipped me with the skills to really help couples identify and express what is important to them in an engaging and authentic way. With many of the celebrity brides and grooms I interviewed for HELLO!, I was subsequently asked to cover other significant events in their lives, which says something, I think, about the level of trust I established with them and what they thought of how I told their love story.
I’m professionally trained, with an NOCN Level 3 Diploma in Naming and Couples (RFQ) – the highest celebrant’s qualification available in the UK. I am also fully insured through membership of my trade association, the Association of Independent Celebrants.
Naming Ceremonies
I’ll never forget attending my first naming ceremony. It was for the beautiful twins of dear friends. Conceived via IVF, the babies had been born very premature – the littlest weighed less than 2lb. It had been quite the journey, so the day was always going to be emotional. What I hadn’t banked on was how much fun it would be! Such a warm, loving and inclusive atmosphere, with thoughtfully curated ways of keeping the younger guests engaged and so much laughter, which in no way detracted from the meaningfulness of the occasion. Unlike a christening, which focuses on religion, a naming ceremony celebrates the child and honours the bonds of family and friendship which, to me, is everything and I just love them.
The possibilities for what to include in your naming ceremony are endless and each one I create is thoughtfully and lovingly tailored to the family’s individual needs and wishes. Perhaps you have older children and want to include them in a symbolic ritual (sand ceremonies, for example, work beautifully on these occasions) Or maybe you want to devise an extra special way to honour certain family members or friends who have been especially supportive on your journey to parenthood. The only limit is imagination – how exciting is that! Together we can craft an experience that is so personal and right for you all, resulting in a celebration that will be remembered with warmth and smiles for years to come.
Why choose Bel for your naming ceremony?
Renewal of Vows
Whether it’s to mark a special milestone anniversary, overcoming a challenging time, or simply “because”, I will work closely with you to create a fitting tribute to the love and devotion that continues to blossom between you and your soulmate. Together, we will curate a ceremony that honours your past, celebrates your present and reflects your shared dreams for the future. It can be as traditionally ‘weddingy’ as you want it to be – or not at all, You may now have a family you want to include in ways that are very poignant and personal to you all. My role is to listen and learn, advise and guide, and help you create something truly unique, memorable and magical because lasting love deserves that.
Prices From
£600
Why choose Bel for your renewal of vows?
For people to entrust me with their love stories is such a privilege and I will never take that for granted. Every single couple I work with has something unique and special in the tale of their romance and I adore hearing all the little details that make them such a perfect fit. I get fully invested in all my couples and their journey to this point in their lives and that gives me the material to craft a ceremony that is completely unique to them. I’m warm, friendly, a good listener and an expert communicator – so let’s talk.
Unfortunately Ceremonies by Bel is not available for Funerals.
Reviews for Ceremonies by Bel
Total Reviews: 1
Average Rating: 5
reviews (1)
Couldn’t be happier we chose you!
Belinda, thank you so much. We were just with my parents who said you were one of the highlights of the wedding! They said your script was so elegant and beautifully written and really added a special touch to the day. We couldn’t be happier that we chose you to officiate our wedding – it was a true pleasure working with you!
