Ceremonies by Leni Robson

10/02/2025

Look at me being all featured by my Association....

Today's featured celebrant is Leni Robson, Ceremonies by Leni Robson, conducting ceremonies across Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire and Leicestershire.

If you want a ceremony that’s full of warmth, humour, and really tells your story then Leni is the celebrant for you!

She creates personal, bespoke ceremonies that really focus on the person or people at the heart of the ceremony. By getting to know you and what makes you tick she can create a ceremony that celebrates you, whether that’s a naming ceremony, wedding, or celebration of life.

She is the founder of Coffin Club Derby and a qualified 'Grief Specialist', which enables her to support people with every aspect of the funeral service and beyond.

More about Leni at: https://independentcelebrants.com/celebrants/leni-robson/

03/02/2025

Oh they know how to treat me on ...today's topic is ....'How are you feeling after two weeks of Donald Trump'.

Exhausted....thinking I'm living in a drama......disbelief....there are a fair few words I could use. But as this is a Your Say....how about you?

Get in touch: Call 0800 145 61 61 or WhatsApp 08000 321 333, start your message with 'DERBY' and join in the conversation.

See you on the other side....

26/01/2025

Up bright and early for the first of this year's wedding fairs! They are expecting over 300 couples through the doors! Are you one of them?

I'll be up on the balcony next door to
(Do they know what they've done!) and yes there is music so if you are REALLY lucky you may get a bit of us dancing.....

With over 50 suppliers from florists to musicians, to stationers to CAKE ....its going to be an epic day!!

But given I'm currently dressed in my pyjamas....best get cracking...

22/01/2025

When you are pootling along with your morning making the to do list as you've got a day at home and you get a call from Radio Derby asking you to come in to fill in on Your Say...what can you say?

Today's topic is 'The word for 2025' what do you think it's going to be...what should it be?

So come on...pop it in the comments. Or get in touch with Call 0800 145 61 61 or WhatsApp 08000 321 333, start your message with 'DERBY'.

20/01/2025

TW Mention of su***de

One of the things I'm now in a position to do is to support projects dear to my heart. As many of you know Su***de Prevention is something I am passionate about and this year I have chosen to be my charity of choice. For every ceremony booked a percentage will be donated to them to support them in their work.

Their mission is simple. To bring about change in how we approach su***de, how we talk about it and how we support those affected by it including in the work place and to support those people and organisations already working to save lives.

You can find out more on their website https://batonofhopederbyderbyshire.co.uk/
The Baton this year will be coming to Derbyshire and this is an incredible opportunity to raise awareness of organisations that support those bereaved by su***de and those
I'm also going to be working with them as part of their committee and will be working to organise some very special events.

Please give them a follow, share their posts and find out how you can get involved.

20/01/2025

Well, having got an email to say I was booked for a 2026 wedding, I then got another late last night booking me for another wedding in 2025! Staffordshire venues I am all over you this year!!

I'm also going to be directing a show for in July 2025 which is going to keep me very busy (+ theatre trips obvs) so....I'm closing my diary for that month. I can, for the first time declare I AM FULLY BOOKED FOR JULY and AUGUST. Other months have some availability but my 2025 diary will soon be full.

I never thought (certainly not last year) I'd be able to say that, so I'm absolutely delighted. Over the next few months I'll be meeting all my couples for this year and starting to craft and create their ceremonies!

So much fun!

Lx

19/01/2025

Well that's a lovely message to recieve on a Sunday! "We'd love you to be our celebrant'

Bucket list couple ✔️
Bucket list venue ✔️
Bucket list ceremony ✔️

Enquiries are coming in thick and fast for 2026 and 2027 so if you are pondering book in for a no obligation chat and let's see if I'm the right celebrant for you. I only do one ceremony a day so once the date is booked it's booked!

(Also...book in now...get 2025 prices...bargain!)

19/01/2025

I suffer with a rare condition called Derbyitis. I have flare ups if I stay in the city for too long. It should be said I am very fond of my city but rather like chips sometimes I need a break.

Luckily the cure is very simple. Put on a bright orange hat, find a large body of water and get in.

Yesterdays adventure took us to Shropshire. I've never explored here properly but Cardin Mill Valley took my breath away (literally it was very very cold). What a place!

A day out just me and him was just what we needed. I'm going to be trying to do more of that. Between renovations and work we've not got to do it enough and it's important to keep that connection. Even if he won't actually come in the water with me (wuss)

Have a lovely Sunday!

18/01/2025

One of the things I'm excited to be doing this year is more wedding fairs and I'm starting early! I'm going to be at with at their wedding fair on 26th January 2025. Mickleover Court was the first wedding fair I ever went to 7 years ago, and that was just for a reckie so I'm very excited to be there as a supplier!

I know for a fact there is an awesome photographer there (who can that be I wonder) but I'm really looking forward to meeting lots of lovely suppliers and of course all the lovely couples.

Tickets are free and the first 50 couples get a free goodie bag. The sweet tins are being prepared as I type!

Come along and see me and have a chat about celebrant led ceremonies and how we can make your wedding day unforgettable.

17/01/2025

OK so I know I'm late, but hey ho, at least I'm here. If you want to know why I'm so late rather like much of my life...ask the cat....

2024....well...yes...it's been a year.

I have loved working with incredible couples to celebrate their love and joyfully say, “I do.” I’ve also stood beside grieving families, helping them create heartfelt ceremonies to honour lives filled with love and meaning. I got to lead one of my closest friends weddings and met some AMAZING people. There have been ceremonies that really reminded me why I love what I do

2024 also brought some amazing milestones. Being featured on ITV with Coffin Club Derby was an unforgettable moment—shining a light on the importance of honest, open conversations around end-of-life choices. In November, I also stretched my creative side doing costumes for a DSTC production of Macbeth. (I mean - men in kilts - what's not to love).

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I struggled with imposter syndrome and found myself holding back—especially here on social media. I’ve wrestled with self-doubt, battled with how I see myself, and questioned if I’m doing enough. I've lost a precious family member, and grieved.

But 2024 was then. And this is now. I'm fully booked for weekend weddings in July and August, I'm finally getting to give back to a cause and project I'm passionate about (more on that later) and I've got a really exciting personal project coming up in July! As I move into 2025, I’m I’m letting go of the pressure to be perfect and leaning into showing up as I am—messy bits and all. I'm going to be more Dolly. Embrace the rainbows and work through the rain.

Here’s to love, connection, and embracing all the beautiful messiness of being human.

Thank you for being part of my story. Let’s make 2025 extraordinary together. 💛

Photos by (obvs)

08/01/2025

Look who i found...if your going to be on the Radio Derby talking about schools handy to be on with a former teacher!

Come on...what's gone wrong with schools!

08/01/2025

Popping in to for a Your Say today and today's topics is schools, what's gone wrong, and how can we put it right. I know you'll have views, share them here and I'll put them out into the wild!

28/12/2024

Christmas theatre trip.....to say I'm excited is an understatement.

I've managed to restrain to adding to my collection of Shakespeare books (this year's haul is 5 in the stocking) too much, just getting one necessary book in the shops on sonnets (honestly...necessary).

I love this play. It's got grief, love, shenanigans, bright yellow tights. It's also got Sam West. I mean.... what's not to love....

I was playing Maria when I first got chatting to a fella nearly 9 years ago. I fell in love with her....and him. Let's see what the professionals do with it!

Tomorrow I'm back in the office replying to queries, writing ceremonies and getting ready for next year. Today I'm spending time in my happy place, enjoying the words of another writer who provides my safety and sanctuary....

25/12/2024

Happy Christmas one and all, from our house to yours. For those who are grieving I wish you peace. For those celebrating I wish you joy. You choose your Christmas and you do you.

And for those who got a sparkly engagement ring I wish you'd pop on my website to find out how to make those weddings really special 😁💍

In answer to the questions, electric, one cat, no he doesn't use the beautiful new bed just the grotty horrid ones...., yes that's a heat mat. For the cat.....

For those who have been to my house...yes that is where the inglenook used to be.....

20/12/2024

Self employed work night out with the work bestie. It can be a lonely life when you are self-employed, but I'm incredibly blessed to have alongside me, keeping me straight, sharing the journey with me. We've been friends for so long now and I know I'll always get an honest opinion. Even if she only reads two lines of my poems 😉😁...now as this was a works night out can we put it on expenses.......


# for bed

17/12/2024

A few little packages ready to go in the post today. Made by the incredible I'm in love with these tree ornaments and I hope those that receive them are too!

Cards and stickers printed at and it's almost starting to feel like I'm organised....

12/12/2024

Honoured to be asked to take part in a second celebration of Remembrance and Hope by Wathall's - The Funeral Directors in our stunning cathedral.

A bit of reflection time for me after an emotional week.

11/12/2024

I've received a few messages from people who saw last night's webcast and a couple of people at the service itself asking me to share a copy of the poem I read.

This was inspired by the wonderful Joan Washington, wife of the equally wonderful .e.grant She said before she died she wanted them to find a Pocketful of Happiness in every day and Richard has been telling people how he does that (as well as bringing them to people...if you haven't seen The Franchise please do so immediately).

Anyway this kept repeating in my head particularly as we navigated our own season of grief so.. this came out of my brain and I read it at the service yesterday and it seemed to create its own pocket.

Please feel free to download, share, print off and put in your pocket. Whatever helps.

A Pocketful of Happiness
Leni Robson

Grief, gentle and unyielding,

is the weight of love with nowhere to rest—

a shadow cast by every memory,

each precious moment too tender to touch.

It lingers, soft and constant,

a reminder of all we held so close.

Each day brings its own quiet gifts,

a scattering of light hidden in ordinary hours.

And so I search, knowing how much it matters,

finding these pocketfuls of happiness—

the way morning settles warm on my skin,

a bird’s song woven through silence.

To look, to gather these moments,

is to remember what remains,

the quiet traces of love still present,

even as shadows stretch beside us.

These small joys fill the empty spaces,

bringing light through the ache.

Grief does not leave, but it softens in the light,

and love shifts to carry me forward,

rooted in laughter, in sunlight,

in all the simple ways those we love say 'I am here'

Each day, I reach for what I can find—

the shape of joy, the scent of hope.

Reminders tucked gently in my pockets,

a pocketful of happiness to carry me through.

This is how I live, how I heal:

by gathering love, again and again,

in every fragile, beautiful moment,

a testament that love lives on.