Posts Tagged ‘Celebrant’
Why You Should Celebrate The Birth of Your Baby
I’m sure you’ll agree there are so many reasons why you should celebrate the birth of your baby! Celebrating the birth varies in lots of wonderful ways around the world from Baby showers, Christenings, Naming Ceremonies, Circumcision, Ear piercings to Family shrines and many, many more. There are lots of ways you can do it and the traditions differ from culture to culture which is what makes it so exciting! It’s completely up to you how you decide to celebrate the birth of your baby. You’ve just brought new life into the world which is awesome and having a day where you family and friends can celebrate the birth of your baby is fantastic. However you decide to celebrate, it…
Read MoreCelebrants reveal their favourite Naming Ceremony moments – take 3!
Naming Ceremonies are a wonderful reason to celebrate, and our Celebrant’s love being asked to take part! London based Celebrant Holly Smith was delighted when we asked her to part and shares her experiences here. Tell us a bit about your favourite Naming Ceremony and why it was your top choice. My favourite ceremony took place in a beautiful family garden underneath blossoming trees. Guests sang Love Is In the Air as they passed Jago around for cuddles and kisses – he loved the attention! Afterwards guests toasted him with bottles of champagne kept back from Mum and Dad’s wedding when kids were merely an idea! Have you had any unusual requests? The beauty of working with a Celebrant is our…
Read MoreWhat is unique about celebrant led weddings?
One Australian born officiant asks those all important questions to discover the unique elements of a celebrant led ceremony. All celebrants are passionate about their work and about creating the perfect ceremony. Talking personally here, I’m hardworking, I care, and I love to tell stories. Does that make me unique…nope! I can be creative, inspiring, flexible…does that make me unique? Not really. What makes the couple unique? What makes you unique? Now that’s the question I like to ask. I feel my skill is in finding out what makes you unique and then tailoring your ceremony around your uniqueness. Quirky, boho, simple, extravagant… working together we can create a beautiful and meaningful ceremony. Your ceremony could be for a few…
Read MoreHow To Become a Celebrant
Written in Partnership with The Academy of Modern Celebrancy – The industry-leading provider of Celebrant Training. You can read their full guide on becoming a Celebrant here. Jennifer Claire, Founder of The Celebrant Directory and the newly launched Academy of Modern Celebrancy shares her tips on how to become a Celebrant. In order to become a Celebrant, you will need to train as one. Firstly you will need to find a training provider that fits in with your style of learning (online or residential). You need to decide if you want to train as a Funeral Celebrant or Wedding Celebrant or both. Training to become a celebrant is one of the most exciting decisions you can make. You get to…
Read MoreCelebrants reveal their favourite Naming Ceremony moments
We asked some top Celebrant’s to tell us all about their thoughts on Naming ceremonies. They just LOVE them and have revealed some of their favourite (and exciting!) moments from ceremonies they’ve had the pleasure of officiating… First up, Yorkshire based Celebrant Deborah Page from True to You Celebrancy. Tell us a bit about your favourite Naming ceremony and why it was your top choice. My favourite ceremony has to be the one held for a couple who were quite nervous about having a naming ceremony. Neither parent identified with a religion. We had a few meetings so that they had the opportunity to ask questions. I spent a lot of time talking them through what a celebrant could do, getting the right balance of gravitas to respect the…
Read MoreLyla’s Naming Ceremony: Inspiration For Your Own Special Day
All you need is love and a gazebo… What a Perfect Place for a Naming Ceremony: an Octopus’s Garden, in the shade. Ok, so not really an octopus’s garden, but we did play the famous Beatles song at the end of the ceremony – because it is (currently) Lyla’s favourite song. Over the past couple of years, there appears to be a trend towards downsizing weddings to smaller numbers of guests – but upsizing on personalisation and guest participation. This year, I have also seen a similar movement in the naming ceremony. And I absolutely love it! I love it because people are choosing what they want and, as their Celebrant, I am able to incorporate their ideas and design…
Read MoreWhat does a Funeral Celebrant do?
So what exactly does a Funeral Celebrant do? One Independent Celebrant gives a brief overview of what a Funeral Celebrant does and why they are such a valuable asset for families when facing what is undoubtedly the most difficult challenge anyone has to undertake; arrange a funeral. How do Families and Funeral Celebrants Connect? A lot of Celebrants will be introduced to families by the Funeral Director. What is not so well known however, is families do not have to take the person recommended to them by the Funeral Director, they can choose whoever they feel will be most sympathetic to their wishes. At the end of the day; when a couple are planning their wedding, they will decide who…
Read MoreReal Ceremony Inspiration: Malie’s Humanist Naming Ceremony
Real Naming Ceremony Humanist Naming Ceremony for Malie Celebrant: Natasha Gray, The Humanist Ceremony Venue: In the garden at home in Guernsey A celebrant led humanist naming ceremony can be held almost anywhere at anytime. They are a unique and personalised, meaningful and memorable non-religious way of celebrating a rite of passage. Rituals, traditions, and celebrations of these rites of passage in our lives have been around since the days when there was no religion. Humanists believe that it is possible to live a good life without religion and therefore we also believe in celebrating life events in a meaningful and loving way. Although I’m mainly a Wedding Celebrant, I also do Naming Ceremonies and nothing gives me greater pleasure than…
Read MoreCelebrants reveal their favourite Naming Ceremony moments-Take 4!
This is the last in our series with Celebrants telling us all about Naming Ceremonies – but definitely not least! Hilary Channing is a Wedding and Family Celebrant who particularly specialises in outdoor ceremonies. She loves conducting Naming Ceremonies and here she tells us a bit about why. Tell us a bit about your favorite Naming Ceremony and why it was your top choice. My favorite Naming Ceremony was for a little boy called Benjamin. I chose this one because when I met Becky, his mum, we clicked immediately and over a cup of tea and a biscuit we chatted easily about what was important for them as a family and the values they held for bringing him up. She…
Read MoreCelebrants reveal their favourite Naming Ceremony moments-Take 2!
We have been asking our amazing Celebrants to tell us all about their experiences with Naming Ceremonies. They have been revealing their best moments and thoughts on why you should consider having a Naming Ceremony yourself…. This time, New Zealand based Timaru Celebrant Sarah McCambridge. Tell us a bit about your favourite Naming Ceremony and why it was your top choice. I never have a favourite ceremony as people touch you in different ways every time. That’s what makes every single ceremony unique and special. Older children are a bit more of a challenge and you need to find fun ways so that they too have a great day. One ceremony that sticks out the most was twin girls. One had…
Read MoreColourful Outdoor Wedding At Dairyhouse Farm Barn In Somerset
This beautiful outdoor wedding set at Dairyhouse Farm Barn Weddings is full of vibrant colours and striking sunsets. Full of ethical details it has a lot to offer when it comes to planning your Celebrant led festival feel wedding day. We have the suppliers behind it to tell us all about the day itself. Including a Q&A with our very own Claire Haynes of Claire The Celebrant and all the inspiration details from Emma of Beautiful Light Photography. The Inspiration “Allowing couples in England & Wales to be able to have outdoor wedding ceremonies was a glimmer of positive change amidst unprecedented times in the wedding industry, opening the door to allow alternative, personal, spontaneous & budget-friendly outdoor wedding celebrations…
Read MoreCelebrate the Celebrant! An interview with Maxine Ward
The Celebrant Directory has grown to be a hub for those seeking their ideal celebrant, ceremony inspiration, and uniquely personalised celebrations. With a thriving community for over 500 celebrants from across the globe, we want to celebrate that and share with you, the wonderful work our celebrants do! That is why we couldn’t be more delighted introduce Maxine, who has built the highly regarded Maxine Ward Celebrant; the Wiltshire-based Celebrancy business that provides bespoke ceremonies in London, the Cotswolds, the West Country and overseas. We had the pleasure of interviewing Maxine, who’s passion for her work is as infectious as her smile! Here, we share that interview, with you… What type of ceremonies do you offer? All Ceremonies What is…
Read MoreTop 10 Naming Ceremony Reading Ideas
With a dizzying array of Naming Ceremony reading suggestions on the internet, this task can become overwhelming. Before you trawl through websites, think about what you are trying to achieve? A Celebrant-Led Naming Ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate the birth of your child, acknowledge people that will play an important role in their life, and bestow good wishes upon them for their future. Oh, and eat a lot of cake. That is essential. Choose readings that best represent you as a family… Don’t be tempted into selecting readings you think you should choose (or that you think Great-Granny would like to hear). The readings should reflect your values, your ethos and your beliefs – whatever they may be. If…
Read MoreThe 5 Best Naming Ceremony Blogs
A naming ceremony is an alternative to a christening, baptism or other religious ceremonies to welcome your baby into the world. Have you recently welcomed a new baby into the world? Have you got an older child who feels they missed out on a ceremony or would even like to change their name? Have you adopted a child or do you have stepchildren and want a ceremony to welcome them into your family? The Celebrant Directory has compiled the top five naming ceremony blogs, written by some of the most experienced Celebrants around to give you all the advice you will ever need! The Celebrant Directory Guide to Naming Ceremonies Where else would we start but in The Celebrant Directory’s…
Read MoreThe Celebrant and their Role in your Celebration
Times and attitudes to our celebrations are going through mass change around the world. Throughout this change the Celebrant was founded in Australia thanks to Lionel Murphy, in July 1973 when he appointed the first civil marriage Celebrant. The Celebrancy business has grown in strength since helping people decide on their wishes with their vows be they religious or non-religious, their script, music they want to add, readings, and symbolism. They can also decide their style, Celebrant, venue, day and time. So many options we never had in the past! People now have many more choices from the days when folk were married in a church or the local registry office. The wedding industry has gained vastly from this, especially…
Read MoreRegistrar or Celebrant? You have a choice!
“Does a Registrar have to officiate our ceremony at a UK licensed venue?” One UK Celebrant answers the questions asked by many couples when deciding on their wedding officiant, including “Does a Registrar have to officiate our ceremony at a UK licensed venue?” Great question to start with, and one I am regularly asked and the answer is No! … You have a choice! If you are engaged and are now embarking on finding your perfect wedding venue congratulations! It is wonderful that you are exploring the possibilities available to you. Not only do you choose your venue, flowers and music but you also have a say in who conducts the heart of your day, your ceremony. Bear in…
Read MoreKeeping love local: A countryside wedding styled shoot
If you’re looking for an English Country Garden themed wedding and venue, then this is the blog for you! When the moodboard hit my inbox I was in love with the concept and design that The Celebrant Directory member Juliette Williams put together with some amazing local suppliers, in East Devon. Here, Juliette shares “behind the scenes” at this incredible styled shoot paired with the photographs of the results. Paired with sunshine and beautiful blooms, the images are stunning. If you’re looking for a relaxed celebrant-led wedding in Devon, read on! The venue “When a new wedding venue contacts you to see if you would like to be a recommended supplier, as a Celebrant it is a dream come true.…
Read MoreChoosing a Wedding Celebrant
Choosing the perfect Wedding Celebrant is an important task. Just picture this scenario, you’re walking down the aisle, waiting for your partner to spot you. They turn and see you and you take their breath away. After weeks, months or even years of planning, you are finally taking your vows in front of your loved ones on probably the most important day in your lives. The person standing together with you in front of all your guests, welcoming them and officiating your ceremony is one of the most significant people at your wedding. They are the one asking you to commit your lives together and you now have the opportunity to find the perfect Celebrant for you as a couple…
Read MoreHow do Celebrants write Wedding ceremonies?
Couples always tell me they want their guests to feel joyful, captivated, to feel the love, experience the passion in their relationship, and generally have a heartfelt experience from their wedding. Ceremonies that are personal to a couple’s story are written to capture the couple in a way where the whole idea of wedding ceremonies seems to have been invented solely with them in mind. Every Celebrant has a different approach and style of writing. Crafting a bespoke ceremony is largely influenced by the Celebrants personality, capacity for creative and eloquent story telling, and an ability to write from the heart. That is precisely what sets Celebrant-Led Ceremonies apart from what we have known as the traditional flow and content…
Read More5 Reasons to renew your vows
Renewing your vows is a beautiful way to show how much love you and your partner have for one another. Each relationship is unique in their own magical and wonderful ways and therefore when you make that decision to express your love to each other again, those renewals will hold different meanings to each couple. Here are just 5 reasons why couples choose to renew their vows… 1. Landmark Anniversary The marking of an anniversary! You’ve made it to 5 years? 10? 20? Making a marriage work comes with compromises, love, madness, individual challenges and a whole lot more. You’ve stayed together for all that time and wish to celebrate with your friends and family the journey you’ve gone through…
Read MoreUnique Wedding venue ideas to suit you!
Weddings are one of the most special and memorable days of your life, so there is no need to stick to the standard venues – let your imagination run wild! Find yourself a venue that really means something to you as a couple, and a Celebrant can hold your perfect ceremony wherever you dream of! Here are our top 10 ideas to give you some inspiration: Farm Farms have some fantastic building which can decorated in your own way, and have plenty of space to have areas for the different parts of your ceremony including the reception. Some farms already cater for events and will have some options for you, or you can go really rustic and ask a working…
Read MoreWhat Do We Call the Godparents at a Naming Ceremony?
A Naming Ceremony is a wonderful way to bring your loved ones together, show off your new bundle of joy and make promises for your future together. They are also the perfect opportunity to appoint and name your child’s godparents. Unlike a Christening, at a Naming Ceremony there are no restrictions and no prerequisites that your godparents need to fulfil (such as showing that they have been christened). That means you can choose anyone who holds a meaningful place in both yours and your child’s life, you can involve them as much or as little as you wish in the ceremony and you can get creative with their ‘official’ title. What do we call godparents at a naming ceremony? There…
Read MoreProposing on Valentine’s Day? Read this!
Love it or loathe it, there’s no escaping the fact that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Whilst the exact origins of this day of celebration are hard to pinpoint, it’s likely that it stems from a rather dark and bloody incident that took place in ancient Rome around the 3rd Century AD. Other sources suggest its roots lay elsewhere. The story of this day’s patron saint is shrouded in mystery, but what is almost certainly true is that St. Valentine’s Day contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman traditions. Money, money, money… Whenever, and however, it came about, its popularity is phenomenal. ABC News reported an expected spend, in 2017, of 8.2 billion. That’s a lot of…
Read More