Weddings and Renewals
"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person". - Mignon McLaughlin
Funerals and Celebrations of Life
"Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I'll remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all" - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Naming Ceremonies
"The most precious jewels you will ever have around your neck, are the arms of your children" - Gayle Wray
Themed Ceremonies
"The noblest art is making people happy" - P.T Barnum
"Uh-Huh" - Elvis Presley
Weddings and Renewals from £850
Everyone loves wedding. Make a special day all the more special with a ceremony lovingly crafted and based solely around you and your story! Celebrant led ceremonies are 100% bespoke. We will have an initial meeting and then in the lead up to the big day, there will be periodic get together to ensure we are still all on the same page and nothing has been missed or left to chance.
Marriage is an institution steeped in history and tradition, but society is finally waking up to the fact that any couple is far more than just a sum of its parts. It is two unique people, becoming one, wonderfully unique couple. You are not an 'off the peg' couple, so why settle for an 'off the peg' wedding?
Live musical tributes are very much optional, but can add an extra dash of glitz to the day and of course, the choice of music is entirely up to you! See my sample playlists below, but any special requests or dedications are warmly welcomed.
*Live instrumentalists can be booked in addition to live vocals, but additional charges will apply.
Funerals and Celebrations of Life from £250
Each and every life lived is a new and unheard story just waiting to be told. Life is never linear, it has it's share of thrills and spills, love and laughter, triumphs and tragedies. Celebrant led funerals are non-religious, but are still devised and delivered with the just the right balance of humour, solemnity and celebration. They are respectful and inclusive and will allow everyone in attendance to feel part of the story, whatever their own personal beliefs. Live music nourishes the feelings of love and belonging in a way that words alone seldom can. Please see the playlist suggestions below, but personal dedications are always warmly welcomed.
*Live instrumentalists can be incorporated into the ceremony, but will be subject to an additional fee.
Naming Ceremonies from £250
The arrival of a new baby is a time of heart bursting pride, an awesome sense of awakening and responsibility and of course some sleepless nights along the way. Why keep it all to yourself? As with all humanist ceremonies, celebrant led namings are non-religious affairs, but fully inclusive, engaging and welcoming and a joyous way to introduce your beautiful bundle of joy to the big wide world. No child will ever suffer from too much love!
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Themed and Character Ceremonies
from £950
Although any ceremony has it's elements of solemnity, that doesn't mean that it can't be fun with dabs of frivolity. Have you ever thought of having your ceremony conducted by a character celebrant? Perhaps even getting yourself and the guests costumed up?
As long as it falls within the bounds of good taste, then the limit is your imagination, but there are some examples of themed ceremonies below.
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Elvis - The Vegas Years
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The Greatest Showman
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Harry Potter
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DC or Marvel Comics
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Only Fools and Horses or Fawlty Towers
My Story
When I am entrusted with writing and performing ceremonies for those most treasured of moments, it is both an honour and a privilege. Each and every life story is unique and my uplifting and bespoke ceremonies aim to reflect that.
A life in the performing arts has allowed me to develop story telling skills that help capture the essence of what makes a couple who they are, or what made a loved as loved as they were. A specially scripted ceremony, delivered with feeling can resonate with the guests in a way that a series of generic platitudes simply can't. My goal is to leave all guests with warm feelings, treasured memories and glad hearts.
Ceremonies can be crafted with or without live musical tributes, but what is non-negotiable is that every ceremony will be endowed with just the right levels of humour, solemnity, heart and soul. I'm based in Brentwood, Essex but can all cover South East counties and London. Any questions, please just give me a shout. Thanks
All my ceremonies are inclusive and welcoming and can be enjoyed and appreciated by anyone regardless of their own personal beliefs. No one will feel like they don't belong and everyone can get involved without fear of 'getting it wrong' or compromising their own beliefs. My ceremonies are secular by default, but I can incorporate faith based readings, songs or symbolism into the ceremonies if you so wish. Indeed a celebrant led ceremony is ideal for couples from different faiths or cultures as we can bring the two together in harmony.
Celebrancy is not an accredited or regulated industry, but I believe in doing it right and delivering a service that is the best it can be. Therefore I enrolled with the UK Celebrancy and Public Speaking Academy (UKCAPSA) and completed a year long diploma in Wedding and Funeral Celebrancy. Rest assured, you are in good hands.
"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou
My Ethos
Testimonials
Hi Neil. We had to write to thank you for the incredible job you did at our wedding. You created the perfect atmosphere, our guests loved you and so did we!
The meetings we had before our wedding made us feel as though we were already friends. You were emotive (as well as being hilarious) and it felt like you took everyone on our journey with us. You kept everyone calm and organised and honestly made our day so special. (Even more special). Thanks so much
Aaron and Kayleigh - Colchester
Thanks again for everything you did for Kerry's Dad's send off the other week. He was a funny old so and so. He had a heart of gold, but was a right old grump at times. We reckon you got him just about bang on! Kerry was really pleased and says sorry that she couldn't say cheerio to you at the end, but obviously with all the family there, there was a lot going on. Really appreciate it. Lovely send off.
Matt - Tring
Wistful & Reflective Bouncy & Joyful Hopelessly Romantic Weird & Wonderful
The Wind Beneath my Wings Build me up Buttercup Fly me to the Moon Ain't no Pleasin' You
That's Life Three Little Birds Moon River Dirty Old Town
The Answer to Everything Shut up and Dance Perfect I've Got a Brand New Combine Harvester
Dance with my Father Never Too Much My Girl (Honesty, I was asked to sing this once!!)
Bring Him Home Marry You Hero The Birdy Song (yep, this one too!!!)
Musical Tributes (Suggestions only. Requests welcomed)
Original Collaborative Poetry
There are some phenomenal poets out there, who somehow seem to put into words, exactly what we are thinking. But what if we can't find that 'just right' piece? I would never claim to be the new Shakespeare, but together we can create the right rhyme to match the occasion. See below an abridged and anonymised example of a previous collaboration.
Loved Most Dearly
No man is an island
So we're led to believe
But no safer harbour, I can ever conceive
Than my father, protector
My one true first love
The firmest hand in the softest glove
You remember the dashing young man
Who sets hearts a flutter
Or the ageing curmudgeon
With irascible mutter
But above all the memories that linger most clearly
Are those of the man and soul
We loved most dearly