In a previous journal post, we talked a little bit about the differences between a legal marriage ceremony and a celebrant-led ceremony. To keep it short and sweet, a legal ceremony is conducted by registrars from the Oxfordshire Registry Service and has to follow certain procedures. But by the end of the ceremony, you will both be a married couple within the eyes of the law.
Whereas, a ceremony conducted by a celebrant is not legally binding, but you have a lot more freewill to decide how to celebrate your love your own way! At the Bodleian we work with an incredible bunch of charismatic, creative and most importantly, compassionate celebrants. As they are all so wonderfully unique, we decided to interview them all together to showcase exactly what makes them special from each other.
So do read on below to find out to discover a little bit more about our incredible celebrants; Tara, Olivia, Fiona, Anne and Jennifer!
Please introduce yourself!
Tara: My name is Tara Heath-Arnold and I am in Independent Celebrant based in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. I live with my husband Jules and our two dogs Mitchell and Mindy and our two Norwegian Forest cats Zeus and Zelda!
Olivia: My name is Olivia Coleman, not that one! I am a Celebrant and Podcaster based outside of Bath in the UK but for my gorgeous couples I travel all over Europe.
Fiona: Hello I am Fiona Mac, a local Oxford based accredited trained Civil Celebrant, who you can be confident will lead your celebration with panache, passion, and total joy. With a lifetime of presenting and public speaking, I love creating and delivering a bespoke celebration ceremony wedding script that will delight or write a meaningful baby naming that wows your family and friends, it is such a thrill to see you all enjoying your celebration.
Anne: Hi my name’s Anne – lover of ceremonies that embrace your family and friends like a big old hug; ceremonies with sincere moments, surprise elements, guest giggles and JOYOUS couples.
Jennifer: Hello, I’m Jennifer Patrice, an Independent Celebrant. Once, while heading to conduct a ceremony, a taxi driver asked about what I do. After I explained, he called me ‘the maker of joy,’ and now that’s how my family and friends refer to me.
How long have you been a celebrant & what made you want to want to become one?
Tara: I trained to be a Celebrant in 2019 just before the pandemic. Before becoming a Celebrant I worked in the financial recruitment industry for many years working my way up from the position of sales administrator to regional director. Looking for a change from the corporate world I then took a break to complete a Masters in English Literature before retraining as a Celebrant. I was searching for a meaningful role that drew on my background of customer engagement, public speaking and my love of the spoken word and being a Celebrant has absolutely done that and so much more, the absolute best job in the world!
Olivia: Wedding Season 2024 marks my fourth season as a full time Celebrant. Before that I worked at a wedding venue for 6 years and so my experience in the industry is over a decade whilst my experience writing and performing lasts even longer, my parents may argue, since the day I was walking, I was performing!
Fiona: This is my fourth year as a local Oxfordshire Wedding Celebrant and I love the role with a passion. It is the most privileged position to support a couple about to embark on their new chapter together. I love to create and write a beautiful celebration script that reflects them and their values, a wedding script that will wow their family and friends and stay truly memorable for years to come. Writing life and love stories has always been a passion of mine and so when I was asked to lead a ceremony for a friend’s daughter when she was held her wedding ceremony in a marquee in their garden on Boars Hill, Oxford, I took the time to get trained in time for their wedding ceremony and have never looked back!
Anne: I set up Bluebell Ceremonies 5 years ago and was inspired to become a celebrant when I organised my eldest daughter’s naming ceremony. It was the most gorgeous day, full of the most important people in my world. Not only was it a chance to celebrate the wonder of her arrival (and drink a lot of fizz obviously!), but it was also a moment to say thank you to my amazing friends and family. ‘My why’ is to give other people that joy too. It doesn’t matter if it’s just the two of you or a huge gathering, a backyard wedding or a grand location, what matters is saying “I love you” to the most incredible people in your life.
Jennifer: I qualified with Civil Ceremonies in 2017 and conducted my first ceremony on March 24, 2018, which also happens to be my parents’ anniversary, which I though was a wonderful sign. I became a celebrant when my son Dwayne met a girl named Erin, and they started talking about getting married. I thought it would be special to conduct their ceremony, so I did some research and discovered the wonderful world of celebrancy.
What would you say is your personal style or flair you bring to being a celebrant?
Tara: I take huge pride in my work; I am meticulous about attention to detail and top of my list is spending as much time as I possibly can getting to know my couples and listening to what they want in order to create the ceremony of their dreams
Olivia: My style is traditional but not formal. I will adapt my style to suit each couple but something I know that attracts people to me is the way I can balance traditional ceremonial elements with humour and emotion. I incorporate parts of the ceremony we all know and understand whilst keeping it light, and fun with a modern twist.
Fiona: Your wedding ceremony is the heart of your day, so with a genuine love of my work, I spend time getting to know you both so that I can reflect on your values and create a beautiful ceremony that tells your individual love story. Over the years I have curated a valuable list of relevant and delightful wedding readings and poems, that can help support your choices for your special day, it is #yourcelebrationyourway. Not bound by legal jargon, we can get creative, I can include elements of faith (e.g. readings, special prayers etc) or none at all into your wedding ceremony script. We can add meaningful, symbolic elements to delight and make your wedding ceremony like no other. Being local to the City of Oxford, I know all the local suppliers to the Bodleian and as I arrive on the local bus, I am always in plenty of time for your ceremony. Peace of mind, with years of relevant experience, you can be sure of a 5 star celebration, recent clients describe me as joyful, passionate, warm, articulate and inciteful – skilled at making your day truly special.
Anne: I’m known for my calm, unflappable nature and my warm, inclusive approach. Creating your ceremony is a collaboration and I love finding creative ways to involve your friends and family. My ‘signature move’ is to incorporate a surprise moment for the bride and groom (with their blessing of course) – often it’s a question that I’ve asked them separately and they’re hearing their partner’s answer for the first time. My approach is all about listening, caring and being thorough. I love hearing about your story and weaving all the unique details into your ceremony. It really matters to me that you have an amazing experience, so there’s heart in every script I write.
Jennifer: As a celebrant, my personal style is rooted in warmth, empathy, and a deep commitment to creating meaningful and personalised ceremonies. I have a flair for storytelling, ensuring that each ceremony reflects the unique journey and values of my couples. My approach is to blend traditional elements with creative touches, making each event both memorable and heartfelt. I prioritise active listening and collaboration, working closely with clients to craft ceremonies that truly resonate with their personal narratives and aspirations.
Can you please describe what the process is from a couple first getting in contract, right up to the big day?
Tara: When a couple makes an enquiry with me, I will normally schedule an initial Zoom call so we can get to know each other. It is very important to me that I am the right Celebrant for them, so I will always ask them to take their time when making their decision. As I mentioned previously, from being booked, I will then try to meet my couples at least twice, usually over a cup of tea and cake, so we can really get into the detail of what is on their wish list for their ceremony content. Once they have completed their questionnaire and we have met one further time, I will then go away and start to write. Once I am happy with all content, I will then send this to my couples. There are no surprises with me, as I always want to ensure that they are 110% happy with everything that has been written. The majority of my scripts will normally be signed off about a month before the big day, so there is no last-minute chasing for personal vows, readings etc., and we can have a smooth and stress-free ceremony. On the day, I normally arrive at the venue about an hour before the ceremony to make sure the space is all set up correctly. Plus, I always bring extra copies of vows, readings etc., just in case, as someone normally forgets to bring theirs!
Olivia: Once I can confirm I have your date available, we will set up a call so I can hear all about the big day and explain a bit more about who I am and what I do. After you’ve booked I don’t need anything from you until 4-8 months before the day, when we would get together in person to go through your ceremony logistics and get to know one another better. After your Planning Meeting, I send you a questionnaire each which allows me to put the meat on the bones of your ceremony. I ask all sorts of silly, personal, meaningful questions so that I can write a ceremony that truly reflects you as a couple. I am happy to send over as many drafts as required until we agree on the final copy which I then perform on the day itself, looking and feeling fabulous.
Fiona: Starting with a complimentary discovery call usually about 30 mins, to understand what you are looking for, through a series of face to face meetings, fun questionaries and support to find the music , readings and ceremony content that reflect you, by the time we hold the ceremony I am like a professional friend. I calm any wedding day jitters and take care of everything so that you can just enjoy the ceremony and concentrate on yourself and your partner.
Anne: A ‘getting to know you call’, followed by a booking form and deposit. Next comes two questionnaires (one for logistics and one for the story of your relationship), a face to face meeting to chat through your answers, then that’s when the magic starts to happen! I craft your script with all its personality, colour and vibrancy, you get to review it and in the run up to your big day, we get excited with a ‘walk through’, followed by your amaaaazing wedding … ta-dah!
Jennifer: When a couple first gets in touch, we schedule an online introductory meeting which allows us to get to know each other, discuss their vision for the ceremony, and see if we’re a good fit. During the consultation, we dive deeper into the couple’s story, preferences, and any specific elements they want to include. We discuss themes, rituals, readings, and any other personalised touches they may have. Once the couple decides to move forward, we finalise the booking and sign a contract outlining the services provided, fees, and any other important details. We schedule one or more planning meetings to go over the ceremony structure, select readings, write vows (if needed), and plan any special rituals. I provide guidance and suggestions to help shape the ceremony. After sending them each a detailed questionnaire I write a bespoke ceremony script. Closer to the wedding day, we conduct a rehearsal (depending on the package purchased) to walk through the ceremony with the couple and any participants. This helps everyone feel comfortable and ensures a smooth flow on the big day. In the days leading up to the wedding, I confirm all details with the couple and coordinate with their wedding planner as needed. I make sure everything is ready for the ceremony. On the wedding day, I arrive early to set up, meet with the couple and other suppliers, and ensure everything is in place. I then officiate the ceremony, guiding everyone through the meaningful moments we’ve planned together. After the ceremony, once I receive the official gallery of photos I provide the couple with a keepsake copy of their ceremony script to keep as a memory of their special day. Throughout the entire process, my goal is to support the couple, alleviate any stress, and create a ceremony that is truly reflective of their love and relationship.
Wouldn’t you believe it, but our celebrants in fact gave so many fantastic answers that we need to stretch the journal post into a part two! We’ll be meeting you there shortly with even more friendly and helpful advice from our partner celebrants.
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