The Somerset Celebrant

The Somerset Celebrant Hi, I’m Carol Smith. I’m an independent celebrant. I specialise in funeral, wedding, civil partnership, renewal of vows and naming services.

I create special,memorable and meaningful ceremonies.

Very excited to be chosen by E & J to lead their wedding ceremony at Marshwood Farm in beautiful Blue Anchor in August 2...
09/01/2025

Very excited to be chosen by E & J to lead their wedding ceremony at Marshwood Farm in beautiful Blue Anchor in August 2026
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Bella and Harry looking truly happy and elated as, wedding ceremony completed, they run the gauntlet of petals on the su...
05/01/2025

Bella and Harry looking truly happy and elated as, wedding ceremony completed, they run the gauntlet of petals on the sunniest of summer days ♥️♥️

This magical moment in their beautiful Somerset garden was captured by the wonderfully talented and is the latest addition to my Gallery of confetti shots on the website♥️♥️






Wishing all of you who have supported my celebrant business over the years a happy and peaceful Christmas 🎄 Thank you fo...
24/12/2024

Wishing all of you who have supported my celebrant business over the years a happy and peaceful Christmas 🎄

Thank you for remaining in touch long after I lead your ceremony, and for letting me share in your lives, it means a lot to me 🎄

To the families who have recently lost loved ones, you are in my thoughts at this difficult time of the year🎄

To those of you that are celebrating your first Christmas as a married couple, enjoy this special time of year together 🎄

Carol xx

Lauren and Gary laughing in sheer joy and happiness as they face a blizzard of confetti, stepping outside after their we...
19/12/2024

Lauren and Gary laughing in sheer joy and happiness as they face a blizzard of confetti, stepping outside after their wedding ceremony
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This magical moment at their wedding was beautifully captured by and is the latest addition to my Gallery of confetti shots
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The confetti shot is probably my most favourite wedding photo and so I have a whole page on my website ( Gallery) showing my collection!
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It is also a good place to also showcase the styles of some of the most talented, amazing photographers I have had the pleasure to work with.

https://somersetcelebrant.com/confetti-throws-kisses-and-congas/

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One of the most wonderful things about being a funeral celebrant is that families share precious memories of their loved...
16/12/2024

One of the most wonderful things about being a funeral celebrant is that families share precious memories of their loved ones, as together we write the eulogy, or story of their life.

As such, I learn so much about local history and discover places I know little about, that have played important parts in people’s lives.

Ham Hill Country Park was a Stone Age fortress, and settlement, a quarry for Ham Stone since Victorian times, and local playground for many families living in the area.

It was a place I always wanted to visit and yesterday climbed to the monument at the top.

By sheer coincidence I bumped into a man whose mum’s funeral I had taken around three years ago. We chatted for a while and it was lovely to thank him in person for the little card holder he gave me, inside a thank you card, which I treasure very much ♥️♥️♥️♥️






I’m very excited to have been chosen by N and M to lead their wedding ceremony on their farm, in a beautiful village on ...
13/12/2024

I’m very excited to have been chosen by N and M to lead their wedding ceremony on their farm, in a beautiful village on the Somerset Levels, very close to my home, in summer, 2026
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Do we have to be taken to the crematorium in a hearse ? Not if your beloved VW camper van is your transport of choice 🧡🧡...
06/12/2024

Do we have to be taken to the crematorium in a hearse ?

Not if your beloved VW camper van is your transport of choice 🧡🧡🧡






A very early start this morning to lead a celebration of life ceremony at West Wiltshire Crematorium ❤️
05/12/2024

A very early start this morning to lead a celebration of life ceremony at West Wiltshire Crematorium ❤️




This is a stunning venue and I highly recommend it ❤️
25/11/2024

This is a stunning venue and I highly recommend it ❤️

A Lithuanian Bread, Salt and Wine Ceremony.🥖🧂🍷It is a Lithuanian wedding custom for the parents of the couple getting ma...
16/11/2024

A Lithuanian Bread, Salt and Wine Ceremony.
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It is a Lithuanian wedding custom for the parents of the couple getting married, to present them with some dark rye bread and salt, washed down with either vodka, water or wine
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Traditionally, the dark rye bread represents wealth, health and generosity, as it is almost a sacred thing in Lithuanian culture
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The salt represents some challenges in life that are bound to happen, and it is a must to face and embrace them
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Water symbolises purity and life, a fresh start, whilst wine or vodka is used to toast and celebrate the couple’s marriage.
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Grazina and Matt chose to include a Bread, Salt and Wine ceremony to acknowledge Grazina’s heritage and to include her parents in their ceremony, in a beautiful and meaningful way.
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At the beginning of our ceremony, I welcomed everyone in both English and Lithuanian, with the words,
‘Dėkojame, kad esate čia šia laiminga proga – Thank you for being here on this happy occasion’
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Just before the vows, we invited Grazina’s parents, Sandra and Agnius, to come forward and present the bread, salt and wine🥖🍷🧂
By each breaking a piece of the bread, putting salt on it and eating it, Grazina and Matt showed that together, they would enjoy the good things in life and also accept its bitter moments. The drinking of the wine, symbolised how they would remember to celebrate their marriage through the years
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Sandra then read the advice she had to give Grazina and Matt, to ensure they had a long and happy marriage
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Although Sandra’s words were in Lithuanian, we could feel how kind, touching and important they were to the couple.
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Our Lithuanian Wedding tradition element finished with hugs and kisses and a few tears of love and happiness
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Photos












I ofter get asked, ‘How can I incorporate different elements into my wedding ceremony to make it truly personal and memo...
13/11/2024

I ofter get asked, ‘How can I incorporate different elements into my wedding ceremony to make it truly personal and memorable?’
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The ‘Elements Series’, on the blog, on my website, explains the meaning and significance of different rituals and traditions, and show some of the ways my couples have chosen to incorporate these elements into their ceremonies in their own unique ways.
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I will also share some ideas on here in the coming weeks 😊
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Celebrants who have been well trained with a reputable celebrant training organisation and have many years of experience...
12/11/2024

Celebrants who have been well trained with a reputable celebrant training organisation and have many years of experience under their belt will be very proud to share this information with you
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It is something to bear in mind when choosing a celebrant as it will guarantee not only the quality of your ceremony, but also your enjoyment of working alongside the celebrant and creating it together
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You should ask the questions:
Are you a trained celebrant?
Who was your training body?
How long have you been a celebrant?
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I obtained my Diploma in Family and Funeral Celebrancy with the United Kingdom Society of Celebrants in 2017.
I am a highly trained and experienced family and funeral celebrant.
I have the required skills to create, construct and deliver unique, bespoke and personalised life event ceremonies, including:
wedding ceremonies,
vow renewal ceremonies, commitment ceremonies, handfastings,
child naming,
celebration of life ceremonies,
memorials,
funeral ceremonies.
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If you are looking for a celebrant who listens, and works alongside you, to create a memorable and meaningful ceremony, please get in touch 07530570943
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Each celebrant has their own distinctive style, which is an important consideration for when it comes to choosing one ❤️...
11/11/2024

Each celebrant has their own distinctive style, which is an important consideration for when it comes to choosing one
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I follow a traditional structure, so your guests will recognise the different parts of your wedding ceremony. However, it certainly won’t be old-fashioned. And, as you are not bound by rules or tradition, you are free to let your imagination inspire you
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Your ceremony can be as secular or as spiritual or religious as you wish
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I am happy to include any special elements or family traditions that are important and meaningful to you
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Some couples want a traditional wedding, with traditional vows. Their ceremony is personalised through the telling of their love story, what brought them to this moment, and their hopes and dreams for their future together
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Some couples want to add special elements, for example a Celtic Handfasting to give a nod to Scottish ancestry, or an Arras Money Ceremony, a Filipino wedding custom, or maybe share bread, salt and wine in a Lithuanian wedding tradition. I have even had 2 very large snorting pigs go up the aisle in a German, Glucksschwein, good luck wedding tradition.
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To sum it up ‘Your day - your way’
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If you would like to chat further, here’s my number 07530570943













My great - great uncle, James Kennedy, from Cavan, was born on 9th August 1888 and died on 14th March 1915 age 27.He was...
10/11/2024

My great - great uncle, James Kennedy, from Cavan, was born on 9th August 1888 and died on 14th March 1915 age 27.

He was a Lance Corporal: 2nd Battalion Irish Fusiliers.

On the day he died his regiment were defending St Eloi, a small village 5km south of Ypres.

On 14th March, the Germans attacked after springing two mines beneath the trenches: I guess he was blown to smithereens, as his body was never found.

He is immortalized on the Menin Gate

In 2016, Brian and I went to visit the place of his death - it’s now a well-tended memorial to those years of hell - a garden with some trees and a small pond.

We also spent a lot of time at the Menin Gate, finding his name in the book, and engraved on the wall. At 8 pm, we listened to the buglers from the local fire brigade play The Last Post, whilst wreathes of poppies and flowers were laid and these words from ‘For the Fallen’ by Laurence Binyon were read,
‘They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and the morning We will remember them
It was extremely moving

The poet TK Hulme wrote this poem, whilst serving in the same trenches as my great-great uncle. He too was killed in the war.

Trenches: St Eloi
Over the flat slopes of St Eloi
A wide wall of sand bags.
Night,
In the silence desultory men
Pottering over small fires, cleaning their mess- tins:
To and fro, from the lines,
Men walk as on Piccadilly,
Making paths in the dark,
Through scattered dead horses,
Over a dead Belgian’s belly.
The Germans have rockets. The English have no rockets.
Behind the line, cannon, hidden, lying back miles.
Behind the line, chaos:
My mind is a corridor. The minds about me are corridors.
Nothing suggests itself. There is nothing to do but keep on.
T E Hulme 1883 - 1917

Lest we forget x

What are the advantages of doing the ‘legal bit’ separately from your wedding?💚💚Separating the legal side of your weddin...
09/11/2024

What are the advantages of doing the ‘legal bit’ separately from your wedding?
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Separating the legal side of your wedding ceremony enables you to have a bespoke ceremony that is truly unique and memorable
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A ceremony that truly reflects who you are as a couple and incorporates your ideas, values and personalities
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A registrar can only hold a ceremony in a licenced venue.
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A celebrant gives you the freedom to hold your ceremony in a place that’s significant to you, be it a beach, a forest, a bluebell glade, a pub, your farm or garden, stately home, tipi, castle or even a licensed wedding venue. It’s completely your choice
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This year, I have led some weddings in the most stunning hidden gems, including a 12th Century almshouse, in Glastonbury, a village green, a wedfest wedding field, an old stone dancehall, and even in a cider vat on a Somerset cider farm - don’t worry it was empty!!
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The Amber Spyglass“I will love you forever; whatever happens. Till I die and after I die, and when I find my way out of ...
07/11/2024

The Amber Spyglass

“I will love you forever; whatever happens. Till I die and after I die, and when I find my way out of the land of the dead, I’ll drift about forever, all my atoms, till I find you again… I’ll be looking for you, every moment, every single moment. And when we do find each other again, we’ll cling together so tight that nothing and no one’ll ever tear us apart. Every atom of me and every atom of you… We’ll live in birds and flowers and dragonflies and pine trees and in clouds and in those little specks of light you see floating in sunbeams… And when they use our atoms to make new lives, they won’t just be able to take one, they’ll have to take two, one of you and one of me.”
Phillip Pullman

I often get asked, ‘What is the cheapest way to get the legal bit done?🤎🤎🤎The cheapest and shortest option available to ...
06/11/2024

I often get asked, ‘What is the cheapest way to get the legal bit done?
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The cheapest and shortest option available to complete the legal part of your marriage is to have the  basic “2+2” ceremony, at a registry office
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The 2+2  ceremony includes: a declaration, contracting words, and an optional ring vow, chosen from a short standard selection.These are the legal elements needed to perform a marriage
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The only people to attend will be yourselves, your two witnesses and the registrars
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The cost is £42 per person to give notice and £68.50 for the 2×2 ceremony
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My partner, Brian, and I were the witnesses at my daughter, Millie and Ben’s 2+2 at Taunton Register Office. It was a couple of months after their wedding ceremony. Although a low key affair, held in the entrance hall, at the bottom of the stairs, we had a lovely day.
















Celebrant of Registrar ? What’s the same ? What’s different ?Both a registrar and a celebrant want you to enjoy your cer...
05/11/2024

Celebrant of Registrar ? What’s the same ? What’s different ?
Both a registrar and a celebrant want you to enjoy your ceremony, but what they offer is very different
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A registrar is employed by the local authority and is able to perform the legal part of a marriage. The service must be held in a licensed area.
Registrars may perform 3 or 4 wedding services a day, so you get given a time slot, and you probably will not meet them before the day.
The format and content of the ceremony is dictated by legislation and no religious or spiritual content can be included. Any readings must be seen and approved before the ceremony
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An Independent celebrant is self-employed and is unable to perform the legal part of the ceremony
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Some couples choosing a celebrant-led wedding tend to get the legal part out of the way a few days before, leaving them free to enjoy their wedding day as they truly want it. This can give them more days of celebrations
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Which is exactly what my daughter Sophie and her husband Chris opted for
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Why is jumping the broom a popular ritual to include in a wedding ceremony? 🧹🧹 Couples jump the broom to signify their crossing of a threshold into a new relationship as husband and wife 🧹🧹 The broom has been the symbol of the home for many different cultures throughout history and represents the gateway between past and present, a symbol of new beginnings 🧹🧹 The couple hold the broom, and, by sweeping, signify the sweeping away of their former single lives, their past problems, and their previous cares 🧹🧹 By sharing together in the sweeping, it shows their dedication to work together, through all life’s circumstances. 🧹🧹 The broom is then placed on the ground, they hold hands, the guests do a very loud and enthusiastic countdown, ‘ 3, 2, 1’ and over they go, jumping into their future life together 🧹🧹 As well as being full of symbolic meaning, it is fun, it enables all the guests to be included in the ceremony, and ends it literally on a high 🧹🧹🧹 #carolcelebrant #somersetcelebrant #southwestcelebrant #broomjump #broomjumping #broomjumpingceremony #jumpthebroom #sweepawayyourtroubles

It’s a wonderful moment to arrive at a venue and see it set up and ready for the day, in all it’s glory✨ Just look at Gemma & David’s stunning ceremony space and soak up the atmosphere at @fieldgoodbar.co.uk, and check out the stunning florals from @field_good_flowers ✨ #carolcelebrant #somersetcelebrant #southwestwedding #outdoorwedding #weddingelements #weddingideas #broomjump #broomjumping #broomjumpingceremony #jumpingthebroom #weddingflowers

That exciting time just before Josie & Johnny’s beautiful wedding ceremony @baltonsvh when guests are arriving, having a drink and catching up with friends and family 💖💖💖 And when the ceremony space is not restricted, this is a perfect way to set it out 💖💖 @carolcelebrant #somersetcelebrant #southwestcelebrant #villagewedding #villagegreenwedding #outdoorwedding

This is inside the vintage oak cider vat at Sheppy’s Cider Farm where Sam & Roy held their handfasting ceremony last week 🤍🤍🤍#carolcelebrant #somersetcelebrant #southwestcelebrant #handfastingcelebrant #handfasting #handfastingceremony #handfastingwedding

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The Somerset Celebrant

Hi, I’m Carol, an experienced and professional independent celebrant based in Somerset. I deliver unique, personalised and meaningful ceremonies for those special occasions in life, throughout the Southwest, the UK and abroad. And, I’m really passionate about weddings !!

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. It should be incredibly special and memorable. As your relationship is unique, so your wedding ceremony should reflect your relationship in all its aspects.

Using a celebrant means that you are not bound by tradition and you are free to let your imagination inspire you.

It gives you the freedom to choose your own special place for your ceremony. Farms, castles, beaches, gardens, barns, meadows, stately homes, hotels, tipis, seaside piers, forests and hills - take your pick !