Creating Ceremony

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Creating Ceremony

Ceremonies with substance, style and soul for all of life’s significant moments. Weddings, vow re There is another way. [email protected]
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feels impersonal and soulless. As an independent celebrant, I can create a ceremony with you for any significant life event, reflecting your personality, your beliefs and your lifestyle. Each ceremony is totally unique and as traditional or as creative as you wish. Get in touch today and let's create a ceremony that's perfect for you.

12/07/2024

I always ask about dress code when I meet a family for a funeral arrangement. Today's was a first though!

It was a heart-wrenching celebration of a very much loved 17 year old boy, who often wore odd socks (the brighter the better) with sliders, and was very fond of dinosaurs - so that was the theme. And his family made this gorgeous dinosaur brooch for me too 🦕🧡

Although his circumstances were beyond tragic, W signed up to be an organ donor when he got his driving license a few months before he died. Because of this, he saved at least 4 lives when he lost his own.

I'll be raising a glass to this outstanding young man tonight, and treasuring my little dinosaur.

20/06/2024

As the sun is setting on another summer solstice, I’m feeling soooo flipping lucky 🤩

🍀 to have had my annual birthday walk with my gorgeous husband and daughter
🍀 that they had made a special picnic for us
🍀 for the glorious sunlight and that the weather finally remembered it was summer!
🍀 that we live near the beautiful South Downs so can just pop out and see views like this
🍀 that I have completed 51 trips around the sun and I’m happy, healthy and doing the work I love

🥰 feeling abundant and bloody grateful for my lot tonight 🥰

06/06/2024

My first post-Camino funeral today, and the roses outside H D Tribe Ltd Funeral Directors in Shoreham were in full glorious bloom. If only this were scratch n sniff, because they smelled gorgeous too!

04/06/2024

My 'job' is a treat and a privilege at the best of times, but this weekend it outdid itself, as I got to marry my gorgeous besties in a ceremony in their beautiful garden

Darren and I have been close friends since we were at school together and he met Matt in the same week I met my husband Richard, 25 years ago. We've all been good friends for all those years, and my girls have known and loved them all their lives.

Darren has been dead set against marriage for as long as I've known him (not least because it wasn't even possible for gay couples for most of that time...), but it was whilst they were looking at pension forecasts (rock and roll) a while ago that they realised they never wanted to leave the other one without, and so it was the best way to secure both of their futures.

It might not be the stuff of romantic legend, but this kind of practical, forward-thinking and deeply supportive love is actually much more of a strong foundation for a long and happy marriage than flowers, chocolates and all that stuff (however lovely) can ever be.

And so we came to last weekend when, in the Welsh sunshine, surrounded by their friends and family (and framed by the most exquisite flowers on their summerhouse, thanks to .and.fabulous.flowers) these two finally tied the knot after all those years together. 'At Last', as Etta James sang when they walked down the aisle...

Congratulations, Mr and Mr W-H! Love you buckets ###

30/05/2024

Ever wondered about becoming a wedding celebrant yourself?

Ten years or so ago, I couldn't get the idea out of my head and I said to my husband 'I just need a sign!!'

Well look at me now 🥰

If you've been thinking the same thing, maybe this is YOUR sign!

My other hat is as head of training at Celebrants Collective and we've got just two places left on our first in-person, 4 day wedding course taking place at Roffey Park Institute 11-14th June.

Could one of those places have your name on it???

Check it out here and let me know if you're feeling called!

https://www.celebrantcourses.com/wedding-celebrant-training-uk-face-to-face-course/

(pic of the gorgeous Patrick and Nirvana with Claire the celebrant standing between them, conducting their ceremony, courtesy of Dominic Smith Photography )

28/05/2024

Just in case you wondered, I haven't fallen off the planet... 😂

Apart from my love/hate relationship with social media having veered very much towards the 'hate' in recent months(!) I've also been busy walking 500 miles across Spain on the Camino de Santiago.

Words cannot describe these last six weeks or so - and certainly not in a post like this. But I'm going to be sharing some longer form thoughts soon and I'll keep you posted.

Anyway... the point is I'M BACK, BABY!

A June full of gorgeous weddings beckons and I cannot wait!

So fill me in - what have I missed?? Tell me everything! 🥰

14/02/2024

What’s your definition of love this Valentines Day??

25/01/2024

What an awesome night it was last night at the The Wedding Industry Awards 2024 finals at 🥰

✨A true sparkle of celebrants indeed ✨ and what a night it was for celebrancy!

Huge congratulations to the national winner, and who was Highly Commended - and also to who won the Newcomer category 🌟

But also a huge congratulations and so much love to all the other celebrants who entered - it is a privilege and a joy to judge all the entries every year, to go through all the painstakingly put together thoughts, photos, videos and testimonials and to see how rich, how varied and how downright awesome the celebrant community is.

Special shout outs to

Also to my fellow judges and Amanda from - it was so good to see you all!

And last but not least, a huge thank you and well done to the seemingly tireless Damian and Anna of TWIA. You guys rock!

06/01/2024

Before… and after!

Baptism of fire for my new boots at the gorgeous (but very muddy) today!

04/01/2024

Really looking forward to the open day coming up soon!

What's better to do on a chilly January Sunday than coming to a gorgeous warm wedding venue, being plied with yummy nibbles, chatting to friendly local suppliers (like me!!) and planning your big day?

Who's in??

03/01/2024

Has a question recently been popped in your life?

Want to do things a little differently?

Shall we have a chat about how you can make your wedding ceremony exactly the way YOU want it (no 'ho hum' or 'shoulds' allowed!)?

Message me! I'm here for it all - especially if you've got a cute/hilarious engagement story because I'm a sucker for those!

Let's do this!

Claire x

03/12/2023

Always a joy to be at Amberley Castle - especially when it’s cold and wet outside and there are log fires and warm twinkly Christmas lights inside!

Today was the wedding showcase and I had the great pleasure of chatting with some fabulous couples about their big day.

Plus how could I resist Danny’s offer to try on his eponymous red hat as it went so well with my outfit?!?

It was also fab to see some of my other supplier friends including

03/12/2023

A few pics of the most magical foggy/frosty/sunny walk on the South Downs yesterday ❄️

28/11/2023

🎉✨ "I Still Do" - Vow Renewals with Va-Va-Voom! 💖

Are you thinking about renewing your vows? My latest blog post is all about adding that extra sparkle to your vow renewal ceremony. Whether you're looking for intimate, quirky, or grand ideas, I've got you covered with inspiration that'll make this occasion as memorable as your wedding day, if not more!

Read on for tips and ideas to make your vow renewal an affair to remember: https://creatingceremony.com/blog/love/vow-renewals/i-still-do-vow-renewals-with-va-va-voom/

Claire xx

[Image description - Text reading '‘I Still Do’ – vow renewals with va-va-voom!' above a photo of a beautiful mature couple at their vow renewal ceremony.]

23/11/2023

🍃💫 Embrace Choice! Craft Your Ceremony Your Way 🌿🎊

The beauty of an independent celebrant-led ceremony is the freedom it grants 🕊️ You're not confined to the traditional pathways but encouraged to tread your own 💖

Whether it's a serene beach wedding, an intimate vow renewal in your back garden, or a heartfelt funeral ceremony, the power of choice is yours - so don't listen to anyone who wants you to fit into their prescription of what your ceremony 'should' be! 🌈

Let's collaborate to create a ceremony that’s a true reflection of your spirit and story 📖

Claire xx

(📸 the gorgeous James and Tracy with me, as captured by Hayley Rose Photography)

19/11/2023

It’s the last day of World Celebrants Week and today is about the best piece of advice I’d give to people organising any kind of ceremony.

Great question and the answer is this: before you do any planning at all, consider what this ceremony is about. What does it mean to you? What do you want to say or show? How do you want to feel? How do you want guests to feel?

Just because you’re planning a ceremony that is familiar, like a wedding or a funeral, it doesn’t mean you have to follow a template. Treat it as a blank canvas and start with what you want your ceremony to mean.

I wrote a blog post on this a while ago actually. You can check it out here: https://creatingceremony.com/blog/love/weddings/what-does-this-ceremony-mean-to-you/

PS at Bev and Tom’s wedding they wanted a relaxed, different and funny ceremony to reflect who they are. Box ticked, as captured by the awesome 🥰😂

18/11/2023

I'm often asked 'what made you become a celebrant?' and the truth is, there are many contributing factors so the answer depends on how long you've got!

But the first time I found out about the existence of celebrants was when my lovely father-in-law Malcolm died, 11 years ago. Ours was an unconventional relationship - a near-silent northerner meeting the chatty southerner who was marrying his son! We didn't really get each other for a long while but, when he moved down to Worthing, we became fast friends and our girls loved spending time with their grandpa (as you can see from this pic that still melts my heart)

When he died, we were asked whether we wanted a celebrant for his funeral. 'A what now?' we replied (as many people still do!) But having James spend time with us, really listening as we talked about our memories and our feelings, and then holding a space for us in the chapel and empowering my husband and our daughter (who was just 10 at the time) to speak during the ceremony, as well as Malcolm's friend to play the piano, changed the whole experience of funerals for me.

At the time, I was a life coach, and I remember thinking 'I'd love to do that if I wasn't coaching'. But the Universe had other things in store for me and, via the gorgeous Sarah and Pat and Terri from I was on my way!

17/11/2023

Day 5 of World Celebrants Week and today is all about ‘my celebrant inspiration’.

There are so many people to include here and please know that those I’ve shouted out before as part of my celebrant journey are still very much loved and appreciated.

However, right now I’m full of the love for the whole global celebrant community who are celebrating our amazing jobs this week. And especially for all our members and trainees at Celebrants Collective who inspire me, motivate me and make me laugh every single day.

And most of all of course to my ‘other half’ and work wife, the fabulous Natasha Johnson who truly is my brow wiper, butt kicker and all-round most amazing friend and biz partner.

Getting all mushy now!! 🥲😂🥰

16/11/2023

Well World Celebrants Week is whizzing by, isn't it?! Day flipping four already!

Today's prompt is 'what is your celebrant superpower?' and it's one I've been pondering...

The most important thing any celebrant can do - even above writing well and being able to present well - is to LISTEN.

Although most people at the ceremony don't see this bit, listening carefully to a couple or a family, engaging fully with their story, and putting their agenda way ahead of mine, allows me (and all good celebrants) to reflect their view of each other, or their person, in their words, with their humour, and in a way that they have told me they'd like the ceremony to be.

I learnt excellent listening skills in my 15 years as a coach, but there's nothing better than being let into people's stories, so I make sure I open my ears to catch every detail (I was told as a kid I was a nosey parker!!!)

So remember when you attend a celebrant-led ceremony next, the person doing that service has spent hours listening so that they can make that time at the front as personal and perfect for the people it's for as possible.

16/11/2023

It would have been this guy’s 9th Stanniversary today. God I miss his stupid face 😢

15/11/2023

World Celebrants Week day 3 and today is all about my 'favourite bits' of being a celebrant. So here goes:

💜 Stories: hearing love stories and life stories and retelling them in a ceremony is always the biggest joy. Through the stories I've been told, I've been privy to living history, laughed with joy, been on a rollercoaster of emotions and also learned the best dating apps!

💙 People: families I meet for funerals, couples, friends and family who are participating in the ceremony, fellow wedding or funeral suppliers, other celebrants... We've laughed, cried, hugged, and drunk a million cups of tea together. You have to be a people person to do this job and I love every second of it.

💚 Love: it's what underpins all the ceremonies, not just the weddings. Love between family, love between friends, even love given from a passing stranger in the form of a reassuring smile or a bit of help. In times like these when the world is going crazier by the second, being around constant reminders of the power of love is such a tonic.

There are a million more awesome things about being a celebrant (including meeting people's pets and them sitting on your lap whilst you're writing notes, which is one of my best things!) but this is turning into a blog post so I'll leave it there for today xx

📸 also, getting the best hugs like this one from Kym at her wedding to Edwin in July, snapped by

14/11/2023

World Celebrants Week day 2 and we're invited to share our top three reasons to choose a celebrant for your ceremony.

Well I'm going to be all maverick here because I've actually written a blog post listing not just 3 but 12 reasons why a celebrant will make your wedding rock. AND all these reasons also apply to funerals and any other kind of ceremony.

Check it out here: https://creatingceremony.com/blog/love/weddings/why-should-you-choose-a-celebrant-for-your-wedding/

📸 me conducting a stormtrooper commitment ceremony at Worthing Wormhole, captured by the fabulous Ed Watts Photography.

14/11/2023

🍂🍁 Fall in love with autumn wedding inspiration! From cosy blankets to warm colour palettes, this blog post has everything you need to plan your perfect autumn wedding 🎉👰🤵

Read on for tips and ideas to make your special day unforgettable: https://creatingceremony.com/blog/love/weddings/fall-in-love-autumn-wedding-inspiration/ 💍💐

Claire xx

[Image description - Text reading 'Fall in love: Autumn wedding inspiration' above a photo of a velvet sofa outside covered with throws and cushions in autumnal colours]

13/11/2023

It's World Celebrants Week again - whoop whoop! A whole week to celebrate all that's awesome about celebrants all over the world, and (possibly even more important) how we can make your ceremony experiences, whatever the occasion, be absolutely tailor-made perfect for you.

The first day's prompt is to introduce ourselves. I know some of you know me well already and some have never seen me before so hopefully there'll be something new for everyone in this little listicle about yours truly:

❤️ I live in sunny Worthing on the south coast of England, with the sea 10 minutes down the road and the South Downs at our backs

🧡 I've been conducting weddings, funerals and other ceremonies for 8 years now and I just love helping people to share their love stories and life stories in a way that reflects them

💛 I'm also co-director of with my awesome 'work wife' Natasha and we get to hang out with awesome celebrants and celebrants-in-the-making from all over the world

💚 I'm going to be walking the Camino de Santiago in April and May next year - 500 miles across the top of Spain in 5 weeks

💙 I've been binge-watching The Morning Show with my husband and my youngest daughter and we're still reeling from the finale - but the question is... what shall I watch next (suggestions below please but I'm not a fan of a crime drama - unless it's Bad Sisters, which was mind-blowing)

💜 Did you know I have a podcast with Natahsa? It's called 'The Celebrant Survival Guide' - check it out wherever you get your podcasts!

🤍 I have ADHD, which is both my superpower and a pain in the bum - but knowing it makes sooo much sense of the rest of my life!

See you tomorrow for day 2!

11/11/2023

Hanging out with legends this weekend!
Biggest legend of them all is of course my work wife Natasha and we’re on a two day event with the ever-awesome also joined today for a guest spot from which blew our minds!
Back again for more tomorrow - we might just explode!!

09/11/2023

🍃💫 Craft Your Vows From The Heart 🌿💞

Your vows are the essence of your commitment 🔐 Let's craft words that echo the depth of your feelings and the promise of your journey together 🌸

I'm here - with guidance, experience and serious cheerleader energy - to empower you to create vows that are as beautiful and unique as your love 💖

Claire xx

(📸 the gorgeous Aimi and Manasé snapped by Matt Ethan Photography)

03/11/2023

I was getting ready to leave for a funeral for a man who loved parrots this morning. As I was gathering my script I looked up through the window and spotted this fellow on the bird feeder! 🦜 💚❤️

Showed the family after the ceremony and they were thrilled he’d shown up like this!

28/10/2023

🌸✨ The journey of being a funeral celebrant has unveiled profound life lessons, turning moments of farewell into a canvas of life-affirming insights.

In my latest blog post, I delve into how the proximity to the final goodbye has shaped a fresh appreciation for the here and now 🍃💫

Curious? Dive into the full reflection and let's celebrate the beauty of embracing our finite, yet precious existence together: https://creatingceremony.com/blog/loss/what-being-a-funeral-celebrant-has-taught-me-about-life/

Claire xx

[Image description - Text reading 'What being a funeral celebrant has taught me about life' above a photo of the Camino de Santiago, Spain.]

24/10/2023

I took a walk round the grounds of Worthing Crematorium this afternoon to clear my head after a funeral. Came across this beautiful tree looking like the burning bush in the sunshine 🔥 🍂

19/10/2023

I've been getting my Judgy Pants on again for the TWIA 2024 Wedding Industry Awards!

It's such an enormous honour (your honour!) to be involved in TWIA. Ever since I won the inaugural regional and national Wedding Celebrant of the Year in 2018, I've followed the awards with great interest, and for the past three years I've been a judge in the celebrant category.

It makes me so blooming proud of our profession to see all the fantastic entries and the passion and dedication that goes into them all. It has taken me many, many hours so far to go through them all but it's so important to give every entrant my full and proper attention. Only a few more to go... bring it on!!

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🔊 Sound on to hear today's funeral reading of The Unknown Shore by Elizabeth Clark Hardy. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's wedding reading of Love Me... by Bee Rawson. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's funeral reading of Come My Friends, Leonard Cohen. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's wedding reading of Let Me Put It This Way by Simon Armitage. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's funeral reading of All Nature Has A Feeling, John Clare. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's wedding reading of A Mouthful of Forevers, Clementine von Radics. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's funeral reading of Finding Beauty by Walter Rinder. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's wedding reading from 'Fleabag' by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's funeral reading from 'The Duino Elegies' by Rainer Maria Rilke Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's wedding reading from ‘Wild Awake’ by Hilary T Smith Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x #creatingceremony #celebrant #celebrants #independentcelebrant #sussexcelebrant #worthingcelebrant #weddingcelebrant #wedding #weddings #weddingreading #weddingreadings

🔊 Sound on to hear today's funeral reading of I Am Of The Countryside by Anon. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's wedding reading of He's Not Perfect by Bob Marley. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's funeral reading of I Just Stepped Out by Felix Dennise. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's wedding reading of From 'Beyond Words' by Frederick Buechner. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's funeral reading of In Time The Sun Does Rise Again by Beau Taplin. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's funeral reading of Life Goes On by Joyce Grenfell. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's wedding reading of I Do Not Love You by Pablo Neruda. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

🔊 Sound on to hear today's funeral reading of Remember Me by Christina Rossetti. Could this be the perfect reading for your ceremony? 🧡 Claire x

World Celebrant Week Day 4 - my celebrant superpower! #worldcelebrantsweek #wcw2022 #funeralcelebrant #weddingcelebrant #officiant #celebrant @celebrantscollective

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Beautiful, bespoke ceremonies for love, life and loss.

Since our arrival on the planet, we humans have instinctively marked important life events with ceremony and ritual. Over time, churches, synagogues, temples and mosques became the natural stewards of these life ceremonies. We live in an increasingly secular world and you may feel that the traditional places of worship don’t feel as though they fit any more. The alternative option of the registrar feels impersonal and soulless. There is another way. As an independent celebrant, I can create a ceremony with you for any significant life event, reflecting your personality, your beliefs and your lifestyle. Each ceremony is totally unique and as traditional or as creative as you wish. Get in touch today and let's create a ceremony that's perfect for you. [email protected] 07929 764162

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Beautiful, bespoke ceremonies for love, life and loss.