How it works
(the nuts ‘n’ bolts)
-
The Beginning
You have to choose the right celebrant for you, and there are lots of good’uns out there! I’d recommend taking your time and chatting to a few different folks.
If you think I might be a good fit, get in touch and let me know your ceremony date. We can arrange an informal introductory chat (this is free and absolutely without obligation) so you can be super sure we’ll have a good time working together.
Once you decide I’m the one-that-you-want, I’ll lock in your ceremony date and we’ll arrange our first official couples meeting. I ask for a 20% deposit at this stage.
-
The Middle
This is where we get into the heart of it all.
We’ll start off with a couples meeting - how and when we do this can be really flexible. The ideal for me is that we can meet in a place that has some meaning for you - your favourite local, the bar where you had your first date, the park you take your dog every Sunday. However, a video call will also get us started just swimmingly.
I’ll also be sending you a questionnaire to fill in (some together, some separately…). This is so you can really take your time to think about what you want to say to each other, and to your loved ones, in your ceremony.
I’ll then get going with drafting your script. We can do as many drafts as it takes to make sure you’re happy with how it looks and feels.
Once I've sent your first draft, I’ll ask for a further 40% of the payment.
-
The Grand Finale
Nearly time for the big day. The script is set. Readings sent to those that need them. Ritual moments agreed.
I will encourage you to have a rehearsal in the run-up up to the ceremony. This can be very low-key and is just a great opportunity to ensure that you, and anyone else involved in the ceremony, can be as relaxed as possible on the day itself.
On the day of your wedding, I’ll arrive at least one hour ahead of the ceremony start time and be on hand to support where I can. I’ll make sure anyone involved in the ceremony gets a chance to ask me any questions and I’ll be there to soothe any nervous parties (yourselves included!).
Then, all that’s left to do is to marry you!
In the month after your wedding I will send you a beautiful presentation copy of your script, so you’ll always have a keepsake of the moment this new chapter of your lives together started.
Other important info…
-
My fee for 2024 is £850. For 2025, £950.
This is paid in three chunks: 20% at booking, 40% halfway between booking and ceremony, 40% a month ahead of your ceremony.
The only additional costs to this could be travel expenses outside my usual haunts (see section below), and any significant purchases required for the ceremony itself, but this would always be agreed with you in advance.
Otherwise the above fee includes the whole process from our initial ‘getting to know you’ meeting to declaring you wedded humans! I work flexibly and appreciate that every couple will have different timelines and availability throughout the process, so there’s no maximum number of times we can catch up during our time together. We’ll just take it as it comes!
-
VERY fun fact - did you know you can have a humanist ceremony anywhere? Yep. ANYWHERE. Woodland, clifftop, theatre, pizzeria…you can commit yourselves to each other wherever feels right.
I’ve recently moved back to my beautiful hometown of Norwich, so ceremonies in Norfolk and Suffolk are included in my fee.
I’d be delighted to travel further afield for ceremonies (including outside the UK). This year I've had ceremonies in London, Wales, Devon - the chance to see more of the world is a massive plus!
Like lots of you, I want to be as kind to the planet as possible so will take public transport wherever possible, and offset my emissions if working abroad.
-
As things currently stand, humanist wedding ceremonies are not legal in England and Wales, but this is on track to change in the very near future.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t choose a humanist ceremony right now.
It just means that, to be ‘legally wed’, you’ll have a civil ceremony separately from your humanist one.
Local registry offices provide statutory legal registrations for marriages relatively cheaply (I can help you source this) and this can be done before, after, or even on the same day as your humanist ceremony.