Po Midwinter - Humanist Wedding & Funeral Celebrant

22/04/2025

A festival wedding must be a really special thing! *crosses fingers that one day I do a wedding at Glastonbury*

Glastonbury Festival has always been a special place for Tia and Max. They got to know each other there, got engaged there, and – in 2024 – had their wedding ceremony there with the help of a humanist celebrant. “We knew we didn’t want a religious wedding or a big family wedding,” explains...

21/02/2025

A wedding day filled with laughter, love, and unforgettable moments awaits. Personalize every detail to create a celebration that reflects your unique journey together. Would you like every member of your family involved in the ceremony? Why not try a ring-warming? Pass the rings between every member of your family and friends, and let them pass an intention to it. Your rings will be filled with love, luck and laughter for years to come.

19/02/2025

A journey of love and creativity unfolds behind every ceremony I craft. Each moment is infused with heartfelt stories that make every celebration truly unique. I just watched the video of a ceremony I did last summer, and I remember vividly writing those words. I remember sending the script to the couple and the meeting afterwards when we read it through and laughed together! I can't wait for this year's ceremonies!

08/02/2025

Today I hosted CPD for Celebrants in Beds, Bucks, Herts and Cambs and our focus was ourselves. We reflected, using a supervision proforma, on the year we've had, and dreamed forward into the next period of the year. It was a poignant, open session in which we spoke candidly about life, death, work, family and everything in-between. Humanist Celebrants really, really do support each other and are there for each other. It's way more than just a network. Of course there was oodles of tea and a delicious bag of figs!

24/01/2025

13 years ago, as a Mum to two small children, I took every opportunity to work and tutored while they slept or napped. I taught Elocution and Accent Reduction over Skype and really loved it. One day, I was invited to go to London to teach Charlie Sloth, a DJ on Radio 1Xtra, how to speak 'properly'. He had no idea I was coming in and the moment I walked into the studio was the first time he met me! He was very polite and threw himself into my fun tasks. I was only on the radio for a short while but I was so so so so proud of myself. I kept my cool and did my thing just like I did with all of my other students.

My voice work definitely stood me in good ground for being a Celebrant. I don't need a microphone for many spaces, but I often have to wear one for videographers. I often wonder if they have to turn me down in the post-mix! I can adapt my voice and it carries well, and I can adjust the tone with ease.

I would love to hear you share a moment that fills your heart with pride. Reflect on an experience that shaped who you are today and let me know about it!

18/01/2025

Direct Cremations are the most popular way, at the moment, to deal with the body following a death. It is cremated with no service and the ashes are returned to the next of kin. This can leave a hole in the grieving process, as the ceremony we usually hold following a death gives us a chance to say our goodbyes in a myriad of ways. If a direct cremation is the option that suits you, why not still say your goodbyes in a memorial service. This can be held anywhere, with anyone, and a Humanist Celebrant will write you a beautiful ceremony to say your goodbyes in the way that you want. With no time limit or restrictions, you can drink to their memory, plant something to see them regrow, sing, dance, cry, laugh, whatever you need to feel that their life's end has had some closure. After a memorial people feel a palpable sense of relief.
If you would like a memorial, get in touch to discuss your ideas.

16/01/2025

Barsham & Shipmeadow is a very rural, spread out Parish. We have a church in Barsham, but not in Shipmeadow, we have a farm shop in Shipmeadow but not in Barsham, and the Village Hall is in Barsham but serves both parishes. We are surrounded by farmland (arable and a few horses and sheep) and are accustomed to the roar of big machinery as tractors et al rumble by. And based here is my Wedding Celebrant business. In my little office I write scripts and talk to couples, run my business and listen to a gazillion podcasts. In the evening I like to run or go to circuit training, read my massive pile of books, or watch thrillers, exciting dramas, or silly US comedies.
Once upon a time there was a unique festival here, called the Barsham Fair, and we have a unique village sign (pictured) created by the inspiration behind the Fair... maybe that's why I'm so enamoured with festival-style weddings :)

14/01/2025

Every love story deserves a unique celebration, and that's where the magic happens! Behind the scenes, creativity flows as heartfelt ceremonies come to life, tailored just for you. Wherever you want, however you want it, whoever you are, however many people you want there. Get in contact today!

13/01/2025

Are you celebrating Plough Monday today? Although farmers will all have been back to work long before this nowadays, in times gone by this was the day that work resumed after Christmas. Well, as you plough and plan your wedding, why not consider booking your dream wedding with me and make your special day unforgettable? I live in the beautiful Waveney Valley, surrounded by farmland, and love being outdoors.

06/01/2025

Are you already planning your wedding? Have you considered a celebrant-led wedding?

A celebrant-led wedding means you can say and do whatever you want, with no restrictions or time limits, or location restrictions.

You can sing, sign, dance, play, recite, rap, wheel, roll, cartwheel or sedately stroll down the aisle, through the group, along the shore, through the trees, down the mountain. Then you can make your vows in front of everyone or no-one. And party or sit quietly until the day is done.

No restrictions. No limits.

Just you two.

(And your dog, or rabbit, or cat, or llama, or horse, or elephant - whoever you need there to complete your family).

Let's make it happen!

https://midwintercelebrant.co.uk/

06/12/2024

I'm loving the Network Coordinator role for Eastern region. Tonight I hosted a meeting for 6 amazing celebrants from Beds/Bucks/Herts who hadn't got together for AGES! Community and discussion are so important when you do a job like a Celebrant, and our network truly supports each other and makes time for each other. We spoke through difficulties and celebrated our successes, and made plans to get together again in a couple of months time. If you hire a humanist Celebrant, they have a wealth of people behind them cheering them on.

29/11/2024

Great progress. Thank goodness.

The bill passes the first stage in the Commons but will be followed by months of parliamentary activity before it becomes a law.

27/11/2024

I have written a new page for my website following the growing trend of unattended or direct cremations. You may feel the process leaves you feeling a little empty, and a memorial ceremony might be just what you need to feel that closure so necessary to the grieving process.

Proudly presenting midwintercelebrant.co.uk. Check it out and let me know what you think! via

http://midwintercelebrant.co.uk

https://midwintercelebrant.co.uk/memorials

21/11/2024

Neil Senior Photography's photos are in and oh my goodness! They are absolutely amazing!

Beth and James tied the knot in a field, under an oak tree, with 300 guests dressed in their festival finery. It was huge and intimate all at once. The early September sun was blissful and the atmosphere was filled with love and friendship.

These two are sooooooo in love and it shines through the photos, doesn't it!

They signed a Humanists UK wedding certificate, bound hands in a handfasting, exchanged vows and rings and confetti was thrown over EVERYONE not just the couple.

The speeches contained a discussion as to whether James was a wizard or a muggle, and a song written about and dedicated to them by Beth's brother.

A celebrant-led wedding is everything that you want it to be - just say the word and we make it happen. Get in touch if this kind of wedding is for you!

There are more photos on my website www.midwintercelebrant.co.uk

20/11/2024

In the first snow of the season, Donald's ashes were placed in the ground, with a very solid thud, in the plot with his Mum. The Rev said a few words and I said none. The wind was lashing snow into the hole with his ashes, dug by the gravedigger in -1 degrees. Donald was never bothered by the cold anyway, he'd cycle in all weathers. It feels strange that it is all over.

02/11/2024

Today I organised a CPD session for funeral celebrants from Cambs, Bucks, Beds and Herts. 11 lovely Celebrants came to join in at the Mrs Howard Memorial Hall in Letchworth. We played Poetry Bingo (find a poem for 9 random 'people'), Beginning/ Middle/ End - share the best phrases and bits that you love including in a ceremony, GDPR and Privacy Policies, and a play with AI (which we renamed Matey)! It was collaborative and supportive, so much sharing and encouragement. Humanist Celebrants have such an amazing network, we lift each other up and are always ready to stand up with or for each other at the drop of a hat.

Plus we ate cake. It was delicious.