I am a unflappable celebrant in Notts. Creating funerals, weddings & naming ceremonies full of heart.
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💥WEDDING REHEARSAL ENERGY💥
🤪 I look like a total goon here because I could not stop grinning at today's wedding rehearsal!
📋 No spoilers, but there's a lot to coordinate, and a run-through was helpful for everyone. It all went brilliantly though, happy days!
🎉 I'm so excited for this one! The energy my couple are bringing is 🧨💥🧨
Nailed it! 🔨
🔨 Whether it's a ceremony script for a funeral, wedding, or anything else I get asked to do, this is what I aim for
🔨 The most important part of my job is listening - what is it my client wants, what are they saying, what are they not saying?
🔨 I love the variety that this job brings and the opportunity to create unique ceremonies that are *just right*
🔨🤍🤍🤍🔨
Saying hello to the local community at Coop West Bridgford Funeralcare's coffee morning. Pop in and grab a coffee and cake until 2pm today, and meet Anna and Emma, part of the wonderful team here
🌈 Here I am, on my way to take a funeral, NOT wearing black.
🌈 Did you know that I always ask clients what they would like me to wear when leading a funeral (or wedding, or any ceremony)?
🌈 I will always try to fit in with a theme or a colour scheme and am happy to dress as formally or informally as you want.
🌈 I know that what I wear helps to set the tone for the whole ceremony, and me fitting in helps everyone to feel more comfortable.
🌈 I have taken funerals wearing jeans, a football shirt, animal print, and a very sparkly dress. I go out of my way to accommodate special requests, if I can.
📢 What funeral or wedding dress codes have you seen? I heard of a request for everyone to attend a funeral wearing Crocs!
For those who have lost their dad, today is another reminder of what is physically missing from their lives. This poem by Donna Ashworth captures so much of that. If you can, try to look for the breadcrumbs ♥️
Sending love to everyone today, and every day, when grief might be hitting that bit harder ♥️
As an independent celebrant, I often help families to create entirely secular ceremonies. Sometimes they do want to include a hymn or a prayer for religious, or traditional, reasons and that's fine too. I work with my client's belief system, not my own.
I wouldn't describe myself as a religious person, but I do find myself drawn to religious buildings, especially, but not exclusively, churches. I find them incredibly peaceful and contemplative places. I marvel at their architecture, the worksmanship within them, and wonder how on earth something could be built of such scale and grandeur hundreds of years ago.
This weekend I found myself in Boston, and visited St Botolph's. It blew me away! The volunteers there were so warm and welcoming, and the sheer size of this parish church was awesome. So, here's a couple of photos of St Botolph's and some other places of worship I've spent time in recently including Gloucester Cathedral, Holy Trinity in Bradford on Avon, Peterborough Cathedral and St Mary's Basilica in Krakow
🌿Think all crematoriums are cold, dark and imposing? Think again. Rushcliffe Oaks couldn't be more different - light, bright and friendly. Come and have a look for yourself at their open day, this Saturday, 13th April.
🌿I'll be there ready to talk about anything and everything relating to funeral ceremonies including music choices, songs you can sing that aren't hymns, why words matter and personal and meaningful rituals. I'm also primed for chatting about whether Forest will stay up, how expensive everything is these days and how grim and grey the last two weeks of Easter holidays have been! Look forward to seeing you there!
✨️Super excited to get started on a wedding ceremony for a very special couple who will be tying the knot here in September.
✨️D & I want a wedding ceremony that sparkles, that is fun and funny, and that their guests will be talking about for years to come. A celebrant's dream brief 🤩
✨️I went to have a look round yesterday and meet up with D & I to talk vibe and style. We are going to have so much fun 🎉 😀 So many stories to tell, and I can't wait to capture the dynamic of the happy couple. Love it when there's a brilliant, instant connection.
✨️ offers a variety of fantastic spaces for all kinds of events and is perfectly positioned riverside next to the suspension bridge. Name a better wedding photo opp!
🚺 I have the greatest privilege of helping families to tell the stories of the important women in their lives at their funerals.
🚺 On this I have been writing tributes and ceremonies for two women, very different in their lives and their characters. But both have struck me for their resilience, their dedication to the multitude of roles they performed, and the way they were quietly inspirational in their world. Totally unassuming, neither would have thought of themselves in that way.
🚺 A reminder, perhaps, that you are having an impact on your world and the people in it, even when you think you're not doing anything groundbreaking or noteworthy. You don't have to be doing big things to make a big difference.
🚺 The pebble in the picture was given to me by a family yesterday, one of hundreds of pebbles with a hole all the way through that their person had collected over the years. We're going to use them in her funeral 🤍
🤍 This is a popular choice for funerals and one of my personal favourites. Understated, uplifting, it seems to resonate with lots of people.
📖 There is so much out there that can make a suitable reading at a funeral, and it doesn't have to mention death.
🤍 Talk to your celebrant about your person and your family. They'll be only too happy to make suggestions of readings that you might not have thought about.
First time at the wonderful yesterday. Such a beautiful, peaceful setting, with views for miles over Belvoir Castle. As we raised our eyes to watch the doves we released in flight, it was the perfect place for this family to say goodbye to their person and think about new chapters.
Hope to be back here with owners Clair and James soon, they have started something very special.
Spot the 🌈 that appeared as we prepared to leave ❤️
🤍 No feedback or words of thanks are ever taken for granted. It really is a privilege to work with people during some of their most difficult times.
🤍 Creating a fitting farewell is so important, and I'm so proud that I get to help people to have a good goodbye.
Last service of the day at Bramcote Crematorium yesterday, and look at that beautiful sky when we came out! The time and venue for a funeral ceremony can make such a difference to the atmosphere it creates. Coming out into the dark seemed to make us all huddle toget more, like a big collective hug ❤️
A stunner of a sunny, crisp morning at Wilford Hill Crematorium for a farewell today. It's a traditional setting, and is a popular choice for funerals where I live. Not hard to see why on a day like today.
Sending love to all the families I've met this year and anyone who's got an empty chair at their table this Christmas. It can be such a difficult time.
Say their name. Feel their presence. Know you are loved.
With much love, Suzanne x
CELEBRANT SUPERPOWERS!
*cringe*
World Celebrants Week: Day 4
I think my *superpower* is the ability to CONNECT with my couples and families as well as all those attending the ceremony. It's this CONNECTION that enables me to understand what it is you want and need from your ceremony, capture your essence, and write and deliver something that resonates with everyone there.
I believe that CONNECTION is at the root of some of the things that my families and couples have said about me (taken directly from reviews and testimonials - which makes me much less cringey than me just telling you why I'm great!)
📣Suzanne was empathetic and sincere
📣You were so caring and professional
📣Your words were beautiful
📣How you captured us was perfect!
📣Your support and guidance was tremendous
📣You listened. We felt heard
📣You were wonderful! People were really touched by what they heard
📣We feel so lucky to have met you and have you be part of our journey
Phew. Glad that's over! 😂
I'm getting on board with and sharing a bit more about the wonderful world of celebrancy.
One thing's for sure, when I'm your celebrant, it's all about YOU and your loved ones. Not me. So, indulge me on day one of World Celebrants Week, which IS all about *ME*!
👋 I'm Suzanne, also known as Sue, Suze, and Mole (sometimes my eyes are so small you can barely see them)
🏉 I love rugby, all kinds of music, singing and dancing badly with friends, port, and people.
👨👩👧👦 I'm married to Mark, who's 6ft3in. I'm 5ft (and shrinking), and we have two children, a 10 yr old and a 5 yr old, who like to keep us on our toes.
🏡 I live in Nottingham, via London, Watford, and Bristol, but I am originally from Gloucester.
💪Before becoming a celebrant, I worked in Events and Communications, storytelling for government, charities and big brands. Now I tell people's stories ❤️
Anything else you'd like to know?! Fire away!
Did you see Stacey Dooley spend time with A. W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service for the BBC programme Inside The Undertakers? I watched with huge interest and share some thoughts below. Would love to know what you all thought!
📣 Anything that promotes conversations about death, dying and what follows is a good thing in my book
📣 It was lovely to see some of my colleagues on the screen. The Lymns team came across as caring and professional - which I know from experience they are
📣 There are very few hard and fast rules about what a funeral has to be like, and how your person is cared for - you have lots of options
📣 All funeral directors are different. It's ok to talk to them, meet them and look around to see who might be a good fit for you and what your family wants and needs
📣Embalming is often not necessary
📣 Loved to see Edwin's funeral - the cricket bats, the colours, the smiles, the singing, the joy, with a wonderful minister that helped to create a fitting farewell for Edwin and his family
📣 Not all celebrants are humanist. For the production team: NOT ALL CELEBRANTS ARE HUMANISTS! Humanism is a belief system of it's own. The celebrant who took Lexi's funeral said she was an independent civil celebrant - so free to include religious and spiritual content as appropriate for the family. So, not a humanist!
📣 Cars and flowers and the like are only important if they matter to you
📣 Loved the lady visiting Gedling crematorium as part of planning her funeral. Crematoria are usually very happy to arrange visits
💥 A great introduction to the funeral industry and brilliant input from A.W. Lymn The Family Funeral Service Maybe there'll be appetite for a part two!! 🤞
Proper autumn vibes at Rushcliffe Oaks today. Had gorgeous sunshine for two funeral services in Nottingham today, but by the end of the second, these grey clouds had rolled in. A beautiful setting in all weather 🍂🌥
I love how music brings people together. The right music, at the right time, can create or change the atmosphere with even the first few beats of the bar.
At a funeral this week, we were able to carry out the wishes of the young chap who had died and requested that everyone sing We Are The Champions at his funeral.
These things can fall a bit flat if the congregation don't give it a good go, but that absolutely was not the case here! There was singing with gusto. There were smiles. There were tears. And there was a feeling of togetherness that singing along with Freddie created. It was beautiful and incredibly moving.
So, don't limit yourself just to hymns if you want singing at your ceremony. Anything goes. And Queen wrote some absolute belters! Bohemian Rhapsody, anybody?!
… CELEBRANT-LED CEREMONIES! 🎉
❤️According to wedding experts “There’s been a 49% increase in search volume for ‘celebrant weddings’ in the past year, and traffic to our article about celebrant-led weddings has increased by an incredible 157%, showing a clear trend for unique wedding ceremonies.”
🧡“Couples are seeking to personalise their wedding ceremonies - the most important part of their wedding day - and have them really tailored to their relationship and history together. Hiring a wedding celebrant is the perfect way to do this.”
💛“Once you see a celebrant ceremony, you’ll never forget it! Many people opt for a celebrant ceremony only once they’ve seen one, having not known about them beforehand.”
💚“Having a celebrant-led ceremony offers couples so much freedom that they wouldn’t necessarily get in a traditional ceremony. There’s room for true flexibility, freedom of time and place and space, ample room for inclusivity and cultural diversity within a single ceremony, a close personal bond with your chosen celebrant who is truly rooting for you throughout your process and beyond. You just don’t get that anywhere else.”
💙“But ultimately, a celebrant-led ceremony is crafted to be a precise reflection of the couple themselves, containing their values, their passions and their joys - their unique love. Their ceremony won’t be like anyone else’s ceremony, just as their love isn’t like anyone else’s love.”
💜Couldn’t have put it better myself! So if you’re having a get in touch to find out how I could help you have the special day you deserve.
Check out for their full report on 2024 Wedding Trends
Totally out of my comfort zone to even mention this, but if you don't ask...
If I have led a ceremony for you, or you've been at one of my ceremonies and think I deserve a nomination, please go ahead and pop my name in the hat! https://independentcelebrants.com/aoic-celebrant-awards/
Something like this would help my celebrant business to be seen by potential clients, and helps to raise the profile of celebrants in general.
The Association of Independent Celebrants (AOIC) are a Trade Association for professional celebrants and I am proud to be one of their members.
It is always lovely to hear from clients that they are happy with the service I have provided, but this feedback from attendees at a funeral I helped to create, for a much-loved lady, just blew me away. These wonderful folk contacted the funeral director when they got back home to share this feedback. I know I am making a difference when I receive messages like this ❤
When you start planning a wedding, thoughts often turn first to where and when do you want to get married. But what about who's going to marry you? Check out my latest blog post for why it's worth thinking about this early on 💍 https://suzannewrightcelebrant.co.uk/?p=250
A bit late to the party... The White House Day Nursery, West Bridgford is celebrating 35 years of helping little ones to thrive. I wrote a poem to try to convey a little of what the nursery, and all its brilliant people mean to me and my family. Happy 35 years The White House Day Nursery, West Bridgford , thank you for being part of our family ❤️
We are pleased to announce our first public open day, this is open to all and you are welcome to come along to see our facilities here at Rushcliffe Oaks. Light refreshments will be served on the day.
Last week, I saw perform live. The man is a genius! He suggested having his song Apart Together as an unconventional first dance - it's a fast waltz, apparently. The lyrics aren't your usual sickly sweet love song, rather a different kind of affirmation of love. It won't be for everyone, but it is a reminder that song lyrics are a goldmine for possible wedding readings. And if you ever get the chance to see Tim Minchin live, do it!
I'm always blown away when clients take the time to send me feedback, especially families I've supported to say goodbye to a loved one.
It's massively appreciated and never taken for granted. Hopefully sharing testimonials like these will help other families to make informed choices.
I’ll never forget telling my team in my corporate job that I was leaving to become a celebrant
– I was greeted by a sea of blank faces! A couple perhaps had an inkling of what I meant,
some quickly googled on their phones, and another said ‘That’s amazing news! What’s a
celebrant?!’
Put simply, it’s someone who creates and leads ceremonies at all the big life events –
weddings, funerals and baby namings are the common ones, but a celebrant can lead many
occasions. A ceremony to celebrate coming out or transitioning? ✅ A vow renewal? ✅
A topping out rite for a construction project? ✅ A memorial service instead of, or as well
as a funeral? ✅ Celebrants can help with all of these and more. Sometimes thought of as an alternative to a religious officiant, celebrants ultimately offer much more - personalisation, flexibility and choice for the client.
What exactly does a celebrant do?
Firstly, they work out with their client what they want their event to do. What is it for? Who is it for? How do they want people to feel? Then
there’s writing the bespoke ceremony; advising on options for music, readings, visual tributes and rituals that the client might wish to include; supporting other contributors with briefs and help them with editing, if required; liaising with venues and other suppliers to ensure the event runs smoothly; gaining client approval on the running order and script –tweaking until it’s absolutely perfect; then finally, leading the ceremony on the day, creating just the right atmosphere for the occasion and supporting everyone involved.
It can be a lot, but it’s by far the most rewarding job I’ve ever had ❤️
Finally setting up the celebrant side of my life up on social media... watch this space!
Nottingham
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World Celebrants Week 2023 Three reasons to choose a celebrant: - CHOICE - BESPOKE - MEANINGFUL #wcw23 #worldcelebrantsweek #celebrant #celebrantnotts #nottingham #nottinghamwedding #nottinghamfuneral
The reality of being a celebrant... often out and about, my office is my phone and laptop. Strangely, these couple of hours I have in which to write when my daughter is climbing, are often the most productive of the week! #flexibleworking #celebrant #nottinghamcelebrant #celebrantlife
Had the privilege of reading this poem at a funeral service last week to say goodbye to a very special lady whose energy will always be felt by her loved ones ❤️
Loving the music and atmosphere @splendourfest with my big bro. Prepared for rain, need sunnies and suncream! Classic british summertime!
Mark Roberts - Magician and Mind Reader
Allens Walk
