Please reach out to me at cecilia@ceciliabawlercelebrant.co.uk if you cannot find an answer to your question.
A registrar is the person who can make your marriage legal. A celebrant makes it personal. (More information about the legality can be found under the question "Is a celebrant wedding legally binding?")
A wedding led by a registrar must take place in a strictly licensed building or registry office. They will use a standard script which has specific rules about the inclusion of religious or spiritual wording.
A celebrant led wedding can take place wherever you choose. You can include rituals like sand ceremonies, gin ceremonies, loving cups and handfastings to name but a few. A celebrant will write a bespoke ceremony that is uniquely and utterly yours.
At the moment, no. There is a proposed change to this law under review, but currently in England and Wales a celebrant cannot legally marry you. Most couples choose to have a small registry office ceremony in the days before the celebrant led wedding to complete the legal part. A celebrant-led wedding after a legal registry office ceremony is a flexible way for couples to have the best of both worlds: the legal paperwork is done simply, and the meaningful, personalised celebration is done exactly how they want it.
ABSOLUTELY! I am a fierce and proud ally of all members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I celebrate love between all people and would love to help you share it with the world.
I am based in Abergavenny, so it is easiest for me to work in Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Powys and Herefordshire. However I will travel anywhere if I can! Travel within a 30 mile radius of Abergavenny is free, and expenses will be incurred for any distances greater than that, or if an overnight stay is required.
All ceremonies are bespoke and individualised, so it depends what you want to include, however see my "Services and Prices" section for a guide!
Literally anywhere! One of the joys of a celebrant led wedding is that it can take place wherever you choose. A traditional wedding venue, a garden, a beach, a mountain top, a village hall, a woodland, a castle, a pub. The possibilities are endless! As long as you have permission from the landowner - the choice is yours!
A baby naming ceremony is a lovely celebration to welcome a child into their family and community. Their name is officially shared, and important people in the child's life are involved. It can include public promises to the child from parents and "guideparents". It's a lovely way to celebrate your new baby for people who are not churchgoers and do not feel a baptism is right for them. A baby naming ceremony can include poems, songs, readings and rituals. Ask me for more ideas!
An adoption welcoming ceremony is a beautiful, personal non-legally binding celebration that some families hold to formally welcome their new child into their family. Along the lines of a baby naming it can include public promises to the child from parents and "guideparents", a chance to honour the child's past and people who cave cared for them, rituals like the lighting of candles, sand blending or tree planting, and importantly it provides a joyful conclusion to what is often a lengthy, stressful, and highly clinical social work and legal process.
A transgender (re)naming ceremony is a personal, intentional gathering that recognises a person's gender identity and honours the emotional significance of choosing a name that fits. It's not about legal paperwork, it's about affirmation, visibility and being witnessed by a loving and supportive community. It can be quiet and reflective, joyful and loud, and anything in between. As your celebrant I will craft a ceremony that reflects you and your journey.
When a loved one dies, families are faced with many choices about how best to honour their memory. Increasingly, people are choosing a direct (pure) cremation, followed later by a celebration of life.
A celebration of life can take place anywhere and at any time. It offers the freedom to share your loved one’s story in a way that feels right for you — through memories, readings, poems, music, and moments of reflection.
As your celebrant, I will create a service that is entirely personal, thoughtfully crafted to reflect the life, personality, and values of your loved one.
If that’s your first reaction, then a pet funeral may not be what you need. But if, like me, you believe pets are part of the family, you’ll know the deep ache they leave behind when they cross the rainbow bridge.
A simple ceremony to honour your beloved companion can bring comfort and help you take those first steps forward without them. A celebration of your pet’s life might include tree planting, scattering their ashes, or sharing poems and stories that capture the joy and impact they brought into your world.