Your Best Life- Helen Phillips Humanist Celebrant

Your Best Life- Helen Phillips Humanist Celebrant Non-religious, personal & fun Wedding and Naming Ceremonies in Yorkshire and the North of England.

❤️ Hear my heart beat so loud ❤️The decision to give love another chance and to marry for a second time is, from speakin...
29/11/2025

❤️ Hear my heart beat so loud ❤️

The decision to give love another chance and to marry for a second time is, from speaking to my couples, not something taken lightly. And so, when couples opt to do just this, it is very powerful and it often shows an underlying belief in marriage which, as a wedding Celebrant, of course warms my heart 😍

Weddings are not the exclusive domain of the first-timers and I love creating ceremonies for those for whom it's not the first rodeo as more often than not they know what they do/ don't want and are more confident to choose a ceremony that is unapologetically authentically them, a perfect fit for a Humanist ceremony 🥰

Photo credits:

Adrian Brookes

Mike Hill
Me!

Me!and.co

🧡 The future's bright... the future is Humanist ceremonies 🧡Many of you might be too young to remember the iconic Orange...
27/11/2025

🧡 The future's bright... the future is Humanist ceremonies 🧡

Many of you might be too young to remember the iconic Orange adverts of the '90s and '00s but I still think of the brand when someone refers to a bright future!

And a bright future is exactly what I am hoping for next year and beyond. I am stepping into 2026 with as much excitement and energy as I had here as I strode down the aisle ready to make a start at J & N's gorgeous, colourful and heartfelt ceremony back in September.

I am also ever hopeful that the path beyond 2026 will lead us (finally) to legal recognition for and the team are certainly not sitting back, they are keeping up the pace and pressure on the government for this recognition to be instated ASAP.

On this note, if you or anyone you know if holding off on planning their wedding the current options don't align with you, your beliefs and values or you are detered by having to plan (and pay for!) two ceremonies then please reach out as we are always keen to hear directly from real couples and their experience.

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☀️ The warmth of your love's like the warmth from the sun ☀️2026 might seem a long way off as we still have the festive ...
26/11/2025

☀️ The warmth of your love's like the warmth from the sun ☀️

2026 might seem a long way off as we still have the festive period ahead of us, however, I am already looking ahead, planning and getting ready for another fab year of ceremonies in 2026 🥰

I therefore thought it was worth an availability update as, if 2026 is your year, now is the time to make sure you have your key suppliers lined up and booked in before the flurry of new enquiries land with us in January and February.

I have pockets of availability every month, although as expected, some of these (yep, those summer months!) are more limited than others.

A key point is that I only take one ceremony a day so once a date is taken, that is it!

I am already turning down enquiries for dates I am already booked and December is peak engagement season so I really recommend not leaving this until January and getting it ticked off before all the festive fun begins meaning you are able to relax through December 🎄

You can enquire about a date however works best for you; email, DM, voicenote, message or call. We can then book in a video connection call which gives you the opportunity to see if I am a good fit for you and your day and ask me any questions 😁

🌡I feel my temperature rising🌡 Yes, when someone describes a Humanist/ Celebrant ceremony as the 'fake' wedding, it make...
25/11/2025

🌡I feel my temperature rising🌡

Yes, when someone describes a Humanist/ Celebrant ceremony as the 'fake' wedding, it makes my blood boil!

There is absolutely nothing fake or sham about Celebrant ceremonies here in England, nothing. Yes they are not legally recognised just yet (I never proclaim or pretend they are) but aside from the legalities, the emotions, the feelings, the love, the sentiments are as authentic and genuine as they get.

Every single ceremony is created to be unique, personal and meaningful to that particular couple, their love and their values so, in my opinion, they are even more 'real' than any other ceremony option. This is a hill I am willing to die on! ⛰️

Yes, Celebrants inject humour and fun into your ceremony but speaking for myself at least, my ceremonies are certainly no joke. Humour is only inserted where appropriate and there are plenty of heartfelt and romantic moments that give your ceremony the gravitas and sincerity your love deserves.

I don't believe that anyone who has attended one of my ceremonies believes their haven't seen the 'real wedding' and I will wait on my hill for anyone who feels this way 🤣

💙❤️ I want you to want me too ❤️💙It is quite frankly a crime that I haven't shared more of the knockout photos that  too...
24/11/2025

💙❤️ I want you to want me too ❤️💙

It is quite frankly a crime that I haven't shared more of the knockout photos that took on A & K's day last year.

I hang my head in shame 😔 But here I am to make up for it by sharing as many as Meta will allow 🤣

I have been reminiscing about this wonderful wedding day as I look ahead to 2026 and I am delighted to say that I will be back at WSF not once but twice with two ceremonies there in spring and autumn 😊

It's a fantastic venue which oozes rustic charm and coolness and has so much to offer from two large barns for both ceremony and dining/ party (they are actual barns not rooms with beams that are called 'barns'🤭) to painted walls and green spaces.

If you are looking for a Yorkshire venue that offers so much but which still has scope for you to put your own stamp on it then definitely check it out and, of course the perfect pairing for a venue with such a lot of personality is a personal, heartfelt and joyous ceremony with yours truly 😄 So if this vibe looks a bit you, please do get in touch to arrange a connection call and start planning a meaningful and memorable ceremony with me for 2026 or 2027!

💪 I am who I'm meant to be 💪I have seen a few of these cute intro posts and I thought it probably was time for an 'about...
23/11/2025

💪 I am who I'm meant to be 💪

I have seen a few of these cute intro posts and I thought it probably was time for an 'about me' post, especially for those followers who might be considering me as their Celebrant 😁

It has taken me a long time to really know myself and be comfortable with who I am. What is now wonderful is that it is often when I show my authentic self or share my likes and values that I build the best connection with couples and families.

So if you are biding your time and lying in wait (Hamilton is my favourite musical, I can quote it in any scenario!) then now is the time to make your move.

My diary is pretty open between now and 19th December when my kids break up so please do get in touch and let's get a no-obligation connection call in to see if I am good fit for you and your ceremony.

🪧 All I need is a sign 🪧Yesterday on my way back from Birmingham, I sat next to a lovely lady on her way to visit family...
22/11/2025

🪧 All I need is a sign 🪧

Yesterday on my way back from Birmingham, I sat next to a lovely lady on her way to visit family in Yorkshire.

We really connected and spent two hours chatting about everything, we didn’t run out of things to say and could have probably spoken for another two hours and more!

Through the conversation, it transpired that she has been with her partner for a long time and, although she has previously dismissed getting married, is now coming round to the idea... She felt it was perhaps a 'sign' that she met me and got her thinking maybe not to hesitate any longer and to embrace love, happiness and joy in the here and now.

This made me think of this poem by Mary Oliver which featured in a recent wedding, it sums up perfectly how I feel about living in the present and making the most of joyful moments and celebrations, especially around love.

As a Humanist, I personally don't believe in signs from a greater being but I do very much believe that when we tune into others and our surroundings and through connection with them, we can open ourselves up and discover what was already our truth but with all the busyness and distractions of day to day life, we didn’t notice or acknowledge...

If you are considering a Humanist ceremony with me, please don't hesitate as I am already quite booked up for next year with just a few remaining free Saturdays (weekday weddings have much better availability) so please let's connect and let's let the joy of planning a heartfelt and personal ceremony begin!

⚡️I can't let you go⚡️Such amazing memories of B & E's day  back in October. They had the most epic photos by the super-...
18/11/2025

⚡️I can't let you go⚡️

Such amazing memories of B & E's day back in October. They had the most epic photos by the super-talented Ryan from Shuttergoclick so my simple snap post ceremony is not in that league but it's a lovely reminder of a beautiful ceremony in which we incorporated their wonderful love story, a handfasting and reference to their marriage register which every single one of their guests signed as witnesses on their wedding day.

B & E said in their recent review of their ceremony: "Helen was our celebrant for our wedding and she was wonderful. She really got to know us a couple and told our story beautifully. She was really professional, helpful, and communicative in the run up and on the big day, and she wore a fab outfit to boot. We highly recommend her!"

Thank you B & E for these lovely words and for trusting me with your story and your ceremony 🥰

🌍 This love I've got, could take me 'round the world 🌎 D & M travelled half way across the world for their gorgeous and ...
15/11/2025

🌍 This love I've got, could take me 'round the world 🌎

D & M travelled half way across the world for their gorgeous and intimate elopement at Swinton Park last month and what a privilege it was to be a part of.

It has felt out of this world to receive beautiful words of love from them all the way back at home in Washington State 🥰

As I now have a break in ceremonies until the end of the year and next year's writing hasn't yet started in earnest, I am taking some time to work on my website and online presence (with big thanks to .digital) including getting up to date reviews and testimonials which really are the best thing to help nearlyweds find out what it is truly like working with me 😊

If you have seen me in action this year (couple, guest or supplier) and haven't yet posted a review, it is never too late! What's more, I have the chance to retain my Hitched Wedding Awards Crown based on the number and quality of my reviews on their site so I will post the link in my stories for anyone who would be kind enough to share a few words about me as a Celebrant 🙏🏻

💪 And we won't forget the day we fought 💪Last month, the UK government committed to the legal recognition Humanist marri...
14/11/2025

💪 And we won't forget the day we fought 💪

Last month, the UK government committed to the legal recognition Humanist marriage in England & Wales in line with marriage law already in place in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.

This is to come after yet another consultation so we still don't know how far off this is in reality. More frustration for couples who want a ceremony reflective of their Humanist beliefs and values... 😢

In reality, the government could already take action to legalise Humanist marriage without further delay, however they are choosing not to.

I have this week had a response from my MP which is disappointingly indifferent from the last correspondence we had before last month's announcement.

However, the more voices that we add, the better so if you would like to also urge your MP to focus on action rather than further delay, please do consider writing to them. I will pop more info on this in my stories 😀

In the meantime, I am very excited to be going to see Matilda the Musical this weekend so expect lots about that too on my stories!

📺 Nobody's put in a box (not even a telly box!) 📺Throwback Thursday to when  and I were on 'Jezza Kyle' 🤣🤣Ha ha, not rea...
13/11/2025

📺 Nobody's put in a box (not even a telly box!) 📺

Throwback Thursday to when and I were on 'Jezza Kyle' 🤣🤣

Ha ha, not really. This was at the .weddings awards 2 years ago and this time next week, I will be heading back down to Birmingham to see how I get on in the Celebrant category this year🤞🏻 I am super excited as, as you would expect, it's one of the most fun and quirkiest nights of the year!

On a more serious note, please don't fret if your family has challenging politics or dynamics, even if you think they are worthy of the real Jeremy Kyle show!!

I can probably count on my hands the number of families who have all got along swimmingly, more often than not, there is something that it helps for me as your Celebrant to be aware of.

So I always ask, not because I am nosey, it genuinely helps me to ensure I don't include or say anything in the ceremony that might exacerbate an existing dynamic or situation. I can also help before the ceremony, ensuring that any seating plans you want are followed and, where necessary, keeping certain people distracted or apart. All of this is another weight off your mind ahead of and on the day itself and it's something you get with a Celebrant due to the relationship we build and the extent to which I invest time getting to know you and, by extension, your family and friends.

In essence, it's a safe space. Whatever you tell me is in complete confidence free from any judgement and we will discuss the best way to handle together, without anyone being put in a box (and without the help of Mr. Kyle 🤣). I am so grateful for the trust that my couples and families place in me by sharing such personal and sensitive information, again another benefit of choosing your own officiant...


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