Rachael Meyer - Wedding celebrant in Harrogate, Yorkshire

02/06/2025

Lovely review just in from last week's wedding at Thirsk Lodge Barns..... Thank you so much, Kim and Tom!

"Rachael conducted our humanist ceremony last week and we could not be happier with how it went - it was the best part of our day and so many of our guests approached us to say it was the best ceremony they’d ever been to.

Rache was a joy to work with from the very beginning. She took the time to get to know us, and our story, and it meant that our ceremony was something so special and so unique to us, which is exactly what we wanted. The service was exceptional - Rache was super responsive to any questions, invaluable when it came to sense checking our secret letters and so effortless in her delivery on the day.

We are so grateful we found Rachael and that she was able to be a part of our day and would absolutely recommend her for any event."

27/05/2025

You may not know the difference between a Humanist Celebrant and an Independent Celebrant, but I just wrote a blog post that explains it (and that also talks about the extra "thing" that we have going on up here in the North East!)

It's a long read, but it's factual, and explains the lot! Humanist Ceremonies

Are you looking for a good wedding celebrant in the North East/Northumberland? Fantastic - you're already on track to experience the very best type of ceremony possible for your big day - one that's got you and your story at the front and centre of your wedding celebrations. If you're planning a non...

25/05/2025

Yesterday. So beautiful. And such fun. Thought I'd throw a little colour into the black and white theme....

22/05/2025

An English garden wedding at its absolute best last weekend, with the loveliest couple - Alex and Frances - and a simply exquisite venue - Thickett Priory - in North Yorkshire. Absolute perfection. And my first experience of working with a gospel choir. What a fabulously inclusive wedding ceremony. Tears and smiles in all the right places, and a singalong to Lean On Me. An utter joy from start to finish.

19/05/2025

I delivered two very hard humanist funeral ceremonies last week, for two fabulous women who died too soon. This week, I'm guiding a 28 year old through the process of planning one for his partner. It's a privilege to be able to help people through the fog when the going is as tough as it can get; enable them to revisit the good times as I find out about their loved one, then write and tell life stories in a way that their families can totally connect with. It turns the hardest goodbye - an unrepeatable event - into an uplifting experience.

If you're in the unfortunate position of arranging a funeral or celebration of life ceremony; my top tip is to find your own celebrant and speak to them before booking your funeral ceremony at a crematorium. Then you can go through ideas before you are tied to a 20 minute slot.

One of the amazing ladies who died, I met 6 months ago, at her house, after she'd had a terminal diagnosis. She told me her own life story, and she agreed for me to film her (on my iPhone) reading a "no regrets" letter she'd written to her husband and sons. She approved the video and the ceremony script I wrote last October. I've never met anyone so inspiring or brave.

I got this beautiful review from her husband the following day: "From Neil: "Rachael had “got” Zoe completely in these few hours together. That much was clear from the wonderful narrative of Zoe’s life which she put together.
However, Rachael brought far more than just a beautifully told life story to Zoe’s service. She wrote and delivered a wonderfully comforting introduction which focused everyone on the sad background to the occasion, while inviting them to still celebrate a life well lived. Rachael also lent practical and emotional support to those of us who were to speak during the service.

But, arguably an even greater blessing than any of that was the understated but natural warmth which she brought to proceedings as a whole. Countless people have since told us that the service was the most personal and uplifting of any funeral they had attended. As a family, we will simply never be able to properly thank her or adequately express the comfort that her involvement in an ultimately deeply distressing process gave to us."

Of course, not everyone's in a position to plan their own funeral. However it works, I get totally invested in the families I work with.

From Andy: "The story narrative was perfect and you tailored everything in beautifully. You inspired me to be strong and do Kim proud. Scores of people have spoken to me or texted me to tell me how wonderful the celebration was and indeed how excellent you were. I can’t thank you enough for your meticulous planning, your thoughtful leadership of us all, your instinctive insight into Kim, her personality and her life. You created the ceremony with gentleness, humour and wisdom, and so we were all able to leave inspired, and happy to have had Kim in our lives. Thank you."

23/04/2025

Today’s elopement wedding ceremony for a gorgeous American couple at Swinton Castle. Because Elle had always dreamt of having her wedding in an English castle and Michael brought her dream to life. Just me, them, Elle’s 2 sisters and the photographer and videographer…

Just lovely. Intimate. Personal. Relaxed. A love story told. A handfasting. And a surprise owl delivering the rings.

11/04/2025

https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/apr/11/thousands-like-us-couples-take-uk-government-to-court-over-humanist-marriages

Exclusive: Action comes five years after lack of legal recognition for humanist marriage in England and Wales was ruled discriminatory

30/03/2025

I made this a while ago. But it still stands….

25/03/2025

As wedding season springs into overdrive, I begin with a FABULOUS wedding ceremony review from, and Laura, whose wedding ceremony last summer in Harrogate was an absolute dream! Thank you so much, guys!!! ###



REVIEW:

“We had the absolute pleasure of having Rachael Meyer as our celebrant for our wedding ceremony last August at Rudding Park. She created the most beautiful, heartfelt ceremony that told our story perfectly. It was completely unique and personal to us, and how she managed to capture everything so wonderfully after just a few hours of meeting us is beyond us - it really shows how talented she is!

The ceremony was filled with emotion, happy tears, plenty of laughter, and lots of live music! Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how special and personal it felt, and that’s all thanks to Rachael. Her warmth and genuine approach made the entire experience so memorable, and we are incredibly grateful to have had her as part of our day. If you’re looking for someone who truly cares about making your ceremony unforgettable, we couldn’t recommend Rachael highly enough!”

06/03/2025

Sneaky mid afternoon walk to make the most of the sunshine! 🌞

31/12/2024

OK. Here goes. A speedy, and not very well put together New Year's Eve message.....!! A huge thank you to ALL of my gorgeous wedding couples for booking me and/or having me deliver their wedding ceremonies this year - and a big shout out to all the great suppliers and venues I've worked with from Nottingham to Hexham - what a blast we've had with such beauty and romance!!!!

A thank you must also go to all those who've booked me for funeral ceremonies and celebrations of life.

I've shared some epic stories, been at the heart of people's important days on their life journeys; continued to learn about humankind, been grateful for many things (especially longstanding friendships); and met some fabulous new people. This year, I've been extremely lucky to have not had many dramas. It’s been more about new beginnings.

Together with Simon, I've had the good fortune to enjoy life. I've embraced the sea dip, the beach walks, the local community, the fab bars, restaurants, arts and music here, and actually getting out of bed for the sunrise (NEVER thought I'd say that).

Not looking forward to a diet of lettuce and bananas come the first week of January, but every single pound gained has been as a result of thoroughly enjoying time with family and friends.... so thanks everyone who's made a huge effort to come and see me and Simon (and Luna) in our new home. It's been an awful lot of fun.

Happy New Year, all. Hope 2025 brings peace, calm, joy, opportunity and plenty of fun. Life is for the taking. Go forth with a smile, gratitude, optimism and a brave heart.

Pro photos by Victoria Baker Weddings, Steve McNiven, Courtney Marie and Chris Snowden.

Happy New Year to all. xx

PS I’ve been absolutely rubbish at hounding my couples for reviews and a few of their pro photos and highlights videos this year - hence the small selection here (scroll down, newbies and other 2024 couples, to see selfies and reels from this year’s weddings). If you haven’t sent me your pro galleries and highlights videos, I’d love to see them, and if you’d like to leave me a review, I’d be hugely grateful…

11/12/2024

Very pleased to announce my new role as Coordinator of the North East Humanist celebrants. Wye aye. Taking over from the very canny …. Lovely to see some of the NE celebrants at our Xmas social tonight. Embracing my new-found Geordie pride. Onwards and upwards. Every day’s a school day. Thanks for the T-shirt