Frequently asked questions

I create and conduct ceremonies that are personal to you. I’ll get to know your story, the people you love and the things that matter to you, then turn all of that into a ceremony that feels genuinely yours. Think of me as your ceremony storyteller, creative partner and calm person in the background making sure everything comes together on the day.

This is a common question! A registrar carries out the legal part of a marriage. Their ceremony follows certain legal requirements and has to take place at an approved location. A celebrant-led ceremony is different. It's about creating something personal, meaningful and completely tailored to you. You can choose the words, music, readings, rituals, people involved and where you'd like it to happen.If you're having a celebrant-led wedding, you'll still need to complete the legal formalities separately with a registrar, usually at a registry office, which can be done a few days before or whenever suits you. The great thing is that once the legal bit is taken care of, your main celebration can be your way, in your place, with your people.

I'm based in the lovely town of Midhurst in the heart of the South Downs National Park in West Sussex. I grew up here, and returned here 2 years ago. After many years of living and working in London, it is lovely to be back in the countryside!There are many beautiful venues near me which are perfect for country weddings, and I'm happy to recommend some. I'm also happy to travel to wherever you have found for your ceremomy. I beleive it's so important to find the right celebrant for you, so if you think I'm a good fit, then I'm happy to travel for your day. My wedding and vow renewal packages include 25 miles travel from Midhurst, and I will charge mileage for any distance beyond that. Planning a destination wedding? I'd love to be involved! Just get in touch and we can chat more.

Not at all. In fact, I rather like doing things differently!You don't have to follow any set formula or tradition. Maybe you want a beautiful ceremony in the South Downs, something relaxed and informal, a meaningful ritual, a surprise for your guests - or something nobody's thought of before. If you've got an idea, let's talk about it. There's usually a way to make it work.I recently got married in our tiny village church and we were very blessed that our Vicar was happy for us to include as many creative elements as we liked including involving family, friends (and pets!) in the service, as long as he performed the legal part of the ceremony.  Sadly not every church setting has this flexibility, which is why some people instead choose to have a celebrant to lead their ceremony.

Absolutely. I'm genuinely inclusive and happy to work with all beliefs - whether you have a strong faith, a spiritual tradition, a mixture of beliefs or no faith at all. As a Christian, I’m very comfortable including prayers, blessings and religious readings. Unlike a humanist celebrant, who will usually focus on a non-religious, human-centred ceremony, I’m equally comfortable exploring spiritual and faith-based elements where these are important to you. I also love finding thoughtful and respectful ways to bring different beliefs, cultures and traditions together, creating a ceremony that feels meaningful and authentic to you.

Of course! They might do a reading, tell a story, perform some music, take part in a special ritual or present the rings. There are plenty of ways to involve the people who matter most. Think creatively, it's your day.I'm a real animal lover, so I also love thinking of ways in which your pets can be involved. I got married earlier this year and it was far from traditional. Our dog carried the rings around his neck, and we even brought our parrot along who watched the whole ceremony from on top of the baptismal font (in his cage I must add!)

Definitely! Your vows should sound like you—not as though they’ve been lifted from a ceremony book.If you know exactly what you want to say, that’s fantastic. But if the thought of writing your own vows fills you with dread, don’t worry—I’ll offer plenty of help, guidance and ideas to make the process easier.

Pretty much wherever works for you and your plans.A wedding venue, garden, woodland, field, favourite family spot or somewhere overlooking the South Downs - I'm very happy to think outside the traditional venue. If you've got an unusual idea, tell me. I love a bit of adventure!

It starts with a conversation.  Get in touch using my contact form, email me or send me a message via whatsapp. If you're still keen then we'll arrange a short, free non-obligation meeting either face-to-face or online. It's a chance for us to get to know each other, talk about your plans and ideas, and see if I'm the right celebrant for you. No pressure, no obligation — just a conversation.After that, if you'd like me to be your celebrant, I'll send over everything you need to confirm your booking. Your date is secured with a 50% deposit, with the remaining balance due closer to your ceremony. I'll then write your ceremony from scratch and work with you to shape it until it feels just right.

There's no stopwatch. The good thing about a celebrant ceremony is that you don't have the usual time restrictions. Most wedding ceremonies are around 20–40 minutes, depending on what you'd like to include. You may want to incorperate the ceremony within the reception/party to be different, and this is something I'd be happy to explore with you. The important thing is that it feels natural and gives your special moments the time they deserve.

I can conduct traditional funerals, celebrations of life, in-home memorials, tree-planting ceremonies, and ceremonies for the interment or scattering of ashes - all personalised to reflect and honour the life being remembered.I also work closely with funeral directors to deliver traditional funeral ceremonies at a crematorium, cemetery or natural burial ground. Whether you prefer a more conventional service or something less formal, I will work with you to create a ceremony that feels right for you and your family.Funerals are becoming more creative, with families thinking differently about how they want to say goodbye. With the rise of direct cremations, some people choose to hold a separate celebration of life to honour and remember the person they have lost. This doesn’t have to take place in a traditional funeral setting—it could be held in a local barn, pub, community venue, garden or any other location that feels meaningful and suited to the person being remembered.I’m especially keen to explore these alternatives with families, as they can create a deeply personal and special way to celebrate someone’s life.

No I'm not, but I have been actively involved in Church all my life including being part of the leadership team, preaching and leading services. I recently got married in our tiny village church and we were very blessed that our Vicar was happy for us to include as many creative elements as we liked including involving family, friends (and pets!) in the service, as long as he performed the legal part of the ceremony.  Sadly not every church setting has this flexibility, which is why some people instead choose to have a celebrant to lead their ceremony.

While current law in England and Wales does not yet allow independent celebrants to conduct legally binding weddings, many couples opt for a straightforward "two-part" approach. They complete the legal registration at a local registry office, which then frees us to design and conduct a deeply personal, bespoke ceremony without any legal or location restrictions.I am very excited about the ongoing government consultations regarding wedding law reform. The proposed shift away from restrictive, building-based regulations toward an officiant-based system represents a hugely positive development. These changes have the potential to modernise the process by removing outdated "bricks and mortar" requirements, ultimately offering couples significantly more freedom to marry in the location of their choice and to select the person they truly want to deliver their ceremony.