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Heart-Centred Ceremonies
reviews (9) - leave a review
Available for
Countries Covered
I travel Nationally & Internationally
Specialisms
Bespoke Weddings & Handfastings, Funerals - traditional and alternative, Green Burials & Ashes Burial/Scattering, Tribute Writing
Hi, I'm Nell
I offer heart-centred ceremonies for life’s transitions. My passion is leading inclusive ceremonies which support people to mark their most important milestones and getting it right for the couples and families I support.
I hold space for people through bereavements and conduct bespoke funerals (traditional and holistic for people & pets), unions (Celtic Handfasting & renewal of vows), identity rites (naming & gender affirmation), uncoupling & tie cutting, fire & water ceremonies, land & house blessings.
I’m privileged to be able to listen to peoples’ life stories and create ceremonies to honour them. I enjoy delivering outdoor celebrations and supporting people to find environmentally friendly and affordable options.
IPHM certificate in Sacred Celebrancy awarded by the Sacred Celebrant’s Academy, Glastonbury.
NOCN Level 3 in Funeral Celebrancy awarded by Civil Ceremonies.
Please contact me for a chat – I always respond to enquiries so please check your junk mail for my reply.
What's my ceremony style?
An experienced ceremonialist, I offer a range of ceremonies and styles to meet my client’s preferences. I create bespoke ceremonies ranging from formal and traditional funerals to the Passing Over Ceremony – a unique process enabling people to express their thoughts and feelings about their loved one.
As an Elemental Celebrant, I am one of the fortunate few graduates ordained on the Isle of Avalon. I conduct authentic Celtic Handfastings with the hoop and wand and sacred rites connected to the elements.
My super organisation means that I take care of the details to ensure proceedings are smooth running. A lesser known aspect of my service is that I work energetically behind the scenes giving my clients maximum support through emotional experiences.
Why choose Nell?
I hold dual roles as a Civil Funeral Celebrant and Elemental Celebrant, conducting funeral services and rites of passage. My passion is leading ceremonies which support people from all backgrounds through life’s transitions. I’m interested in what’s important to you and tailor my delivery accordingly. Everything I create is personalised, driven by the wishes, beliefs and values of the person or people at the heart of the ceremony.
I serve Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and travel further afield when asked – officiating ceremonies at barrows and landmarks in our beautiful British countryside. I’m privileged to witness peoples’ life stories and to honour them by creating personalised ceremonies from the heart.
What do I offer?
Weddings
I enjoy officiating all forms of wedding ceremony and a favourite is the Celtic Handfasting. These ancient ceremonies are becoming more popular as people seek fun, meaningful and more personalised rites and the Handfasting is a beautiful way of celebrating outdoors. I’m one of the fortunate few to have trained with the Sacred Celebrants Academy on the Isle of Avalon.
I practise the advanced ‘Hoop and Wand’ ritual but simple cords or ribbons binding the hands are an option. I conduct unscripted, being fully present in the moment, and support the couple and their contributors to prepare their vows and readings in advance. There are a number of additional rituals which offer a quieter alternative to Hen and Stag dos.
As with all my services, I also offer fully scripted weddings, renewal of vows and other ceremonies written around the couple’s story which can include significant poems, lyrics and other readings which are personal to them.
Some options for preparatory rituals and additions to compliment your Big Day:
Hoop & Wand: taking the ceremony further than simply binding the hands – the couple spend time finding and dressing their hoop and wand during the time preceding their ceremony. For same-sex couples, two hoops, two wands, or an infinity symbol or heart are alternative options. Willow is sustainably grown and harvested.
Also offered:
Hoop Dressing Ritual
Incense Blending Ceremony
Jumping the Broom
Cake and Mead Revelling
Land and Threshold Blessing
Prices From
800
Why choose Nell for your wedding?
I have officiated weddings as a Ceremonies Officer (Deputy Superintendent Registrar) for the Registration Service. With a background in comedy acting I can help my clients feel at ease and improvise in those unexpected moments.
Do contact me for a chat and please check your junk mail in case my reply goes there!
Naming Ceremonies
As an Elemental Celebrant I hold space for life’s transitions. I work with my clients to create bespoke ceremonies which can have a theme or spiritual element. My background as a Deputy Superintendent Registrar means that I can conduct baby and child naming ceremonies with a civil ceremony style format (non-legal) if preferred.
Our name holds power and is an outer expression of ourselves. Ceremony can have a profound effect on our self-esteem as we claim, or reclaim, our true self. Identity ceremonies can be for any of these reasons, and more:
Baby Naming – blessing the new life and a formal welcome into the family and community
Child Naming – creating a sense of belonging for adoption and other reasons
Adult Naming – marking transitions such as name change by deed poll, spiritual identity, reclaiming an ancestral name and birth right or recovery from abuse
Gender Affirming & Naming – celebrating and being honoured in your true identity and hearing your name spoken aloud
Celebration of Self – our relationships start with self-Love and there is power in committing to oneself
Prices From
350
Why choose Nell for your naming ceremony?
Your ceremony is as unique as you are. You can write vows or a dedication to yourself which can be a standalone Celebration of Self or part of your naming ceremony. I will support you in a one-to-one or group process designed for your individual needs and intentions.
Renewal of Vows
Couples choose to renew their vows for various reasons which are personal to them. A renewal of vows ceremony can be a private or public celebration for a couple to reaffirm their commitment to one another.
I work with my clients creating bespoke ceremonies to suit their unique personalities and relationship. As an Elemental Celebrant I was initiated to conduct the authentic Celtic Handfasting. This has a more bohemian or nature-based feel and can be adapted for vow renewal or you may prefer something more formal and traditional.
Prices From
500
Why choose Nell for your renewal of vows?
I create beautiful ceremonies based in nature. Couples can be re-inspired in their connection to each other and the natural world. Having worked for the Registration Service I also offer simple ceremonies which can be as formal or informal as you prefer.
Funerals
As an Independent Funeral Celebrant I work with my clients to create a personalised ceremony, driven by the wishes, beliefs and values of the deceased person and their family.
Every funeral service is original and uses your words to meet your specific wishes. This may include religious content or not. Poetry, readings and music can reflect the person who is being remembered and symbolic actions can involve family and friends, or you may prefer a simple ceremony. The funeral will capture the essence of the person and tell the story of the unique life that has been lived.
I work with Funeral Directors and can also be contacted directly, offering:
Funerals
Child & baby funerals (no fee)
Green burials
Burial and scattering of ashes
Memorial services / Life Celebrations
Passing Over Ceremonies (group & 1-2-1)
Pet commemorations
Tribute writing
Prices From
250
Why choose Nell for your funeral?
I’m passionate about my vocation as a funeral celebrant. I get to know my clients and meet their individual needs; some appreciate emotional support while others prefer their celebrant to have a low profile. I have adopted the Funeral Celebrant Accord, which defines the attributes and skills required of an excellent funeral celebrant. In my role I’m privileged to meet people from a broad range of backgrounds and offer an equally broad range of ceremonies from traditional civil funerals to the more alternative and contemporary. This could be anything from a rock singalong to weaving in a theme meaningful to the individual or a service comprising mostly music.
Please contact me for an informal chat and refer to my facebook page for the many kind client reviews. facebook.com/NellBrookerFuneralCelebrant
Reviews for Heart-Centred Ceremonies
Total Reviews: 9
Average Rating: 5
reviews (9)
The Final Furlong
We can’t thank you enough or find the words of gratitude for everything you have done for Paul, myself and our family. We thank you for the tender, heartfelt and beautiful words during the renewal of our marriage vows in May and for the outstanding tribute at my husband’s funeral just a few weeks later. Throughout this difficult time your compassion, support and kind words have meant more than you will ever know. We also know that despite our loss, we have certainly gained a friend in you.
From the family of Paul Lenney
Shirley, Maria, Grace and Vincent
Our Special Day
Thank you for everything Nell… you have a beautiful soul. We can’t thank you enough for making our day so special. Much love from the Lenneys xxx
Perfect service
Thank you for conducting my mum’s funeral service so perfectly yesterday. You had a lovely calming voice and manner about you. Thank you for your time and hard work, you are brilliant at your job and I would personally recommend you to anyone.
