Ceremonies with Rachael - York Wedding Celebrant

01/03/2025

“Thank you so much for conducting our wedding in July! We are so grateful that you took the time to get to know us and have such a personal ceremony that truly reflected who we are. All of your hard work and dedication is very appreciated by us. We loved the script and also the hand tying ceremony - it exceeded all of our expectations.

We had so many lovely compliments from our family and friends on our ceremony, and we will cherish that day forever. We would like to sincerely thank you for being part of our lives and sharing in our special day.

Love, Natalie + Matt ###”

Photo by Hannah Shearman Photo & Film

27/02/2025

When’s the best time to book your wedding celebrant?

There’s only one bad time to book your wedding celebrant: when she’s already booked for your date!

Ideally, you should book your celebrant as soon as you have your venue and date sorted. This ensures you can find somebody you vibe with, and it allows you to tick off an important bit of wedmin! Plus, meeting your celebrant is one of the fun bits of wedding planning.

I work with a strictly limited number of couples each year. This allows me to give my couples the time they deserve. If you have your eye on a particular celebrant - don’t delay!

26/02/2025

Lovely to re-live Tasha + Raef’s summery Grays Court wedding on the Humanist Ceremonies blog 🥰

Surgeons Tasha and Raef had a humanist wedding in York – the town where they first met as students. Here they explain how, with help from their humanist celebrant, they created a personal wedding ceremony with equality and inclusion at its heart. ‘We’ve both lived in a lot of different places ...

25/02/2025

Hello, lovebirds! Though I’m happiest when sharing other people’s love stories, I thought it’s about time to show my face on the grid once more and tell you what makes me tick!

Originally hailing from the gorgeous Lake District, I now live in lovely historic York where I live with my spouse and one very vigorous toddler.

I originally trained as a museum curator, and I still do some freelance work supporting museums. This means I have random knowledge about very specific things - women suffragettes, cold war bunkers and the history of shoe design have all featured in my past career! But also this work has informed my love of storytelling, my commitment to inclusivity and my dedication to providing an amazing experience for my couples.

When I’m not creating weddings or wrangling a toddler, I’m a serial hobbyist! I like to unwind in my regular ballet class, and I also play in a brass band. I find dancing and making music are the two times I can calm my mind - there’s something about using every part of your body to create something with other people that I find really precious. I like to think these hobbies have contributed to my graceful nature and the sense of calm I bring to weddings, as well as my ability to perform.

I looove nature and am a bit of a bird nerd! I donate to The Woodland Trust’s tree planting fund in honour of every couple I wed - there’s a small forest in the world because of my couples and that’s awesome!

I’ve been veggie for around 14 years. I’m evangelical about certain cookbooks - DM me for my latest faves!

That’s me - anything else you’d like to know?!

Photos by Orange Ivy Photography Chris Milner Photography Rachel Bice Photography

21/02/2025

Black tie is always a good idea! Take me back to Becky + Ed’s glamorous, summery, Saltmarshe Hall wedding ceremony, where we gathered under the trees to celebrate their love in style.

Ceremonies with Rachael
Looks like a wedding. Feels like you.

17/02/2025

What if it all goes right?!!

According to marketing theory, I’m supposed to speak to your ‘pain points’ around getting married, your anxieties and stresses… But I don’t really want to do that!

What if it all goes right?
What if your ceremony is the high point of your wedding day?
What if you share the best moment with your beloved?
What if your cheeks ache from smiling and laughing?
What if your guests all feel part of your ceremony, and understand your journey as a couple?

What a feeling that would be! 🥰

That’s the vibe I try to create in my wedding ceremonies, and the space I curate on my socials.






Photo by

14/02/2025

Exceedingly kind words from Jordan + Greg after their luxurious Castle wedding ceremony!

"We are beyond grateful for Rachael as she made our day truly amazing. From the very first meeting, she exuded warmth, professionalism, and a genuine passion for honoring our love connection. Her attention to detail and her ability to understand and incorporate our love story into the ceremony made the day incredibly personal and memorable.

Her calming presence helped us both feel relaxed and focused, allowing us to fully enjoy the moment. The way she conducted the ceremony was nothing short of magical. Her words were heartfelt and beautifully delivered, capturing the essence of our relationship perfectly.

Our guests were equally impressed, many of them commenting on how touching and unique the ceremony was. She struck the perfect balance between humor and sincerity, ensuring there wasn't a dry eye in the house while also bringing smiles and laughter. We couldn't have asked for a better celebrant.

She went above and beyond to make our wedding day unforgettable, and we will cherish the memories of our ceremony forever. We highly recommend her to any couple looking for a celebrant who will make their special day truly extraordinary. Thank you for making our dream wedding a reality!

Love Jordan & Greg."

Photo by Ben Cummings.

10/02/2025

I love it when bilingual couples celebrate their differences in their wedding ceremonies!

Hayley and Roman travelled from Switzerland to York for their wedding ceremony, bringing their Swiss and Yorkshire family and friends together for their wedding.

When it came to their wedding vows, they each spoke in the other’s language - a simple yet beautiful gift to each other.

I have substantial experience of working with international couples, so if that’s you, email me to find out how I can create your perfect wedding ceremony.

07/02/2025

How do you know if a celebrant led wedding ceremony is right for you?

It’s not for everybody!

A Humanist celebrant led ceremony is for couples who…

♡ prioritise the things that matter to them - whether that’s sharing their love story or sharing their values

♡ want to marry in a way that’s personal to them, supported by a celebrant who takes the time to get to know them

♡ will enjoy investing time crafting a wedding ceremony unique to them, reflecting on what their marriage means.

Does that sound like you? I’m here to discuss how we can make your intentional, personal wedding a reality - slide in my DMs to talk!

06/02/2025

A👏registrar👏isn’t👏your👏only👏option!! 🤣

03/02/2025

Your wedding ceremony is the perfect moment to show your loved ones who you are, as a couple and as individuals.

My recent blog shares how I’ve worked with my couples to celebrate their culture within their Humanist wedding ceremony - take a for more inspiration!

Jen + Phil honoured Phil’s Greek background with a beautifully engaging stefana ceremony. Best man Spencer took part in the ceremony, using the crowns worn by Phil’s parents on their own wedding day, bringing maximum meaning to the ceremony.

Link below for more gorgeous, personalised wedding inspiration…

https://www.ceremonieswithrachael.com/york-wedding-blog/how-to-incorporate-your-culture-into-your-wedding

Suppliers:


harrogate event.styling bridal

Tips and ideas on incorporating wedding traditions from different cultures into your wedding day, including Greek, Italian, Swiss, Persian and Scottish examples.

27/01/2025

Lovely words from E + M from their recent Sandburn Hall wedding ceremony to warm my heart on a cold day 🥰

“Rachael was amazing from start to finish. We booked Rachel last minute as we needed to move our wedding forward in a rush due to health complications.

Rachael was so attentive before hand making sure she had everything to tell our love story exactly how we wanted it telling!

We were adamant we didn’t want a soppy wedding we wanted a fun ceremony which everyone would remember and that’s exactly what we got and more!

Rachael took the time to get to know Me and Max before hand, keeping in touch with us and going through a rehearsal the night before to calm any nerves. She thought of everything and every single guest who attended said it was the best ceremony they have ever been too!

Thank you so much Rachael I’m so grateful we had you as part of our day. If you are thinking of booking with Rachael DO IT!!”

- E + M

Photo by

26/01/2025

Ever wonder who books me and why? I certainly do! There’s so many amazing celebrants about, all bringing their own special thing to people’s wedding days.

Last year I asked why couples chose to work with me… and the results were interesting! 🤣

24/01/2025

You don't *have* to email me from a beach in Mauritius, but if you do, I'll be very glad to read it!

"We’re lying on a beach in Mauritius reflecting on the day and were just saying how we needed to email you!

We had the best of days and that was in no small part down to the ceremony ❤️ Everyone has commented on how uplifting it was, how fabulous you were - delivering a sense of ceremony with the perfect balance of humour - and how much they loved hearing our love story. There are now many more converts to the humanist wedding blessing!

You’ve been a dream to work with from beginning to end. A ray of calm at our most stressful points and skillfully keeping us on track when there were so many other demands we couldn’t think or focus!

We’re so glad it was you with us on the day!"

S + S

Supplier team

18/01/2025

Hello Facebook fans*! I've got a little request that would make a huge difference to my wedding business... If you have seen me delivering a wedding ceremony, I'd be eternally grateful if you gave me a review.

You don't have to have been the couple getting married - you might have been a guest or a relative. You might have been working at the wedding as venue staff or a photographer or videographer.

Just click the link to share your experience of my wedding ceremony, and how I contributed to the couple's special day.

https://g.co/kgs/JGNFCdE

* not you mum! Google will know! 😜

13/01/2025

⚡️Your wedding doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s!!⚡️

Your relationship isn’t like everyone else’s. Lean into the things that make your love unique, and make sure your wedding ceremony celebrates them.

J + P’s Harrogate wedding ceremony reflected their humour and also P’s Greek heritage, with a warm ceremony full of laughter and a stefana ceremony.

Get in touch if you want to discuss how to create a wedding ceremony that brings together everything you are…

Rachael xx

Gorgeous photos by

04/01/2025

3 tips for kissing in your ceremony:

1) If it feels right, go for it! Don’t wait until you’re told to kiss- add in a few smooches at random!

2) When it comes to the big kiss, hold it slightly longer than you would usually - give your photographer a chance to capture this moment!

3) An aisle kiss is a fabulous way to end your ceremony - surrounded by loved ones and close to your beloved 🥰

I’d love to know other celebrants ideas, and photographers too…

Photography

03/01/2025

One tip for planning your wedding day that will make a huge difference: make sure you plan some time alone. Whether it’s a moment post-ceremony to share a Prosecco, a drive in your wedding vehicle or a little portrait shoot, plan in some time to kiss, laugh, be silly and connect on your wedding day.








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