Searching for a celebrant can be like bravely venturing into the wild world of online dating – scrolling past numerous strangers until you spot one that’s worthy of a ‘swipe right’! So let’s see if we’re a match…
AGE: Old enough to know better, young enough to still do it anyway.
WHAT I DO: I conduct non-religious legal marriages, vow renewals, commitment ceremonies and civil partnerships. My ceremonies are often described as being delivered from the heart and with humour. I believe ceremonies should feel like you – not ‘cookie-cutter’, and definitely not AI-generated. Less performance, more presence. I’m emotionally invested but don’t make it about me.
BELIEFS: Atheist-leaning agnostic humanist. My ceremonies are non-religious but certainly not anti-religious – they are inclusive of all faiths and none. I have the humility to appreciate that I can’t know with absolute certainty that there is no ‘higher power’, and I respect others’ right to have their own religious beliefs. I support freedom of belief. I just choose to live my life centred around human reason, ethics, empathy and scientific understanding.
INTERESTS: Dogs Wine Food Travel Gigs Movies – not necessarily in that order. That said, my dogs always come first!
LOOKING FOR: Two people who are wildly into each other, moderately organised, and not interested in a boring ceremony.
IDEAL FIRST DATE: A no-obligation chat to see if we click, ideally face-to-face but video call if easier.
GREEN FLAGS: You support, or can relate to, the principles of humanism, and human rights generally. You want your guests thinking, “That ceremony was so them.”
RED FLAGS: Ceremonies that feel forced, fake, or overly formal. Bigotry, misogyny, narcissism.
FAVOURITE QUOTES:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
“If you love something, love it completely, cherish it, say it, but most importantly, show it. Life is finite and fragile, and just because something is there one day, it might not be the next. Never take that for granted. Say what you need to say, then say a little more. Say too much. Show too much. Love too much. Everything is temporary but love. Love outlives us all.” R Queen
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.” Dalai Lama
“I will never apologise for saying that the future of humanity and the future of the world is going to be defined by what we have in common as opposed to things that separate us and ultimately lead us into conflict.” Barack Obama
“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all.” Thumper from Disney’s Bambi
“Don’t f**k it up!” RuPaul
ICONS:
My mamma: She is, without doubt, the person in my life who has taught me empathy, understanding, and tolerance. When she was young, you dared not date, or marry, out with your own faith or ethnicity, let alone someone of the same sex. And yet she embraces, wholeheartedly, my wee sister’s love for her same sex partner. And she would say she’s Christian and yet she respects that others, including me, her own daughter, don’t share her beliefs. She is my hero, and ultimately, my role model.
Linda Britton: One of the first of only a handful of celebrants authorised to conduct humanist marriages back when they were first legalised in 2005. Linda inspired me to become a celebrant in 2017. She was my mentor through to qualification and became a trusted friend. Now retired from celebrancy, Linda continues to inspire me.
Katniss Everdeen: The fictional character from Suzanne Collins‘ trilogy, ‘The Hunger Games’. I consider Katniss inspirational for her desire to protect the vulnerable; embodying strength, resilience, and authentic humanity.
June Osborne: The fictional character from Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. I consider June inspirational for her relentless resilience and defiance against a totalitarian society. “Nolite te Bastardes Cardorundorum”