James Donnan - Celebrant

27/12/2024

Did Santa deliver a surprise engagement ring this Christmas? What a wonderful gift!
You now have the excitement of planning a magical wedding which reflects your individuality. Whether you are setting a wedding date for 2025 or looking ahead to 2026 or beyond you have the opportunity to create a ceremony as unique as you!

A celebrant-led wedding gives you much more flexibility to hold a ceremony wherever you want and include beautiful rituals which amplify your vows. If you want to find out more about how a celebrant can help you create a magical wedding - get in touch!

22/11/2024

Today is Funeral Celebrant Day - an opportunity for independent celebrants to talk about the role they play in helping families through an understandably difficult time in their lives.

We are all self-employed and can be engaged directly - you don't need to engage with us via a funeral director - we are always here to help in whatever way we can.

Aside from conducting a funeral ceremony at a crematorium or burial site, we are able to create bespoke celebrations of life which can be held anywhere.

As direct cremations become more popular, a celebration of life provides the opportunity for friends and family to come together to pay tribute to their loved one and gain closure.

A independent celebrant can help you to create a celebration which really reflects the person who has passed.

Many people are also seeking the help of a celebrant to pre-plan their funeral, ensuring their wishes are set down helping to reduce the work for families when they have gone.

Celebrants came help in so many ways - and we should not be afraid to talk more openly about the end of life. It's a positive thing.

20/10/2024

A busy morning already with some great conversations about how a celebrant can create a very personalised wedding ceremony.

19/10/2024

I'm heading to the Village Hotel Nottingham for another fantastic wedding show. If you are planning a wedding and are close by grab yourself some free tickets!

13/10/2024

Ready to meet visitors to the Sketchley Grange Hotel wedding fair!

08/10/2024

Looking forward to joining other amazing wedding suppliers at Sketchley Grange Hotel, just off the M69 near Hinckley, on Sunday. Everything you could possibly want for the perfect wedding.

01/09/2024

The autumn's nearly upon on and if you are planning your perfect wedding next year or beyond, Sketchley Grange, Hinckley, on Sunday 13 October is a great place to meet a lot of wonderful suppliers - and me! There's always a wide range of wedding services on offer at Love Wedding Shows - East Midlands events - so get online and get yourself some tickets.

25/06/2024

We're very lucky as celebrants that we get to meet so many people and become part of their lives for a short time. It is such a joy to see the excitement of a lovely couple building as I work through the ideas and options to create their special wedding ceremony. Together we will create a magical day which truly reflects who they are. ❤️

29/03/2024

For me, Easter has always been the bridge from hibernating on cold dark nights to embracing the lighter and warm days ahead. A time to escape the house and get out and about. A time to plan exciting things for summer.
I found these words from Donna Ashworth's Wild Hope reflect how I am feeling right now. Have a very happy Easter - whatever you might be doing.

11/02/2024

All set to welcome visitors at the Sketchley Grange wedding fair

05/02/2024

Looking forward to meeting more lovely couples and their families at Sketchley Grange next Sunday. Come and find out how I can help you create a wedding ceremony that is as unique as you. Tickets available at: https://wedshow.co/sketchleytix

21/01/2024

All set up and ready to meet the first visitors!

15/01/2024

Preparing this week for my first wedding fair at the Leicester Marriott Hotel! If you are planning your wedding at the moment, come along to meet a range of wonderful suppliers who can help you create the perfect day.

06/12/2023

This thoughtful article by Oliver Keens in The Independent, argues that whilst people are moving away from traditional formats for funerals, there is still a need to celebrate and reflect on the life of the person who has passed. There is a growing trend towards direct cremations where no ceremony takes place. Often they don't offer the space for family and friends to say goodbye and gain closure.
Oliver's closing words really resonate with me: "Whether it’s a funeral, a wake, a celebration of life, or even just a group of mates listening to a pal’s funeral playlist, surely no death needs to go unmarked or uncelebrated?" Even with a direct cremation, you can hold a celebration or farewell event at a venue or location which reflects the character of the person you have lost. An independent celebrant is able to create a celebration however big or small, however unconventional at wherever you choose, which provides the chance to say goodbye.

Just as there are trends in life, there are also trends in death. Research suggests the act of having a funeral is in decline, but Oliver Keens suggests there is both joy and necessary pain in the informal ways we mark death today

28/11/2023

My new website is up and running! Take a look around to find out more about how I can help you mark life's significant milestones. www.jamesdonnan.co.uk

21/11/2023

Planning a wedding may feel daunting, but creating the ceremony of dreams becomes a lot easier when you work with an independent celebrant. A celebrant will work with you over the months as your plans progress to tailor your ceremony to be exactly what you both want. They will also be able to explain some of the beautiful wedding rituals you can incorporate into your day. Think of me as being part of your wedding team helping to deliver a memorable day.
Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik

15/11/2023

It’s World Celebrants Week! A chance to shout about the amazing work which celebrants do around the world. Our goal is to create and deliver the most wonderful ceremonies which reflect individual preferences and wishes as they mark the significant milestones in our lives.

If you think you know how a wedding or funeral ceremony should run, think again!

We are all familiar with the traditional ceremonies which have been part of family life for hundreds of years. They are often central to the many faiths which are observed across our nations.

However, not everyone wants a religious ceremony - and they can be unclear about what their options are. That’s when a celebrant can help. We can tailor a ceremony to reflect the personality of the individual’s involved - including many beautiful rituals - to truly reflect the love in the room.

Whether a wedding, baby naming, vow renewal or funeral - a celebrant is trained to deliver the right words and music for the occasion. And we will work with you to ensure it totally matches your wishes. Your ceremony - Your way

13/11/2023

It may be a bit miserable outside, but let's get the week started with this great quote. Unattributed, but I wanted to share it. Another busy week ahead - let's go for it!