About Me

Choosing a celebrant for a meaningful moment in your life is a bit of an odd experience. You’re essentially scrolling through strangers, trying to work out, from a photo and a few paragraphs, whether this is someone you’d trust to stand up in front of everyone you love and get it right.

So, rather than just telling you what I do, I want to tell you a bit about who I am. Because the best way to know if we’re a good fit is to give you something real to go on.

So, hi. I’m Emma. I qualified as an independent celebrant after years of working as a writer, interviewing business leaders and using their insights to create articles, blog posts, case studies – you name it. My degree was in theatre studies, and I started out as a playwright, building worlds, developing characters and, ultimately, telling stories.

Why I became a celebrant

I have always loved weddings, but it was funerals that got me thinking about a career as a celebrant. Over the years, I have lost friends, all young people with full lives ahead of them. At each of their funerals, the celebrant moved us through the ceremony with confidence, meeting our need for comfort, laughter, and reflection through carefully crafted, expertly delivered words. They held the space for us to grieve, making it feel safe to be completely present. I want to do that for other people.

The wedding side of things came from a similar place. I’ve been to some incredible, unique ceremonies. Some blended cultures in ways that were joyful and moving. Others took unexpected creative swings that paid off beautifully. But the weddings that had the biggest impact were the personal ones. I want to help create more of those!

What I do when I’m not being a celebrant

I’m a keen writer, occasionally penning articles on travel, politics and social justice. I love sport and spend a lot of time being painfully average at CrossFit. I also enjoy skiing, and previously worked as a ski instructor. 

I’m a nerd. Every Thursday night, I play Dungeons and Dragons (my character is a half-orc barbarian called Ovak). I also like birdwatching. This crept up on me in my thirties. Corvids are my favourites. 

My musical tastes are varied but I am nostalgic for the pop punk, ska and emo bands of my youth (Goldfinger, Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish – you get the idea).

I love animals (I have three rescues) and am a big tattoo appreciator. My six animal-themed tattoos combine these two passions.

I hope that gives you a good idea of who I am, and my motivations for becoming a celebrant. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask.