Terri Negus - Celebrant

18/04/2025

22/03/2025

How I now start my Friday mornings! Since relocating to West Berkshire in October it’s been tough as I know NO ONE, and it’s my second relocation in two years. All my friends and business associates are in Sussex and going solo to start or re-launch a business where you are completely unknown is not easy, even with 20+ years of experience under my belt.
That’s why I decided to join the Newbury connected chapter of BNI, the world’s largest networking organisation. Now once a week I get to meet with 35 fabulous business people who are now also becoming my friends, and once a individual of a profession is accepted into the chapter you lock out any other competition from anyone else doing the same job. So now, not only am I out there looking to grow my business, I have 35 other people who are out there looking for new business opportunities for me whilst I am doing the same for them. I was a member of a BNI chapter in Sussex over 25yrs ago in a previous job, and I just love being a part of this organisation again. There are BNI chapters all over the U.K. so if anyone else is interested in knowing more do feel free to get in touch. For me in a new area it’s definitely been the best professional gift I have given to myself.

16/03/2025

At the wedding fair today, several people asked if my turtle logo had particular symbolism? The answer is YES it does.
When I started as a celebrant, I chose a pink lily for my logo, it just seemed to fit for all occasions, baby namings, weddings and funerals. It didn’t really have any significance it was just a ‘pretty flower’. It followed me for around 20 years though on both my stationery and website.
I have always LOVED turtles, and when I was travelling through Polynesia in 2019, I discovered that for some of their cultures, instead of believing (as many westerners do) that when we die our soul/spirit goes up in the sky to heaven, they believe that when a loved one dies and the sun sets that night, that the spirit of the deceased travels with the sun down into the ocean, and therefore the sea is their heaven. (Remember Moana’s Grandmother rising up from the sea as a manta ray??)
Because the turtle comes out of the sea onto the land, natives consider it a sacred messenger and a conduit between the living and the dead. As a funeral celebrant, I loved that significance and it was the main reason that when I re-located and changed my name due to marriage, I also re-branded and adopted the turtle as my logo.
Turtles have many significant meanings and associations, some being healing & strength to navigate deep emotional waters, and also being present to guide and accompany others on their journey for a while. I hope I have the ability to embody at least some of what the turtle symbolises in both my professional and my personal life. And yes, I do also have a Polynesian turtle tattoo on my back, created by a Hawaiian tattoo artist in Honolulu (the dolphins represent my two children - free to explore the world and travel back to be by my side whenever they wish)

16/03/2025

I admit, I haven’t exhibited at a wedding fair for a very long time, but having recently re-located to West Berkshire and joined the BNI Newbury Connected chapter, I wanted to support their fabulous wedding fair In Hungerford today. Everything re-branded and changed from Terri Shanks to Terri Negus, as it’s always been important to me to have my ‘new’ husbands name and not my ex-husbands!
I strongly believe in marriage and I strongly believe that everyone should have a turtle-y unique and awesome ceremony.

15/03/2025

Stationery re-print, fully stocked for the next few months!

08/03/2025

Today marks International Woman’s Day and it therefore means the world to me to have received this ‘Influential Woman in Business’ accolade just a few days ago.
With absolutely everything I do in life if I can inspire or help just one person then it’s been worthwhile. We all have the opportunity to throw a pebble into a pond and then watch the ripples spread out to the furthest shores.

To all the phenomenal women in my life, both personally and professionally. Thank you for being you - don’t ever change. 🙏🏻💕

As Coco Channel once said “A girl should be two things, who and what she wants”

04/03/2025

💐Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others? Join us for our enriching training courses to become a Wedding and/or Funeral Celebrant, where you will learn the art of crafting unforgettable ceremonies that honour life, love, loss, and everything in between.

💖 Why Become a Celebrant?

In a world where every moment counts, celebrants play a pivotal role in creating heartfelt experiences. Whether it’s uniting two people in love or providing solace during times of grief, your words and presence can bring comfort, joy, and connection to those in need.

✨ What You Will Learn:

- Crafting Personal Ceremonies: Discover how to tailor weddings and funerals to reflect the unique stories of individuals and families.
- Public Speaking Skills: Gain confidence in delivering heartfelt messages that resonate deeply with audiences.
- Emotional Support Techniques: Learn how to guide families through their most significant moments with grace and compassion.
- Business Essentials: Equip yourself with the knowledge to establish a fulfilling career as a celebrant, including marketing and client relations.

🌈 Join a Community of Change-Makers!

When you enroll in our course, you’re not just learning a skill; you’re joining a community of passionate individuals dedicated to celebrating life’s milestones. Share experiences, collaborate, and grow together as you embark on this incredible journey.

🌟 Your Journey Begins Here!

Take the first step towards a rewarding career that allows you to touch hearts and create lasting memories. Whether you’re seeking a new path or a meaningful way to give back, becoming a celebrant might just be the calling you’ve been waiting for.

💌 Sign Up Today!

Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to make a difference. Visit www.celebranttraining.org.uk to secure your spot now, or email us at [email protected]

Together, let’s celebrate life’s most precious moments. We can’t wait to welcome you to our FPC community! ❤️ Fellowship of Professional Celebrants

12/02/2025

🙏🏻💕

Thank you so much for today Terri Negus. I needed the three C’s (coffee, cake and catch up) and I needed you!

Terri Negus - Celebrant wrote and delivered one of the first Celebrant training programs in the Uk and subsequently founded The Fellowship Of Professional Celebrants in 2010. I feel honoured to have been trained by Terri herself in 2016.

Becoming a Celebrant myself was the making of me, I’ve loved every moment.

Terri changed my life 8 years ago and despite never looking back, I needed her reassurance and encouragement more than anything today.

We all question our place, our abilities, our paths. Terri’s expertise, knowledge and guidance has never been far from my mind, for every service I’ve taken, bereaved child or parent I’ve sat with… she’s been the voice on my shoulder.

We’re never too old or too experienced to learn more, take a new approach or revisit where it all began.

Thank you 😊 thank you 😊 thank you 😊

28/01/2025

These photos were taken last week by one of my students on our Marriage & Family Celebrancy training course in Newbury. You can probably tell by my smiles how much I absolutely LOVE my work, and I am so proud of the many people who have trained with us over the last 17 years.
If you feel that you too may like a career in crafting and delivering beautiful, personalised ceremonies, then please do visit our website for further details of our next courses www.celebranttraining.org.uk

23/01/2025

I’ve had the most incredible few days in Newbury working with these phenomenal people as they completed their Certificate in Marriage & Family Celebrancy. My heart was further bursting with pride last night when two previous trainees with Fellowship of Professional Celebrants were awarded National Celebrant of the Year 2025 and the runner up Highly Commended Award. Massive congratulations go to Vicky Griffiths (Wales) and Juliette Williams (Dorset).

10/12/2024

Thank you to E2 media for this press release.

07/12/2024

This afternoon my husband and I attended a truly beautiful Christmas Memorial Service at West Berkshire Crematorium, which is just 2 minutes down the road from our new home.
Christmas really does magnify the absence of our loved ones, something which I understand more than ever now, having lost my own Mum just a week before Christmas in 2020.
The management and staff created a warm safe environment for the community to join together on this very wet and windy afternoon, to remember our loved ones, and be enriched by the joyful memories of Christmas’s past.

“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed, and always dear”

01/12/2024

Having lost my brother to AIDS at the age of just 37, World AIDS day will always be importand to me. However for those for whom HIV & AIDS impacts their lives it is 365 days a year, not just one.

25/11/2024

Well this was totally unexpected and my 2nd award in a month. I have been a Funeral Celebrant for 22 years now and conducted in the region of 4500 funerals. I have never done this work to receive praise or recognition, simply with an open heart and a genuine passion to give every person a meaningful funeral which truly reflects the life which has been lived and to bring a little comfort to the bereaved in their darkest times.
To receive such recognition after almost half a lifetimes work however is both humbling an appreciated. I’m not sure I will still be working in another 22 years, but all the time I am, I will continue to give my all to absolutely every family and every individual I serve and every new celebrant I train🙏🏻💖
Fellowship of Professional Celebrants

15/11/2024

Thrilled to receive this in the mail today 🙏🏻
for Fellowship of Professional Celebrants

12/11/2024

Today I attended a funeral, not as a celebrant, but with my ‘other’ hat on as a member of the Royal Choral Society. To celebrate the life of, and to sing in honour of our fellow choir member Peter, who died following a tragic rowing accident last month.
“He died living”
Peter, May choirs of angels sing thee to thy rest.