Joe - All the Best Celebrant

11/07/2025

I only recently discovered this wonderful artist. I love to hear about people who are not only happy how they identify now but can warmly acknowledge their old lives too. Dylan Holloway says “It’s ok to embrace who you’ve been. That person brought you here today and every version of you matters. Don’t leave your past behind. Carry it forward. That’s freedom.” I understand that not all trans people are able to feel this way but I think it’s a very healthy attitude and also (and here’s the nub of it I suppose speaking personally) must give great comfort to their family and old friends who have always loved them.

https://share.google/g0rceAotQ1ENA67hX

30/06/2025

Sitting at home and wishing so much I was with my daughter at the festival, I tuned into this year’s Glastonbury eagerly. I watched everything pretty much and enjoyed a huge amount of it. My favourite moment though, and the thing I take away with me that is most joyous, was the presence of Kae Tempest. I’ve always liked their work, their written poetry, performance poetry and rap. What impressed me most about this particular performance was their presence, their whole demeanour. They just seemed so damned happy and confident which is so wonderful to see. I know they’ve struggled. I’ve read a lot of articles about their life. In August 2020, in an Instagram post, Tempest came out as non-binary. They announced their name is now Kae (rather than Kate and pronounced like the letter K), and explained that, going forward, they would be using they/them pronouns. “I have tried,” they wrote at the time, “to be what I thought others wanted me to be so as not to risk rejection. This hiding from myself has led to all kinds of difficulties in my life. And this is a first step towards knowing and respecting myself better.” Personally, I can’t really begin to imagine what it must have been like for them growing up in the wrong body. I’m not from the trans community although I know people in it. None of it is really my business only that when I see people, whoever they are, being happy being who they want to be it makes me feel happy. Good luck to them. I thought their set at Glastonbury was wonderful. 🌈 🏳️‍🌈

17/06/2025

Here’s an interview that my wonderful celebrant trainer, did with me. I’m very grateful to her. https://www.celebranttrainer.com/2025/06/15/joe-mace-celebrant/?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwK-kz5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp-2Z6hLH7QSp4MjPxSbu-D2-ceebkB-QzjB5utAxtSSJtb0BilFAfFtlrToN_aem_bz2IQPd0FZraeDMJFoRc3w

01/06/2025

A wedding and funeral celebrant is a professional who creates and leads personalised ceremonies for significant life events, such as weddings, funerals, and other milestones. Unlike traditional religious leaders or registrars, celebrants are not bound by specific religious or legal scripts. Instead, they focus on making each ceremony unique and meaningful to the individuals involved.

What Does a Wedding Celebrant Do?
Works closely with couples to understand their story, values, and wishes for the ceremony.
Designs a bespoke ceremony script that reflects the couple’s personalities, relationship, and preferences. This can include custom vows, readings, and symbolic rituals.
Offers guidance and practical advice on ceremony structure, music, and locations—ceremonies can be held anywhere, from traditional venues to beaches or gardens.
Leads the ceremony on the day, ensuring it flows smoothly and creates a memorable, heartfelt experience for everyone present.
Provides support and reassurance to the couple, helping them feel confident and relaxed.

What Does a Funeral Celebrant Do?
Meets with the family or loved ones of the deceased to learn about the person’s life, values, and wishes.
Crafts a personalised funeral or memorial service that honours the individual’s life and legacy, often including tributes, readings, and music chosen by the family.
Offers emotional support and practical advice during a difficult time.
Leads the ceremony, ensuring it is respectful, meaningful, and tailored to the wishes of the family and the memory of the deceased.

Key Features of a Celebrant
Personalisation: Every ceremony is tailored to the people involved, with no set templates or restrictions.
Flexibility: Ceremonies can be held anywhere and include any elements the participants wish.
Focus on Storytelling: Celebrants are skilled in capturing and sharing the stories and personalities of those involved, making each event truly special.
Emotional Support: Celebrants are sensitive to the emotions of the occasion and provide guidance and comfort throughout the process.

28/05/2025

If you care about the Trans community as much as I do, please consider signing this petition. Thank you.

Not in our name: Women in support of the trans+ community

25/05/2025

I always thought he was a lovely man. Now I know he had the love and support of another lovely man. How wonderful. It’s all any of us can hope for in life; to spend it with a soulmate.

🎬🎬Did you know?
Dirk Bogarde, the sophisticated British actor known for The Servant, The Night Porter, and Death in Venice, led one of the most private and emotionally complex personal lives in classic cinema.

Although he never married or had children, Bogarde shared his life with his long-time partner Anthony Forwood, a fellow actor and later his manager. Their relationship, though never publicly labeled due to the era’s stigma around homosexuality, lasted for over 40 years. They lived together in England and then in the south of France, quietly building a world of literature, art, and deep companionship.

Despite his fame, Bogarde rejected the spotlight in favor of a quiet, deeply intellectual life, often writing novels and autobiographies that subtly hinted at the depth of his personal experiences.

He once wrote in his memoir:
“The truest love stories are not always the ones that seek applause, but the ones that quietly endure.”

Dirk Bogarde’s “family” may not have been traditional, but it was built on devotion, integrity, and an unwavering bond that outlasted many Hollywood romances.

24/05/2025

When we got married waaaayyy back in 1990, our wedding cake was made by a cousin of Sally’s (also called Jo) and it was decorated with holly and ivy to represent ‘man’ and ‘woman’ in the old pre-Christian folk tradition. It was perfect and we loved it. Now, I think I’d rather have oak leaves and ivy because they represent ‘strength’ and ‘support & fidelity’ which could apply to any gender and any combination. I like that.

11/05/2025