Your Best Life- Helen Phillips Humanist Celebrant

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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.

25/03/2025

If booking a Celebrant is number one on your to-do list...
..then you might have to move quickly if you want to book this one!

2025 is shaping up to be another great year with so many gorgeous couples to get to know and create ceremonies for plus a resurgence in Namings after a very quiet year on that front in 2024.

I do still have pockets of availability, and mid-week or later in the year has the best.

So, if you are looking for a Celebrant for this year, then don't delay! Reach out to book in a connection call with me 🤙

24/03/2025

It could have been anything that you wanted it to be...
.. and your ceremony still can be, if you book a fully personalised ceremony service with a Celebrant 😃

It seems that registry services in many UK councils are now offering what are being marketed as 'personalised' and 'Celebrant' celebration ceremonies.

Whilst I am all for an open market and healthy competition, what concerns me is that couples are booking this service thinking that they are getting the same 'product' as they would with a Humanist or Independent Celebrant but with the added bonus of a not having to do the legal paperwork separately. Seems a no brainer, right? And if something seems too good to be true, then you know what they say... it usually is!

Yes, these 'celebration' ceremonies do offer a series of options for you to choose from, and you can opt to write your own vows or words the ring exchange. You can also include your story (if you write it).

However, what you don't get is the human behind it. The one you get to choose with whom you felt a connection and feel most comfortable with, who suits your style and matches your vibe, who listens to your story and pulls it all together in both a humorous and heartwarming way, who can either write words for your vows and rings with your voice because they really listened to what love and marriage means to you or can support you fully in writing your own, who can really slot into your day seamlessly because they have got to know you so well that they seem like an old friend.

These registrar led celebration ceremonies might be a step up from the more standard ceremony format, and, don't get me wrong, I do welcome that. They might also be a decent option for super confident and time-rich couples who are happy writing their own story, vows, and words, but to pitch them as comparable to what we offer as Celebrants is unfair and frankly, inaccurate.

So if you are looking for a Celebrant ceremony, please check you know what you are getting and are 100% happy with that before you book anything. It remains your decision, I just want to ensure it's an informed one ☺️

19/03/2025

🦢 Wear your hair long, you can't go wrong 🦢

For the benefit of anyone who doesn't know me well or is new round here (hello 👋🏻), my brand is Your Best Life Celebrant and, for me, it's not just a nice name or a gimic, living my best life is genuinely my philosophy for life. In this sense, I live and breath the brand!

As a Humanist, I don't believe in an afterlife, which means, for me, our life here on earth is not a rehearsal or prequel to anything, this is the main event!

As such, I do my best to embrace life and live it to the fullest, whether that is enjoying myself like I am here at the .weddings awards back in '23, taking time to appreciate the beauty in nature and our world or telling my kids how much I love them!

Many events and experiences have influenced and reminded me to do this, and they just keep coming, often through the wonderful humans I meet and have the privilege to help with ceremonies at major life milestones (and I don't even do Celebrations of life... yet!)

None of us know when our swan song will be, so why not mount the white swan and enjoy the ride in the meantime 😁

18/03/2025

📕 You're too beautiful to put into words 📕

Earlier today announced the title of the new Thursday Murder Club book. It will be 'The Impossible Fortune', happy Naming day to the 5th book in the series! I am excited for September already (though a bit disappointed not to have as a summer holiday read!)

What's more, RO has also revealed that the book will open with a wedding! (Who's do you think it will be?)

This, of course, will delight, main character, Joyce who, in the last book in the series, 'The last devil to die', was pining after having more weddings to attend!

Although my diary is pretty full this year, I always have space for more love and more weddings! Like Joyce, I can't get enough of them, and so if you are looking for a Celebrant for later this year, 2026 or 2027, then get in touch, bring on love!

16/03/2025

🧍‍♀️I'll stand by your side 🧍‍♀️

All these couples have something in common?

Yes, they all had , but these were all very different as, for every couple, each ceremony reflected:

💜 Their unique origin/ love story

❤️ Where they chose to celebrate

💛 Who they are, their personalities and preferences

🩷 What is most important to them, their values

💚 How they show their love to each other and how they want to show up for each other in their married life

🧡 Who they choose to share their day with

💙 What elements and symbolic acts they want to incorporate

Crucially, however, what was the same for them all was they all had a separate legal ceremony as sadly their Humanist ceremony with me didn't have the legal recognition to allow them to officially marry.

Scotland has had legal Humanist ceremonies since 2005 so, as they celebrate having a WHOLE GENERATION growing up with meaningful non-religious ceremonies as a legal alternative to religious and registrar ceremonies, England and Wales, we really need to catch the heck up.

This week, I have written again to my MP, and, this week, I will be sending an email to my past couples asking them to do the same. So, if you also feel passionately about the legalisation of Humanist marriage, please also consider contacting your MP to take a stand and ask them to raise the issue in parliament. I will post more details of how to do this in my stories 😃

📷 credits

louise.photography

and.co

11/03/2025

💜 I'll be there, with a love that will see you through 💜

I am over the moon to already have booked in a number of weddings from the .weddings fayre I attended at back in January!

If you met me there or have been wondering about getting in touch, then please don't hesitate to reach out and book in a connection call. There are only a few limited spots for weekends remaining this year (mostly later in the year), and I have enquires going out to 2027 already 🤯

So please don't delay if you think you might want me as a part of your day!

10/03/2025

🧍‍♀️Here I am, stop where you're standing 🧍‍♀️

Here are a few snippets of the reviews that helped me to win a wedding supplier award for the second year running 🥳

What is a common theme is that, if you are looking for a Celebrant for a personal, heartfelt, and fun ceremony, then look no further! These couples certainly didn't regret their choice to work with me, and you won't either (their words, not mine 😆).

So if you have been wondering for a while about getting in contact, then this is your sign to reach out and arrange a Connection Call!

08/03/2025

💪 Find a way to face our fears 💪

On International Women's Day today, I would like to recognise all the strong female business owners and entrepreneurs that I have the pleasure of working with in this industry. From photographers to florists, marketers to make-up artists, there are way too many to name individually but I would like to take the opportunity to say how awesome you all are showing up every day for your clients, your families and yourselves 💪💪

It's certainly not a 9 to 5 in this industry, and it can take a lot of determination, resilience, and flexibility, so here's to those women role-modelling all of this. I think you are all fantastically great!

07/03/2025

🏫 I'm going to school and I can't be late 🏫

I am super excited to be joining a bunch of awesome fellow wedding suppliers at a brand new venue, Queen Margaret's School for Girls in York on 6th April.

Thanks for the invite and this beautiful image 😍

Do come along for lots of lovely chats about planning your wedding and ideas on everything from music to make-up, cakes to cars. I will of course be sharing how you can make your ceremony 100% personal and unique to you 🥰

I will post a link to register for your free entry ticket into my stories, and please shout if you have any questions 😀

06/03/2025

📝 This paper trail leads right back to you 📝

I have spent world book day today hearing a couple's love story in their ceremony planning meeting and finishing off writing a Naming ceremony, the very start of little J's story 😀

I love books and stories, and it's an honour to be a part of each and every one I have the privilege to be trusted with 🥰

I am always looking for inspiration and ideas that I can feed into my practice and the
Little Book of Humanist Ceremonies is a great source of this. However, it always comes back to you and what you want (or don't want) to include in your ceremony.

If you think you would like me to tell your story in your ceremony, then please get in touch!

📸

04/03/2025

🦋 Love makes your heart feel strange inside 🦋

Thoughts are with Dolly Parton, who today announced the death of her beloved husband of almost 60 years, Carl Dean.

I really love Dolly for her personality and philanthropy as much as her music, and I also highly respected how she has always kept her marriage and personal life private and protected. Her and Carl also renewed their vows on their 50th wedding anniversary in 2016, which I love 😍

Incidentally, I am currently preparing for a vow renewal for a couple who have been married almost that long, who tell me they still get the feeling of butterflies even after all their years together.

This reminded me of one of Dolly's many songs inspired by Carl and the most appropriate to share today (though I do also love Jolene 😆).

02/03/2025

😁 If you can't love yourself... 😁

Humble brag post incoming... 😂

I am so chuffed with myself for winning a wedding award for the second year running!

These awards are not 'pay to play' where there is an application process and entry fee. They are quite simply based on the quantity and quality of feedback from real-life couples who take the time to leave reviews on the directory.

I am proud to say that I have some banging reviews on both Hitched and Google but I do get even more on email, DMs and social media so, if you are thinking about working with me as your Celebrant then you really don't need to take my word for it, you can trust the words of those who have been in your shoes previously and certainly don't regret their choice to get me booked in!

I will post a link to my reviews in a story if you want to take a gander 😃

01/03/2025

🤎 Squeeze my heart and turn it steady 🤎

Two weeks ago was my first wedding of the year in Harrogate. Kat & Chris accelerated and pulled together their wedding plans over the course of a week a month before their special day, but there was no way you would have known that!

Chris & Kat had a methodist ceremony at lunchtime, so their Humanist ceremony was carefully designed to complement this. We heard their love story with plenty of laughs and smiles, they shared heartfelt vows, and their children also made their own promises as the family formally united as the Duffys 🥰

My first time at Weetons, which is a great alternative and relaxed venue, I hope to be back again in the future!

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28/02/2025

❤️‍🔥 I would do anything for love (but I won't do...) ❤️‍🔥

We've all gotta have our boundaries 😁 So here are some things I have to tell you that I won't do...

♂️♀️🏳️‍⚧️ Use incorrect nouns/ pronouns
📷📹🤳 Restrict your photographer/ videographer
✅️🙅‍♀️⛔️ Tell you what to do/ not to include
💷💰🤑 Charge extra for what you want to incorporate

Scroll right to the end for some actual legit red lines (don't go asking me to conduct a religious ceremony to your racist sister on Christmas day whilst naked 🤣🤣🤣)

26/02/2025

📒 Returning to tell (y)our story 📒

Today is my first day back at my desk after 9 wonderful days away with my family on Lanzarote. It was so lovely to feel the warm sun and to spend time together away from the usual routine and household chores etc. 😊

I am determined to hit the ground running so, this morning, I have been ticking off lots of enquiry follow-ups, booking in meetings, sending questionnaires, etc. Hopefully, I have gotten back to anyone awaiting anything from me (please shout if not!) and please do get back to me to nab your spots for both connection calls and ceremonies themselves!

Next, I will be full-on head-down into script writing as ceremony season gets into full swing. There aren't really back to work blues when you know this is the life you are meant to lead 🥰

15/02/2025

🥹 I watch the whole room change 🥹

I was talking to a couple about yesterday, and I realised that I barely have any photos on my grid of R & D's beautiful day there last September. So that certainly needs rectifying!

The Merchant Taylor's Hall is an oasis of space and sanctuary right in the heart of York. A short walk from the Minster and backing right up to the City's wall, once within its historic building and grounds, you feel in your own little bubble, certainly the best of both worlds 🥰

We had a gorgeous, heartfelt ceremony that included tears of sadness as we remembered special people and tears of laughter and joy, especially when we relived R & D's love story, which really has to be heard to be believed. 😂 There were also lots of meaningful moments and involvement from R & D's three girls 😍

Hopefully, I will be back there again soon, helping more couples to make lasting memories into a carefully curated ceremony.

14/02/2025

♥️ Something in the air tells me that time is right ♥️

As Valentine's Day is a day all about love, it is clearly a highlight of a Wedding Celebrant's calendar!

So whether you are:
💐 exchanging presents, cards or flowers
🫂 spending quality time together
💍 popping the question (congrats if so!)
❎️ not really marking the event at all
the time is always right to remind someone you love them.

You might tell them or show them in another way, such as making them a brew or brushing their hair.

We all have our own love language, which makes each and every relationship special and unique 🥰

As such, why wouldn't you also want a ceremony that is special and unique?

The time is also right to talk to me about your ceremony as there are only a few spots left this year now, and 2026 enquiries are steadily flowing in so get your dates booked in, you don't want to be 'waiting all your life but [be] too late again' 😆

P.s. this is a special song for me and my own love. Yup, I am a soppy romantic, it goes with the territory 😂

13/02/2025

🙋‍♀️ Just know that I got you 🙋‍♀️

Today, on Galentine's day, as the mother of a girl who is rapidly heading towards her teenage years, I hope that my daughter finds her sisterhood and friends who support and lift her up. I hope that she takes inspiration from strong role models that she knows or sees in the public eye and stands up against those who threaten or undermine the hard work done on gender equality and want to take us backwards not forwards (yes, I am looking at you, Mr President!).

This poem from is a favourite of mine, along with 'I hope my daughter uses her voice', and I love to see it incorporated in a Naming ceremony 💪👧

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🏋‍♀️ Carry their 20% 🏋‍♂️ I may be non-religious but at worship at the Church of Brené Brown 😆 I love what she has to say on so many topics, and I know that these words on marriage ring true for so many of the couples I work with. Marriage is rarely 50/50. Together, you need to make 100, but how you get there will vary. Some days you're the 80 and other days you're the 20. It's about working together, flexing as necessary so you carry the other, or they carry you. Take a listen, and if you love Brené and her words as much as me, then I think we could be a great match 😍 #brenebrown #brenebrownonmarriage #marriageisnt5050 #marriage #loveandmarriage #wordsonmarriage #humanistcelebrant #yorkshirehumanistcelebrant #engaged #gettingmarried #marriedlife #wedding #weddinginspo #celebrant #yorkshirewedding #leedshumanistcelebrant #LeedsCelebrant #weddingcelebrant #nonreligiousceremony #nonrelgiouscelebrant #nontraditionalcelebrant #nontraditionalwedding #Yorkwedding #bradfordcelebrant #Wakefieldcelebrant #2025wedding #2026wedding #weddingplanning

🤍 No matter what you do. I'd like to share it with you 🤍 "Let's get lost into the white fields" I absolutely loved my first time @whitesykefieldsweddings near York last month. This venue is right in my sweet spot; a funky, chilled out barn venue with splashes of bright colours and a team who couldn't be more helpful and on it 😀 It was also a great fit for K & A, not purely because White Sykes is also a potato farm supplying to Walkers, and K's maiden name was Crisp (hence the crisp themed tables) but also because she and A like to have fun (see if you can spot some references to A's sense of humour in this montage) and wanted a laid back vibe which all their guests, including dogs of honour, Frank & Cleo, would feel welcomed and relaxed. Their ceremony was, of course, in keeping with all of that, including welcomes in both Welsh and French and plenty of jokes and laughter 😃 I really hope to be back there next year or beyond, so if you are looking for a celebrant, look no further and book a connection call with me to find out more! #whitesykefields #whitesykefieldscelebrant #whitesykefieldswedding #Yorkwedding #yorkcelebrant #Septemberwedding #autumnwedding #autumnalwedding #humanistcelebrant #Humanistwedding #humanistceremony #inclusivewedding #inclusivecelebrant #inclusiveceremony #yorkshirewedding #northyorkshirewedding #yorkshirehumanistcelebrant #yorkshirecelebrant #Northyorkshirecelebrant #northyorkshireweddingvenue #yorkweddingvenue #nonreligiouscelebrant #nontraditionalcelebrant #alternativecelebrant #wedding2025 #wedding2026 #alternativewedding #farmwedding #barnwedding

🫧 You are creating all the bubbles at play 🫧 There are some things that are simple pleasures in life, crunching crispy autumn leaves under foot, a baby's laughter, blowing bubbles 😃 Sometimes, as humans, we can overcomplicate things and forget the simple things that make us truly happy 😊 A wedding day can be a bit like that. You can get caught up in the planning of the day; what will you eat, what flowers will you have, what will you wear, and you can forget that, at the heart of it all, is the declaration and celebration of your love ❤️ So, my advice when planning your day, and especially if it all feels a bit much and overwhelming, is focus on what is really important to you, what really matters to you and what makes you happiest. If you think this could include a highly personal and heartfelt ceremony, then I'm your gal! Get in touch to book a connection call and find out more! 📷 @brandingphotographeruk #simplethings #simplepleasures #bubbles #biffyclyro #Celebrant #humanistcelebrant #humanistceremony #yorkshireweddingcelebrant #yorkshirecelebrant #leedscelebrant #yorkcelebrant #wedding #humanistcelebrantyorkshire #westyorkshirecelebrant #northyorkshirecelebrant #Wakefieldcelebrant #northallertoncelebrant #thirskcelebrant #bedalecelebrant #harrogatecelebrant #nonreligiousceremony #nonrelgiouscelebrant #nonreligiouswedding #nonreligiouschristening #nontraditionalcelebrant #nontraditionalwedding #nontraditionalceremony #nonreligiousceremony #alternativecelebrant #alternativeceremony

🎙Touch me deep, pure & true🎙 The superb talent of @jadelamey.singer deserves a spot on my grid! It was a delight to work alongside such a lovely person, and there is no one I would have rather sheltered from the rain in the @townheadestate greenhouse with 😆 Swipe to hear how gorgeous her voice is, and make sure your sound is on! The first two vids are songs that hold a special place in my heart and spoke right to it 💓. Then, later, Jade was accompanied by the equally excellent @saxeveryweekend, and together, they really got the party going🎷 Also featuring beautiful blooms from @walterandblossom and, if you look carefully, you will see the talent behind these, Sophie, as equally in awe of our private performance 😍 First photo by the Queen @jogreenfieldthephotographer👸🏼 (All subsequent shoddy footage and photos by yours truly 😆) #townheadestate #townheadestatewedding #townheadestatecelebrant #lakedistrictcelebrant #lakedistrictwedding #lakesidewedding #lakewedding #townheadwindermere #windermerewedding #humanistcelebrant #windermerecelebrant #humanistwedding #personalisedwedding #personalisedceremony #nonreligiousceremony #nonrelgiouscelebrant #nontraditionalcelebrant #lovestory #storytelling #storytellingcelebrant #engaged #gettingmarried #weddingsinger #weddinginspo #wedding2025 #wedding2026 #weddingmusic #ceremonymusic #soundon

❤️‍🩹 When you miss me ❤️‍🩹 * Trigger warning, post addresses death & loss * As mentioned on my stories, last weekend, I saw @girlsaloud at the arena here in Leeds, and I was really moved and struck by the way they incorporated Sarah into the set. It was done in a heartfelt, empathetic, and intentional way, and simultaneously, the concert felt joyous, jubilant, and uplifting. It was a celebration of life for the living, enjoying being in the moment and together, and yet also acknowledging those that are no longer with us and who are forever missed. This is exactly what I strive for when remembering and honouring lost loved ones in my Wedding and Naming ceremonies. The girls included photos and footage of Sarah and ensured that some of her iconic lines like 'here I am, a walking primrose, and 'it might sound crazy but your voice still lives me all funky' (which you can hear in the reel) were still delivered by Sarah herself and there was a touching rendition of 'I'll stand by you' dedicated to her. However you want to acknowledge and remember loved ones in your ceremony and the rest of your day, I will do my best to ensure we strike the right tone, use language that feels appropriate to you and that we include them in a way that is holds space for them and you and, at the same time, maintains the high energy and joy that your ceremony deserves. Please do talk to me about ideas and ways to include a lost loved one in your ceremony and wedding. #girlsaloud #humanistcelebrant #humanistceremony #holdspace #heartfeltwedding #empathy #empathiccelebrant #weddingceremony #namingceremony #weddingcelebrant #celebrant #namingcelebrant #yorkshirehumanistcelebrant #yorkshirecelebrant #LeedsCelebrant #yorkcelebrant #meaningfulceremony #ceremony #wedding #Naming #nonreligiouscelebrant #nonreligiousceremony #alternativewedding #alternativechristening #alternativeceremony #alternativecelebrant #quirkywedding #quirkycelebrant #quirkyceremony

🌬 Hovering on air 🌬 I am still on a high from my first wedding of the year which was @the_faversham right here in Leeds. It's a totally fab venue with so much space, and J & S definitely made the most of it with so many fantastic finishing touches and personalisation, including, of course, a personalised Humanist ceremony 😀 Supplier dream team: 📷 @mattsimphoto 🌹@hydeparkflowerclub.by.dotties 💄@rosierobertsbeauty 💇‍♀️@hairbyleahluchia 🎧@rave.thedate 🎤@emberbound 👗@saltairebridal ✏️@stephaniekateillustration #Leedswedding #leedscelebrant #yorkshirecelebrant #humanistcelebrant #yorkshirehumanistcelebrant #yorkshirewedding #alternativewedding #nonreligiouswedding #nonreligiouscelebrant #alternativecelebrant #quirkycelebrant #unweddingleeds #alternativewedding #uniquewedding #personalwedding #leedsweddingvenue #leedsweddingsupplier #westyorkshirecelebrant #northyorkshirewedding #wedding2024 #wedding2025 #wedding2026

🩶 Aisle goals 🩶 Imagine if this was the aisle on your wedding day? For one of my couple's this summer, it will be! I am super excited to be officiating a wedding at Kirkstall Abbey, which is one of the most historic and iconic locations in Leeds, and I got real goosebumps when visiting with B & J ahead of their ceremony there 🥰 This is certainly a venue that needs to be seen to do it justice. If I haven't worked at your venue before, I will always do my best to visit it before your wedding, especially when it is as unique as this one! #aislegoals #weddingaisle #walkingtheaisle #weddingvenue #Leedswedding #weddingleeds #leedscelebrant #Celebrant #weddingcelebrant #westyorkshirecelebrant #yorkshirecelebrant #humanistcelebrantyorkshire #humanistceremony #kirstallabbey #kirkstallabbeywedding #leedscelebrant #nonreligiouscelebrant #nonreligiousceremony #nonreligiouswedding #nontraditionalwedding #alternativewedding #weddinginspo #weddingplanning #engaged #gettingmarried #wedding2024 #wedding2025 #historicweddingvenue #abbeywedding

🤍 A mid-winter wedding in the shire of York 🤍 My final ceremony of 2023 was a beautiful winter wedding set at the stunning @hospitiumweddings @yorkvenues, and I can't quite believe it hasn't graced my grid until now! There were plenty of laughs alongside touching moments as I shared A & S's love stories. There were a pair of perfectly picked readings beautifully delivered, one incredibly well-behaved pooch, and it was all topped off with a textbook tying of the knot 🪢 💛💙❤️ The historic hospitium was the ideal choice for a historical and literary loving pair. The tables were all named after their favourite books, including The Hobbit, Pride and Prejudice, and The Prisoner of Azkaban 😃 The Hospitium is a fab venue and being right in the centre of York, within the museum gardens, it has a location that really can't be rivalled. If you want to match this unique venue with a unique and personal ceremony, then get in touch! #Yorkwedding #yorkweddingvenue #weddingyork #hospitium #hospitiumyork #hospitiumwedding #hospitiumweddingyork #Yorkshirewedding #yorkshireweddingvenue #yorkcelebrant #yorkshirehumanist #yorkshirecelebrant #celebrant #weddingcelebrant #northyorkshirecelebrant #northyorkshirewedding #wedding2024 #wedding2025 #engaged #gettingmarried #alternativewedding #unwedding #quirkywedding #westyorkshirecelebrant #westyorkshirewedding #yorkcitywedding