Independent Celebrant Retreats

18/03/2024

This is the wonderful Lynn Herbert from Hertfordshire, pictured here working hard, playing hard and also having her professional photos taken at Somerford Hall. 💫

Lynn has very kindly sent this review of her time spent on retreat a couple of week’s ago and explains why she’s already booked her place for next year. 🙏❤️😘

‘’Well, what can I say about the Independent Celebrant Retreat - what an amazing weekend!

Connect and reconnect with Celebrant friends old and new, who come together to share their skills, experience and best practice to be the best Celebrants that they can be.

The sessions are a great mix of learning and fun in a relaxed and friendly environment, a time to reinvest in yourself and your business.

Book it - you won’t regret it!’’

Photos

14/03/2024

Hi there, I’m Lisa Lister, the face and the inspiration behind Independent Celebrant Retreats, and I honestly couldn’t be prouder of the incredible community of celebrants we’ve created!

We’ve just arrived back from a fabulous few days away at Somerford Hall in Staffordshire and the feedback has been, once again, nothing short of incredible. Our group of 25 fantastic ladies inspired each other, learned together, made some amazing connections with each other and laughed together ALL weekend! Our unique bonds of friendship were confirmed, created and cemented!

So what makes our events so special? Well… people always take a leap of faith when they first come along to their first retreat but very soon they become well and truly hooked! So much so that some of our retreaters are now booking their fourth or fifth retreat with us!

The welcome that is afforded newcomers is nothing short of amazing. We value and welcome people as they walk through our doors like no other celebrant organisation out there and then the magic that happens over the following few days is just addictive. We have nurtured a community which is open, honest, supportive, educational but most of all fun. And don’t just take my word for it, check out some of the video testimonials from our members, newbies and otherwise, on our feed.

Yesterday we launched our 2025 retreat to this year’s attendees and within just 24 hours, 18 places had already been reserved. So this should give some indication as to just how fabulous our events are!

Next year’s retreat will take place at the sumptuous Huntsham Court in Devon from 6-9 March and already has all the ingredients of becoming our best retreat yet. We’ve managed to secure a super deal with the owners there which means we can offer 5 star accommodation at 3 star prices, but more importantly a jam packed program of activities designed to boost your business, nurture your soul and have you belly laughing all weekend!

Places are already limited but bookings will be open very soon. In the meantime if you’d like to register your interest please drop us a message, along with your email address, and we’ll send more information. 😊

Photo by

14/03/2024

This is the lovely Sian Allen of Magpie Ceremonies, who joined us for the first time this year. Hear what she has to say about her experience of coming along as a newbie and why she’s already booked to come back again next year. ❤️

14/03/2024

Here’s the lovely Tracy Munday from Stafford who explains what it’s really like to attend your first Independent Celebrant Retreat. When we say we offer newbies a huge, heartfelt and genuine welcome, we really do mean it!! See you next year Tracy 😘xx

07/03/2024

Somerford Hall 2024 ❤️

02/02/2024

Who’s in your corner in 2024?

Are you part of a professional celebrant community?

Do you have a group of cheerleaders; always there to encourage you to achieve more, to champion you and to support you on a daily basis?

Do you have a group of knowledgeable peers always on hand to ask questions to, to rant to, to share skills and experiences with, and to laugh with?

If not, why not grab yourself a last minute place at our next retreat and become one of our gang!

Our unique community is formed of a truly amazing group of celebrants, all of whom met through one of our Independent Celebrant Retreats, and all of whom are now firm friends. We are a very special group of celebrants - and you are very welcome to join us!

What are the details of the next retreat?

🌟 Where and when.
Somerford Hall nr Stafford
29th Feb - 4 March
Fully catered, 4 nights and 5 days. Cost: £695

🌟 The theme of the next retreat will be ‘Visibility’. Including a variety of workshops and activities designed to improve how we interact and engage with our clients, and how we market ourselves and our services in order to gain more business.

🌟 Suitable for established celebrants and newbies. Wedding and/or funeral celebrants.

🌟 Claire Reeves, business coach will with us again but this year will be covering subjects such as:

* How to overcome Imposter Syndrome (how to believe in yourself so your clients believe in you)
* How to create a confident state to have outstanding sales/exploratory/initial calls
* How to navigate the, ‘I can’t afford it’, objection in exploratory conversations
* How to be vulnerable and authentic within your business to forge genuine relationships and build connections

🌟 Vicky Griffiths from Hwyl Ceremonies will be delivering a Wedding Fair Masterclass. Delving into how create a stand out marketing space, how to engage effectively with couples and how to come away with more quality leads and bookings.

🌟 Kate and Kate from the Coffin Club will be joining us and tackling the tricky subject of how to bypass the FDs and market directly to families, as well as sharing their unique take on how to engage in the ‘Funeral Revolution’.

🌟You’ll have the opportunity to participate in focussed Mind Hive discussion groups, where you can bring your particular questions/concerns/queries to the group and be guaranteed to share and discuss those with others who will be more than happy to offer their wisdom and experience.

🌟 You’ll also be able to let your creative juices flow by creating and participating in the most joyful array of ceremonies! Probably the highlight of our weekend!

🌟 And whilst all this is going on we will also have a highly experienced lifestyle photographer with us all weekend, who will offer each person your own set of half a dozen professional photos to take away, free of charge, for use to enhance your marketing/branding.

🌟We also like to put the ‘treat’ element into each of our retreats, and this year will be no different.

Additional activities include:

A wonderful Sound bath
A fabulous Singing workshop
A joyful Laughter Yoga session
A full blown Ceilidh Evening, and…
Our famous party night!
We even have a hot tub at our disposal - so bring your cossie!!

🌟 Don’t do it alone - come and join us, level up your business and make new friends. We promise you won’t regret it!

🌟22 people have already secured their place (including 8 first time retreaters) and our WhatsApp group is already absolutely buzzing with excitement!!

🌟We have just 2 places remaining. So what are you waiting for?

🌟 For more information or to book your place please contact Lisa at [email protected]

🌟 Come and join us, you’ll be sure of a very warm welcome!!

22/11/2023

We have just a handful of places left on our 2024 retreat which will be held at Somerford Hall near Stafford from 29th Feb until 4th March.

We have been successfully running residential events for the last four years, and we are incredibly proud to be able to say that our retreats provide a genuinely unique, uplifting and rewarding experience for all those who attend.

We pride ourselves on being totally independent and welcome ALL celebrants; regardless of which organisation they trained with, or how long ago they trained. What is always consistent though, is the very warm welcome that is afforded to everybody who attends!

Our retreats provide a safe space in which we are able to learn, to connect, to reflect and relax, and also to give our businesses a bit of a boost too, whilst at the same time, affording us a little space to focus on our own wellbeing.

We invest in top quality guest speakers and activities which have always provided a first class and relevant learning experience. But being on retreat won’t feel like a you’re on a training course, our ethos is that of providing a home from home experience, where we are able to enjoy sole use of a big beautiful house, and live alongside each other; connecting, sharing, caring and supporting and learning with each other… as well allowing plenty of time to let our hair down or simply relax.

Each year we have grown in number, and each year we have welcomed many new celebrants to our community. We are a very friendly group of like-minded and supportive colleagues, who are all genuinely very proud to be a part of our very tangible and unique sisterhood. And whilst becoming a valued member of our community might start by joining one of our retreats, it certainly doesn’t end when that retreat comes to a close. We connect and support, laugh (and sometimes cry), year-round, sometimes on a daily basis, and that is also why more than 90% of our attendees book for their next retreat within days of attending their last one.

So if this sounds like something you’d like to become part of, please join us at Somerford Hall in February 2024, we promise you won’t regret it!

03/03/2023

Take me back ❤️❤️❤️

27/02/2023

25/02/2023

So this is a few pics of our fabulous Vision Board session.

This was the first time we’d included this activity on one of our retreats, and to be honest we weren’t sure how it’d be received… but without exception, everybody found it to be extremely useful, very thought provoking, hugely empowering and highly enjoyable!!

For those who don’t know already, a vision board is a collage of images, pictures, and affirmations of one's dreams and desires, designed to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation.

So after a quick visualisation exercise, led by the lovely Laura, we set about cutting and sticking until we were all satisfied that we’d created a pretty accurate visualisation of our own goals for the next 12 months.

Who knew that cutting up magazines and playing with glue could be so much fun!! 💫

23/02/2023

Are you perhaps considering joining our next retreat but feeling worried about how you’ll fit on or what it’ll be like as a newbie? If so, read on…

‘’My 5* review!

What can I say about the 2023 Independent Celebrants Retreat organised by the lovely Lisa Lister.

What an absolutely wonderful, enriching, uplifting and reflective experience.

I was somewhat nervous as a newbie and not sure how I might fit in. I needn't have worried at all, everyone is welcomed with open arms and hearts. Everyone's thoughts and opinions are valued and it is a completely safe space.

Alongside our mutual sharing of experiences and ideas there are fantastic sessions to attend around getting the best out of our businesses and being the best.

There is also a focus on our own personal wellbeing with all sessions being facilitated by experts in their field.

And we had fun, oh yes! Fantastic food - thank you Dulcie 💕 a glass or 2 and a dance!

I have come away feeling rejuvenated and prepared for my next year. I have made lifelong friends and they are people who I know I can go to for support and advice in the sometimes lonely world of celebrancy, if you get the chance next year, just go!!!!’’

15/02/2023

This is our fabulous February 2023 group, feeling totally full of love and learning after a full morning of creating and participating in eight very different ceremonies! My goodness, what a talented bunch they are!! 💫

07/02/2023

When a group of women with as much talent, love and sheer awesomeness as these beauties come together, something magical just happens.

Our third retreat has provided a much needed space, but more than that, a sanctuary. A safe and sage place for learning, inspiring, sharing and developing; with focus equally being placed on improving our personal wellbeing whilst at the same time switching our businesses up a gear.

We’ve learned, we’ve connected, we’ve reinforced the bonds of our unique community; we’ve made friends for life. We’ve laughed (lots), we’ve cried (yep, we’ve cried lots too), we’ve worked hard, pushed our boundaries, come out of our comfort zones and empowered each other to believe in ourselves; to achieve success without limit.

We also had fun, lots and lots of fun. We cooked together, problem solved together, created ceremony together, banged drums, howled at the moon, laughed hysterically and danced our socks off into the wee small hours.

The feedback so far, from every single person who attended, has been nothing short of outstanding.

Everyone absolutely loved the experience and our community continues to grow with genuine love, support and kindness as its core values.

I do have lots of photos, videos etc to share as I know many of our followers of this page like to see what we’ve been up to on retreats, and I’ll share snippets over the next few weeks. I’m sure some of our lovely group of 18 will also share some reviews to try to express what they gained by attending.

It’s very hard to put into words though…

It’s unique, it’s powerful, it’s something that connects us all in the most open, honest and profound way; its a sisterhood and it’s love.

And for me personally, it’s something that I am very, very proud to have created.

Lisa xx

30/01/2023

.
The countdown IS ON!!

All the last minute details have been finalised, the guest speakers primed, timetables completed, food ordered, bags being packed and yards and yards of ribbons are ready and raring to be plaited!

Can’t wait to see lots of wonderful friends again and also make some new ones very very soon!

Bring on Thursday… we’re ready for ya!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

05/01/2023

A very big welcome to both Heather and Alex, who have been lucky enough to snap up the last two remaining spaces on our February retreat.

With just 4 weeks to go, the excitement is now tangible!

Emails are flying around, final touches are being made to the programme, the WhatsApp group is about to get REALLY buzzing and everyone is getting very giddy about getting together; to refocus, reconnect and rejuvenate!

We have a total group of 19 fabulous celebrants who will be coming along to stay at our jaw-dropping 5 star venue, 6 of whom are totally new to the group, and who are sure to be welcomed to our wonderful community with open arms and kind hearts.

We all really can’t wait to catch up with old friends and also meet new people at what promises to be our biggest and best retreat yet!!

23/11/2022

2nd-6th February 2023
Places from just £600

Due to a few last minute cancellations, we now have 3 places which have become available on our February Retreat near Derby.

Join us for 5 days / 4 nights of fully catered, 5 star luxury at the incredibly beautiful Stretton House!!

You’ll enjoy all the benefits of participating in a jam packed program which contains lots of top quality professional development, as well as a range of activities designed to focus on your wellbeing.

Most importantly though, you’ll be joining the most amazing community of celebrants who were initially connected through joining one of our retreats, but then become connected for life, free of charge, through our various social media platforms.

Whether you’re a highly experienced celebrant or just starting out, you’ll be made to feel equally welcomed and equally valued.

So if you’re interested in snapping up one of those last few places get in touch today for more information and to secure your place.

Contact Lisa on 07957 160130 for all the details.

22/11/2022

Are you a newly qualified celebrant wondering whether joining a retreat with little or no experience is the right thing to do?

Here’s an honest review by Anita , who joined our last retreat as a newly qualified celebrant and who, like a few others, didn’t know a soul before she walked through the doors at Stretton House last year.

She was of course welcomed with opened arms, absolutely thrived within the safety of our group and over the last year has been in touch with everyone on pretty much a daily basis!

Anita says booking with us was the very best investment she could ever have made, and that the ongoing support, advise and genuine love found within our community, was worth every single penny. Oh, and of course it goes without saying, she’s booked again for next February! 😊😊

Here’s what Anita had to say after her first retreat with us:

‘’I was a newbie to Lisa's 2021 celebrant retreat and I was nervous about not knowing anyone, but from the moment I arrived I knew I needn't have worried and I'm already booked onto the next one!

I was welcomed with open arms by lovely Lisa and that set the tone for the whole five days - thank you Lisa!

In fact everyone was so welcoming that we couldn't tell who'd been on the retreat before and who were the first-timers, and that says everything about the warm kindness and generosity of spirit.

I ummed and aahed for ages about booking on this retreat but I'm so glad I took the plunge. The diverse range of subjects from the guest speakers kept us all engaged and we've gained valuable developmental knowledge and skills.

The craft sessions were superb and we've all come away with the confidence to create our own celebrant materials, from oathing stones to vow booklets and so much more.

The retreat was fully catered by our own wonderful celebrant chef and Dulcie's Kitchen is second to none believe me!

The opportunity to share ideas, knowledge and experiences amongst such an amazing group of experienced celebrants was invaluable to me, but my biggest takeaway is the friendship and support of the most generous-hearted group of celebrants.

Here's to next time, thank you Lisa!xx’’

15/11/2022

2nd-6th February 2023
Places from just £600

Due to a few last minute cancellations, we now have 4 places which have become available on our February Retreat near Derby.

Join us for 5 days / 4 nights of fully catered, 5 star luxury at the incredibly beautiful Stretton House!!

You’ll enjoy all the benefits of participating in a jam packed program which contains lots of top quality professional development, as well as a range of activities designed to focus on your wellbeing.

Most importantly though, you’ll be joining the most amazing community of celebrants who were initially connected through joining one of our retreats, but then become connected for life, free of charge, through our various social media platforms.

Whether you’re a highly experienced celebrant or just starting out, you’ll be made to feel equally welcomed and equally valued.

So if you’re interested in snapping up one of those last few places get in touch today for more information and to secure your place.

Contact Lisa on 07957 160130 for all the details.

19/07/2022

Fantastic news for UK Celebrants today!! 😆😆

The very long-awaited report from the law commission has finally been published and they are recommending to government that celebrants be able to conduct legal weddings. 👏🏻👏🏻

The rule book about where couples can marry is also being thrown out of the window; the commendations are that couples should be able to legally get hitched on a beach, in a village hall or even in their own back garden! 👍🏼👍🏼

There’s some way to go yet but this is VERY welcome news for celebrants and couples alike who want choice and flexibility in how they say ‘I Do’. 🥂❤️

02/04/2022

This is just a snippet of a few wonderful memories from our last retreat. Such fun, friendship and frolics. Can’t wait to do it all again next year!! 🥰🥰🥰

22/03/2022

What a fabulous Zoom we had this morning with this lovely lot! Connecting, sharing, caring and catching up on our monthly call. We also caught up with the lovely Deborah Page who zoomed in from her hospital bed! Sending lots of love your way Debs from all your friends at ICR😘😘😘###

13/01/2022

Celebrating my 55th birthday today with a celebrant buddy Zoom call! 🤩🤩🤩

02/01/2022

We’re thrilled to be able to share some super exciting news this morning…

Nikki Khulin and Jacqueline Cale, two very experienced and highly skilled celebrants and celebrant trainers, who actually met at one of our retreats, have recently joined forces to create a brand new training and membership organisation, the Celebrant Circle.

This exciting new venture promises to be fresh, and different, and their ‘gold standard’ is sure to provide an offering to rival some of the other big celebrant training organisations out there.

Watch the video below to see Nikki and Jacqueline explain in their own words the vision they have for the the Celebrant Circle and the benefits of becoming a member of ‘the inner circle’.

Wishing these ladies all the success in the world. We can’t wait to see them fly…❤️

02/01/2022

We’re thrilled to be able to share some super exciting news this morning…

Nikki Khulin and Jacqueline Cale, two very experienced and highly skilled celebrants and celebrant trainers, who actually met at one of our retreats, have recently joined forces to create a brand new training and membership organisation, the Celebrant Circle.

This exciting new venture promises to be fresh, and different, and their ‘gold standard’ is sure to provide an offering to rival some of the other big celebrant training organisations out there.

Watch the video below to see Nikki and Jacqueline explain in their own words the vision they have for the the Celebrant Circle and the benefits of becoming a member of ‘the inner circle’.

Wishing these ladies all the success in the world. We can’t wait to see them fly…❤️

20/12/2021

It was all about the learning at Stretton House! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

1 Likes, 0 Comments - Lisa Lister () on Instagram: “At Stretton House it was all about the learning! 🎓 (And the fun!)🤩 Five fabulous days of expert…”

17/12/2021

Here’s a repost of a lovely review by newly qualified celebrant Anita , pictured here happily making her first hand fasting ribbons at Stretton House last week.

‘’I was a newbie to Lisa's 2021 celebrant retreat and I was nervous about not knowing anyone, but from the moment I arrived I knew I needn't have worried and I'm already booked onto the next one!

I was welcomed with open arms by lovely Lisa and that set the tone for the whole five days - thank you Lisa!

In fact everyone was so welcoming that we couldn't tell who'd been on the retreat before and who were the first-timers, and that says everything about the warm kindness and generosity of spirit.

I ummed and aahed for ages about booking on this retreat but I'm so glad I took the plunge. The diverse range of subjects from the guest speakers kept us all engaged and we've gained valuable developmental knowledge and skills.

The craft sessions were superb and we've all come away with the confidence to create our own celebrant materials, from oathing stones to vow booklets and so much more.

The retreat was fully catered by our own wonderful celebrant chef and Dulcie's Kitchen is second to none believe me!

The opportunity to share ideas, knowledge and experiences amongst such an amazing group of experienced celebrants was invaluable to me, but my biggest takeaway is the friendship and support of the most generous-hearted group of celebrants.

Here's to next time, thank you Lisa!xx’’