Handmade Ceremonies

19/06/2025

One of the unexpected joys of marriage? Gaining in-laws — or as I like to call them, your surprise bonus family. 💛

Marriage isn’t just about two people coming together; it’s about two families blending, growing, and creating something new.

Sometimes it means more Sunday roasts, new traditions, a whole new set of people cheering you on… and occasionally, some wonderfully quirky characters you didn’t know you needed in your life. 😉

It’s not always perfect — but when it works, it’s magic. Because love doesn’t just grow between two people — it ripples outward. 💫

Today is my only Sister (in-law) Vron’s birthday and I have known her now for 36 years! She has been more than a bonus, she’s at the heart and centre of our family and quietly cares for us all alongside being such an incredible mum and nana. So here’s to the bonus family gained through marriage! Love you Vron.
📸Zoé Harris photography The Falcon Hotel

16/06/2025

✨ Why I am called Handmade Ceremonies ✨

When it came to naming my business, I didn’t want something generic or off-the-shelf—because that’s exactly what I don’t offer. I knew the name had to reflect what I value most: individuality, creativity, and meaningful, handcrafted experiences. That’s how Handmade Ceremonies was created 💛

🎨 My background is in the arts.
I’ve spent over 30 years working with artists as a consultant and manager, and I’ve loved every minute of it. Supporting creatives—whether helping them bring a project to life, advocating for their work, or simply buying pieces from makers I admire—has always been a passion of mine.

I’m inspired by the skill, imagination, and integrity that artists pour into their work. Creativity has played a huge part in my life —and now, it’s at the heart of how I craft ceremonies.

💍 No two couples are the same—so no two ceremonies should be either.
Every ceremony I create is a one-of-a-kind collaboration, shaped by a couple’s story, values, and personalities. I take time to get to know them, research elements including meaningful readings and symbolic rituals, and write a script that feels completely theirs.

🎁 And because I’m a closet crafter, the handmade ethos doesn’t stop with the words. I design bespoke vow and reading cards, and a keepsake certificate—all beautifully presented in a personalised box. Digital is great but nothing beats having a physical keepsake preserving the magic of the day.

🧵 There’s something to be valued about things made with care and intention—not mass-produced, but thoughtfully created. That’s what I aim to offer with Handmade Ceremonies: not just a service, but a meaningful process, and a memory you’ll treasure forever.

So if you’re looking for a ceremony that’s entirely yours—✨ unique, heartfelt, and beautifully made ✨—I’d love to create something special for you.

Visit www.handmadeceremonies.com to find out more 💫

⸻

💛 www.handmadeceremonies.com



📸 Zoé Harris photography
https://zoeharrisphotography.co.uk
💐 https://kara-mia.com
🏰 https://www.blyth-hall.co.uk

14/06/2025

So… what is a celebrant, anyway? And why might you want one like me by your side? 🧡

Think of a celebrant as a storyteller, a guide, and your biggest cheerleader rolled into one. I’m here to mark life’s most magical (and sometimes most meaningful) moments—whether that’s tying the knot on a windswept clifftop, welcoming a new soul into the world, or honouring a life well lived.

As an Independent Civil Celebrant, I’m not tied to any belief system or organisation, which means your ceremony is truly YOURS. Fancy blending spiritual elements with poetry? Want your dog to walk you down the aisle? Dreaming of a ceremony on a beach, in your back garden, or under a treehouse? Yes. Yes. And yes.

I take the time to get to know you—your quirks, your values, your story—and build a ceremony that feels like home. Not just beautiful words, but something heartfelt and completely one-of-a-kind.

So if you’re after a ceremony that’s warm, meaningful, a bit different (and maybe a bit emotional), I might just be your person. Let’s create something unforgettable together 🥂✨

📍Based in the Midlands but will travel!
🌿 Celebrating love, life, and everything in between
🔗 handmadeceremonies.com



📸 Zoé Harris photography

14/06/2025

So… what is a celebrant, anyway? And why might you want one like me by your side? 🧡

Think of a celebrant as a storyteller, a guide, and your biggest cheerleader rolled into one. I’m here to mark life’s most magical (and sometimes most meaningful) moments—whether that’s tying the knot on a windswept clifftop, welcoming a new soul into the world, or honouring a life well lived.

As an Independent Civil Celebrant, I’m not tied to any belief system or organisation, which means your ceremony is truly YOURS. Fancy blending spiritual elements with poetry? Want your dog to walk you down the aisle? Dreaming of a ceremony on a beach, in your back garden, or under a treehouse? Yes. Yes. And yes.

I take the time to get to know you—your quirks, your values, your story—and build a ceremony that feels like home. Not just beautiful words, but something heartfelt and completely one-of-a-kind.

So if you’re after a ceremony that’s warm, meaningful, a bit different (and maybe a bit emotional), I might just be your person. Let’s create something unforgettable together 🥂✨

📍Based in the Midlands but will travel!
🌿 Celebrating love, life, and everything in between
🔗 handmadeceremonies.com

09/06/2025

🙏 Thank you Chris and Hannah for this wonderful review ❤️

08/06/2025

❤️ It’s always nice to get a little text after the ceremony 🫶 Thanks Chris & Hannah 😘

08/06/2025

Some lovely pictures from the ceremony I led yesterday The Stanwick Hotel ❤️❤️

08/06/2025

08/06/2025

BTS for H & C’s Marriage Celebration yesterday ❤️❤️

06/06/2025

💍 Ooo tomorrow is all about celebrating the marriage of two very lovely people! Can’t wait! Let’s hope we get a little sunshine ☀️ but whatever the weather we’re guaranteed lots of warmth, smiles and happiness 🍾🥂

06/06/2025

A Moment to Pause

The next two days are a whirlwind—script deadlines, planning meetings, and a beautiful marriage celebration to officiate. Life as a Celebrant can be wonderfully full-on. But last night, I stopped. Just for a moment. Because it was all about my boy.

We were celebrating the end of two years of effort, growth, and creativity as he completed 2/3 of his A Levels. In the photo, he stands beside a portrait he created of me—an artwork through which he explored the complex theme of grief.

It’s haunting and beautiful. It captures stillness, isolation, introspection, and the way memories begin to blur at the edges. Watching him channel such emotional depth into his work was both humbling and deeply moving.

I’m so incredibly proud of the thoughtful, creative, and emotionally intelligent children I’ve raised. In just a few months, he’ll be spreading his wings and beginning life as an undergraduate. And while I’m bursting with pride and excitement for what’s ahead, there’s also this quiet ache building inside me.

My nest is on the brink of being empty. And I can already feel the slow, unfamiliar grief that comes with letting go.

As Carol Ann Duffy wrote:

“Dear child, the house pines when you leave…
Our home hides its face in hands of silence…
I knew mothering, but not this other thing that clefts at my heart…”

This “other thing” has begun—and I’m learning to hold space for it, even in the busiest of weeks.