There’s something rather lovely about seeing your name in the local newspaper, especially when it’s talking about something you genuinely love doing.
Today I was delighted to see my work featured in the local press, giving me the opportunity to talk about life as a St Helens celebrant, the ceremonies I create and why I feel so passionately about doing things differently.
A little bit of recognition for a job I love
When I became a celebrant, I knew I wanted to create ceremonies that felt completely different from the traditional, one size fits all approach.
For me, being a St Helens celebrant isn’t about standing at the front and simply reading a script. It’s about getting to know the people at the heart of the ceremony and understanding what makes their story, their relationship or their family unique.
That might mean creating a wedding ceremony filled with humour and personality, incorporating a handfasting or cocktail ritual, helping a couple write meaningful vows or creating a deeply personal celebration of life.
Every ceremony is different because every person is different.
Celebrating people and their stories
One of the things I love most about being a St Helens celebrant is the variety.
One week might involve talking to a couple about their first date, the things that make them laugh and all the little details that make their relationship theirs. Another might involve sitting with a family and listening to stories about someone they have lost, before turning those memories into a meaningful celebration of their life. Both are incredibly personal.
And although weddings and funerals might seem like very different types of ceremony, they have something important in common, they are about people.
It’s my job to make sure those people and their stories are at the heart of the ceremony.
Why local recognition means so much
Running a small business can sometimes feel like you’re working away quietly behind the scenes. There are consultations, emails, script writing, meetings, rehearsals and all the preparation that happens long before anyone sees you standing at the front of a ceremony.
So being recognised locally is particularly special.
I’m incredibly proud to be a St Helens celebrant and to work with couples and families across St Helens, Warrington, Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and North Wales.
Being featured in the local press is a lovely reminder that the work being done behind the scenes really does matter.
Read the full article
If you’d like to read the newspaper feature that inspired this post, you can find the full article here:
I’m so grateful to the journalist, Tabitha Wilson at the St Helens Star for taking the time to speak to me and for shining a little light on celebrancy and the work that goes into creating meaningful ceremonies.
Looking for a celebrant?
If you’re planning a wedding, vow renewal, naming ceremony or celebration of life and want something personal, relaxed and completely tailored to you, I’d love to hear from you.
As a St Helens celebrant, I create bespoke ceremonies that reflect the people they’re celebrating. No templates or cookiecutter scripts and no expectation that you have to follow traditions simply because that’s how things have always been done.
Just your story, your people and a ceremony that feels gloriously you.
Click here to discuss your celebration.