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Available for
Countries Covered
I travel Nationally & Internationally
Specialisms
Intercultural, Creative, Family Ceremonies, Transitions. A little it 'woo'. My Kindred Spirits are Artsy, Different, Thoughtful, Kind, Funny, Animal Loving, Queer Affirming, Bohemian, ‘Spiritual but not religious’, Quirky, and Green thinking.
Affiliations
Fellowship of Professional Celebrants
Languages
English, British Sign Language and limited but decent French
Hi, I'm Jess
Hello Everybody!
My name is Jess. The Affirming Celebrant and I create CEREMONIES THAT WILL NEVER BE PUT IN A BOX TO GATHER DUST!
Double Award-Winning, Brighton-based Celebrant!.
Here for LIFE TRANSITIONS. No bored guests!
Jess May’s Special Days are chilled out engaging ceremonies filled with love and joie de vivre.
Award-winning Ceremony Creator with a decade of experience.
My Kindred Spirits are Artsy, Different, Thoughtful, Kind, Funny, Animal Loving, Queer Affirming, Bohemian, ‘Spiritual but not religious’, Quirky, and Green thinking.
I am also Co-founder of Coffin Club Brighton with my friend Gitta (Ceremonies by Gitte)
What's my ceremony style?
My style is to focus on creative process with my couples. It makes it easy to tell your story.
Personality, flair, flowers in my hair. Lots of laughter, lots of tears. Serious sentiments in sentences which sing. Sitting in your gardens, drinking hot chocolate, listening and getting to know your children and pets. Even years later, I find that I still remember their names.. By the time you walk down the aisle most of my work is done. I’m not a Humanist but a Celebrant of the ‘Spiritual but not Religious’ variety. Blending and re-interpreting cultural traditions is a particular passion, Temple Garlands made from pink roses instead of marigolds. A table full of candles instead of a central fire. Promises to sons and daughters. ‘Percy the Whippet’ was a ringbearer of class. I listen and then help to uncover your own personal poetry.
Prices From
£950
highlight
Local BRIGHTON Weddings
Discount for Local Weddings £50 discount for recommendations
Co-founder of Coffin Club Brighton with my friend Gitta (Ceremonies by Gitte)
£950
Why choose Jess?
My ceremonies mark Life Transitions. I care deeply about your journey. I know that my ceremonies create meaning from your experience . My ceremonies focus around the following Transitions: Birth, Gender, Love, Life Change, Age and Death.
I bring sincere love, care and humour and I know that your ceremonies launch the next stage of your life. They create memories of the present that will last for the rest of your life.
I am a companion in that transition and I love being there with you.
What do I offer?
Weddings
I love a relaxed wedding with creativity and laughter and a real connection with the couple (or polyamourous pod) and I love to connect with their families. I really don’t care where it happens! I love involving all the family and encouraging the parents to make vows to their children.
First and foremost I offer you a huge level of care and love. I build long lasting relationships with you. In addition I bring you a decade of experience and 2 awards. My real gift is listening and creativity. My focus is on this Transition in your life into a new chapter and it usually involves building relationships with your families.
Prices From
£950
Why choose Jess for your wedding?
If you want someone with a clear Vocation to be a companion to you at the most significant time in your life and you want colour, flair and laughter along with a huge level of experience and joy…I’m for you.
I will give you informality, a relaxed vibe, lots of humour and plenty of love and energy.
Naming Ceremonies
I often find myself doing Naming Ceremonies in back gardens, or marquees. I love them. I particularly love it when my wedding couples call me and ask me to Name the Baby. That is very special. I also love creating Adoption Ceremonies. It’s all so rewarding and lovely.
The main thing I offer is absolutely delight and lots of ideas and resources. I’m always genuinely thrilled to be holding a baby announcing their arrival into the world and watching their Grandma’s eyes misting with tears of joy. I often find myself in marquees in gardens with Fairy Godmothers, planting trees and sipping champagne. Some people have residual spiritual beliefs and for those people I have adapted ceremonies using blessings from varied traditions, including anointing with oil and water and honey. Wise sayings, and Winnie the Pooh often feature and abridged parenting philosophies developed into pledges based around your values. I love Naming Ceremonies, I’d love to do more of them.
Prices From
850
Why choose Jess for your naming ceremony?
I love celebrating new life. New beginnings and I love a snuggle with a baby.
People often approach me for Namings when there is a sense of a need for ‘healing’ and moving on.
Renewal of Vows
Why choose Jess for your renewal of vows?
Funerals
Celebrating the Lives of those who have died. Telling the stories, saying goodbye.
When I do a funeral, I metaphorically invite that person into my life and ask them to live with me for a week or two. I get to know the person you loved, hear about their favourite colours, quirks and funny ways. Jeannie who was prim and proper but used to take a bite out of a block of cheese and then put it straight back in the fridge with the bite marks still in it. I tell the story of the idiosyncrasies, the paradoxes the multiple lives we live and people we are.
Co-founder of Coffin Club Brighton with my friend Gitta (Ceremonies by Gitte)
Prices From
£350
Why choose Jess for your funeral?
I’ll be right for you if you are someone who values emotional honesty over formality and an accurate representation of a real multi-dimensional person. You’ll be looking for someone who actually cares about who that person is to you in life and in death. You will want someone who is interested in all the different people that person has been. You will want the freedom to express joy and sadness over conventional traditions. You won’t necessarily be Atheist, you may well be a person of Faith but you’d rather do away with the pomp and circumstance or prefer a Woodland over a Church.
Reviews for JESS MAY’S SPECIAL DAYS BRIGHTON
Total Reviews: 41
Average Rating: 5
reviews (41)
WOW – HOW TO SUM UP THE WONDERFUL JESS!?
Wow – How to sum up the wonderful Jess!?
Without hesitation Jess was the first (and most important) part of our special day that we wanted to secure. We went through the usual tick list and got to celebrant and in sync said “Let’s get Jess to do it”. In our minds it was a no brainer, having witnessed Jess’ work before and being in the presence of her undeniably charismatic and contagious personality.
From our first meeting to chat through our visions for our wedding ceremony it was clear that there was no one else fit to do the job quite like Jess. We are a creative, spiritual and ambitious couple and Jess aligned with us perfectly – it was a match made in heaven! Jess was open to our ideas and always allowed us to share and collaborate alongside her as we designed what was to be the most sacred part of our day.
We look back on our ceremony with so much fondness and presence – which is something you should definitely not overlook. It is the moment you promise your life to one another, surrounded by your loved ones – it shouldn’t be any less than what you truly dream of.
We can’t thank you enough Jess for the ceremony you created and held with us and for us. Not to mention keeping my wife calm as the rain hit and I’m locked away in hair and makeup, as well as the many many other things you did to make our day sacred , peaceful and full of love.
JESS IS AN INCREDIBLE CELEBRANT
Jess is an incredible celebrant, I was blown how she easily started talking to guests before the wedding ceremony. Getting to know everyone, agile with conversation putting people at ease. Then included them throughout the service making you feel involved and part of the couple’s journey and celebrating their love from the beginning of their journey.
Jess wrote an incredible ceremony, full of love and understanding about the Maria and Ed’s life together. We were quickly enthralled with their lives so far and how they had become the couple we knew and loved. Hearing new parts of their tale, perfect anecdotes and witty lines about how they came to be. I thought Jess had been there for all of it the way she talked about it.
I couldn’t love a ceremony more, such a great understanding of the couple and the audience, lovely energy and fantastic speaking voice. So much flare but didn’t take away from the couple. Really understood what was needed. Xxx
SHE WAS A EXTREMELY PROFESSION BUT ALSO JUST A LOVELY HUMAN! I would recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone.
Jess was the celebrant for my Mum’s Celebration of Life – she was so brilliant. She offered us such kindness and was so sensitive, and thoughtful. It felt really important to have a celebration of life that celebrated my mum and Jess understood entirely what we wanted. We felt “held” in such a difficult and sad time – Jess has a gift and I’m glad she gets to offer this to individuals, couples and families at whatever stage in their lives – whether the death of someone close or a happy wedding. She was curious and involved and I really felt that she cared about doing our mum justice. She was extremely professional but also just a lovely human! I would recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone.
