​Kent is home to just a few natural burial grounds but each offers a serene and environmentally conscious alternative for final resting places. Our options locally are quite limited but here are our nearest natural burial grounds:

1. Deerton Natural Burial Ground Nestled near Faversham, Deerton Natural Burial Ground boasts sweeping views of the Kent countryside. This site offers a tranquil meadow surrounded by hedgerows and trees, creating a haven for wildlife but the site is no longer selling plots so will redirect you to their sister site: Riverview.
2. Riverview Natural Burial Ground Located near the picturesque River Medway in Kent, Riverview Natural Burial Ground is a haven of peace and natural beauty. This site offers stunning views across the countryside and is thoughtfully designed to blend into the environment. It supports local wildlife and provides a serene resting place for loved ones. 
3. Eden Valley Woodland Burial Ground Located near Edenbridge, this beautiful woodland site allows families to bury their loved ones in grassland close to 8 acres of  ancient woodland with the aim of reforesting the meadows as trees are planted next to burial plots. It’s a truly magical setting that changes with the seasons, offering solace and a deep connection to nature. 
4. Bluebell Cemetery Positioned near Sevenoaks, Bluebell offers woodland burials in a serene, carefully managed environment but it is also part of the crematorium grounds. This site combines ecological preservation with dedicated support to ensure a meaningful and personal ceremony.

Near to Kent can be found:

1. Clayton Wood Natural Burial Ground Located in the South Downs National Park, Clayton Wood  is set in 15 acres of countryside. Wehn buried here you will be part of a new English wood that will be protected from development. There are various dedicated areas for full natural burial and cremated remains, as well as memorial scattering lawns, surrounded by native trees for future generations to enjoy.
   
2. Woodland Valley Situated within the Lawn Memorial Cemetery and planted with a range of local trees and wild flowers, Woodland Valley has been designed to create a meadow and woodland burial ground for burial and cremated remains near Woodingdean, Brighton. 
   

​Once you have your ideas, start organising them into a clear structure.

A eulogy doesn’t need to be lengthy or complicated – simplicity is often the most powerful approach.

1. Introduction​
Start by introducing yourself and explaining your connection to the person. This sets the tone and provides context for those listening. For example:

• “Good morning everyone. My name is [Your Name], and I had the privilege of calling [Name] my [relationship]. I’m honoured to share a few words today about their incredible life.”

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2. Share Key Memories or Stories
Choose two or three stories or qualities that capture your loved one’s essence. Focus on what made them unique – their kindness, humour, quirks, or achievements.
For example:

• “[Name] had a wonderful sense of humour. I remember the time we…”
• “One of the things we all loved about [Name] was their passion for…”

Small, personal details are what make a eulogy meaningful. They help those listening connect to the person being remembered.

3. Reflect on Their Impact
Talk about the impact they had on your life and the lives of others. How did they make people feel? What will they be remembered for?

• “[Name] taught me the importance of…”
• “They brought so much joy to everyone they met, and their kindness will never be forgotten.”

4. End with a Thoughtful Closing
Finish on a note of gratitude, love, or hope.
​For example:

• “[Name], we love you, we miss you, and we’ll carry your memory in our hearts forever.”
• “Thank you, [Name], for all that you gave us. Rest peacefully.”

​Enhance the overall experience for your guests by incorporating beverage stations. This could include a signature cocktail bar, wine stations, gin bar or even a fresh juice and water bar - make sure it reflects you as a couple. Offering a variety of drink options allows guests an interactive element to the wedding experience and can be tailored to your budget and preferences.

​Think about relaxed seating around the garden, with space to chill and chat, you could consider fire pits for the evening, a delicious catering van to supply food to soak up the alcohol, give your guests marshmallows even to toast over the fire. There will be dancing, live music and fun for the whole evening but the end of your day doesn’t have to be dictated by venue restrictions, just by your own body clocks and ability to keep going! 
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There is no reason why you can’t continue until dawn with brandies or hot chocolates should you wish, just set up your favourite music on a speaker after the band has packed up and Grandma has gone to bed. Enjoy continued laughter with your nearest and dearest - you set the rules of the day - do it your way. 

One of the most important roles of a celebrant is to help personalise the funeral ceremony. Unlike a more traditional religious funeral, which often follows a set format, a celebrant-led funeral can be tailored to suit the needs and wishes of your loved one and your family. Celebrants work closely with families to create a ceremony that reflects the personality, beliefs, and values of the person who has died.

Some of the ways in which a celebrant can personalise a funeral include:

- Suggesting a location for the ceremony: Holding the ceremony somewhere that is meaningful to your loved one or just somewhere beautiful rather than in a local crematorium which can often feel soulless and impersonal can make the ceremony extra special..

- Choosing the right music: Music can play a powerful role in a funeral ceremony. A celebrant can work with you to select music that is meaningful to your loved one and your family, whether it's a favourite song, a hymn, or a piece of classical music.

- Creating a eulogy: A eulogy is a speech that celebrates the life of the person who has died. A celebrant can help you craft a eulogy that captures the essence of your loved one, highlighting their achievements, their personality, and their impact on the people around them.

- Incorporating rituals and traditions: Many families have their own rituals and traditions that they want to incorporate into the funeral ceremony. A celebrant can help you identify and incorporate these rituals, whether it's lighting candles, releasing butterflies, or reading a special poem.

- Choosing readings and poems: Readings and poems can provide comfort and inspiration during a funeral ceremony. A celebrant can help you select readings and poems that are meaningful to your loved one and your family, whether they're religious or secular.

A personalised funeral can have many benefits for the grieving process. By creating a funeral ceremony that reflects the personality, beliefs, and values of your loved one, you can honour their life in a meaningful way. This can bring comfort and closure to both you and your family.
A personalised funeral can also help you to process your grief. By working closely with a celebrant to create a ceremony that reflects your loved one's life, you can begin to come to terms with their death. This can provide a sense of comfort and healing that can be difficult to find in the early stages of grief.

The role of a celebrant in planning and conducting a funeral
A celebrant plays an important role in planning and conducting a funeral. They work closely with families to create a personalised ceremony that honours the life of the person who has died. Some of the tasks that a celebrant might undertake include:

- Meeting with the family: A celebrant will typically meet with the family to discuss their wishes for the funeral ceremony. They may ask questions about the person who has died, their personality, their beliefs, and their values.

- Writing the ceremony: Based on the information gathered during the initial meeting, the celebrant will write the ceremony. This may include a eulogy, readings, poems, and other elements.
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- Conducting the ceremony: On the day of the funeral, the celebrant will conduct the ceremony. They will guide the family and the mourners through the ceremony, ensuring that it flows smoothly and that everyone feels supported.​

If you're considering employing a celebrant to help plan and conduct a funeral, there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, you'll want to find a celebrant who is a good fit for your family. Some things to consider when choosing a celebrant include:

- Experience: Look for a celebrant who has experience in conducting funerals. Ask for references and read reviews to get a sense of their track record.

- Personality: You'll want to find a celebrant who is compassionate, empathetic, and easy to work with. Look for someone who will listen to your needs and work with you to create a personalised ceremony.

- Style: Celebrants have different styles and approaches to conducting funeral ceremonies. It's important to find a celebrant whose style resonates with you and your family.

If you're considering a celebrant-led funeral, you may have some questions. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions:

What is the difference between a celebrant-led funeral and a traditional funeral?
A traditional funeral typically follows a set format, including religious or cultural traditions. A celebrant-led funeral, on the other hand, is tailored to suit the needs and wishes of the family. It can include both religious and secular elements, depending on the family's wishes
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Can a celebrant conduct a funeral for anyone?
Yes, celebrants can conduct funerals for anyone, regardless of their religious or cultural background. Celebrants are trained to work with families to create personalised ceremonies that honour the life of the person who has died.

How much does a celebrant-led funeral cost?
The cost of a celebrant-led funeral can vary depending on the celebrant, the location, and the complexity of the ceremony. It's important to discuss fees with your celebrant before hiring them to ensure that you're comfortable with the cost.

Losing a loved one is never easy, but with the help of a celebrant, planning a funeral can become an empowering and healing experience. By personalising the funeral ceremony, you can honour your loved one's life in a meaningful way and celebrate who they were as well as provide comfort and closure to yourself and your family. If you're considering a celebrant-led funeral, take the time to find a celebrant who is a good fit for your family. With their guidance and support, you can create a funeral that celebrates the life of your loved one and provides comfort and healing during this difficult time. If you would like to discuss your funeral plans with me, please take a look at my website and leave your contact details - I will get back to you as soon as possible to discuss the options available.

Modern funerals are not necessarily very sustainable but there are still eco friendly funeral options in the UK. Historically funerals would have been simple affairs - people lived locally so it was easy to pay their respects, shrouds were used instead of coffins and bodies were buried within days of death.

In the 20th century, funerals became a more lavish affair. People had migrated away from their family villages and therefore travelling a distance became necessary, even more so since international travel. The deceased were therefore no longer buried within hours or days of death, as people wanted to travel back for the funeral, so bodies needed preserving with embalming chemicals. Loved-ones bodies were placed in expensive wooden coffins as more pomp and ceremony grew around funeral services and headstones and stone vaults were used as elaborate markers for people to pay their respects. Cremations became more popular as the 20th century progressed - as land became more populated - there was less space in burial grounds, so cremation was seen as a space saving alternative. 

Now it is time to think about how we can make funerals greener again. How can funerals be more eco-friendly? How can we make the whole process more sustainable? As a Funeral Celebrant based in West Malling in Kent, I would suggest that even if we take on a few of these principles mentioned below, we are on our way to making funerals more green.

2020 has seen an enforced reduction in the number of people attending funerals - international travel has become more restricted. As a result we have seen the industry pushing forward with technology in the funeral industry. Webcasting of funerals is now available in most UK crematoria. This means - with the use of the internet, a link and a password, people can watch the ceremony live from around the world thus reducing national and international travel. At burials, funeral videographers are now employable or smartphone apps can be used to create live streams or videos that can be shared with those who were unable to attend. 
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Reducing the miles inevitably reduces our carbon footprint.

Bodies can be cremated without being embalmed, in fact the embalming process is only carried out to bring comfort to families who wish to spend time with their loved one before a funeral, regardless of the type of committal they choose. The exception to this is if a person has died overseas and therefore needs repatriating to their home country - be that the UK from abroad or a foreign country from the UK - then it is necessary.
The embalming fluids are chemicals used to preserve bodies - they contain a mixture of formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, methanol and other solvents. Embalming is prohibited for green funerals at natural burial grounds, to prevent embalming fluid leaching into the soil.
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So if you skip the embalming process, there are a lot less nasty chemicals being used which has to be a greener alternative.

A shroud is a long piece of cloth, usually natural material such as cotton, linen or bamboo, which is wrapped around a body after it has been prepared for burial. The shrouded body is usually placed directly in the grave without a casket. This simple method uses a minimum of materials while still honouring the dignity of the deceased during burial. The shrouded body can also be placed in a biodegradable casket or carrier.

Caskets made from bamboo, banana leaf, cane, cardboard, pandanus, seagrass, willow and wool are entirely biodegradable. They contain no screws or fittings that aren’t natural. They are very strong and the handles are woven into the structure. They are therefore entirely suitable for natural burials as they will be quick to degrade.

Biodegradable coffins are sustainable - they are made from renewable resources; some wooden coffins are also sustainable - made from environmentally sustainable paulownia wood or pine from responsibly managed forests with biodegradable handles and beeswax polish, so even if you do have a cremation - consider using greener products than traditional oak or elm with brass or plastic fittings.

If we think about improved sustainability in all areas of our life - we are protecting our future.

Whilst it’s true that cremation is less harmful than pumping a body full of formaldehyde and burying it under concrete, there are still environmental effects to consider. Cremation requires a lot of fuel, and it results in millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year - enough that some environmentalists are trying to rethink the process. 
One option we have in Kent is a green cemetery or natural burial site. A natural burial is an eco-friendly way of laying a body to rest in the ground, without a traditional coffin or headstone. It's the greener way of allowing a body to decompose naturally, with less impact on the environment. Natural burials usually take place in a woodland area, and are also known as woodland burials or green burials. There are a growing number of natural burial sites in and around Kent, take a look at Eden Valley Woodland Burial Ground, Riverview and Bluebell Cemetery are a few of the more local sites in North Kent.
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A woodland burial is a good option if you would prefer being laid to rest in a more natural way.

A woodland burial involves a body, or cremated ashes, being laid into the ground using biodegradable coffins or caskets. Woodland burial services are very flexible, as they don't need to follow religious traditions or protocol. You can choose to have a ceremony around the burial, or choose not to have one at all. Most woodland burial sites will be able to accommodate your wishes, so long as they're within the site guidelines and keep the area protected. Some woodland burial sites have a small building where ceremonies can be held and some can also arrange religious woodland burials, if required.

By planting a native tree instead of stone or concrete headstones we are going some way to replanting natural woodland.

Many couples opt to include a symbolic ritual as part of their wedding ceremony, renewal of vows or baby naming ceremony. You may not want to include extra symbolism - for you the vows and ring exchange may be exactly what you want to do on your big day - but if you want to explore other options, read on!

Symbolic Ceremonies include a symbolic element which is added to a wedding, to represent your unity through the use of rituals. Symbolic Ceremonies offer an extra visual and interactive experience to the day, and often include keepsakes which you can treasure at home for long after your ceremony. They can be used not just to symbolise the union of your love, but to also symbolise your union as a family - as you may consider including children, parents or other guests in the ceremony as well.
Many of the rituals hold their origins in spiritual religion, but whatever your beliefs, a symbolic ceremony can be tailored to suit your own personal way of life, and can make for a unique and memorable addition to your day.

Wine is a universal symbol of the richness of life and sweetness of love. So it is appropriate that you toast life at a wedding ceremony or a vow renewal with this ancient symbol.
In a blending ceremony, the bride and groom each take a carafe of wine - each wine from a different grape - maybe even one red and one white wine and each pours some of their carafe into a single glass, from which you both drink. The blending represents your two lives combining to make a new and successful marriage. Then as a couple you can toast your guests - your first drink as a married couple.

One of the more recognised additions to a wedding ceremony; Hand Fasting (or ‘Tying the Knot’) originally stemmed from Pagan ritual, but is often used in modern ceremonies to represent the coming together of two people and their lives by the tying of their hands with cord or ribbon.
There are many ways to tailor this ceremony to suit the purpose of why you have chosen to include it, but generally the couple will place their palms together, and with each spoken promise or given virtue the cord is wrapped around the hands. The ceremony is then made complete with the tying of a knot to form an eternal loop in the material, before the hands are released and the loop is taken home to be kept as a visual reminder of their bond.
Couples can use multiple coloured cords plaited together to represent a combination of different promises and virtues. You can even symbolise the union of different people being brought together by the marriage, by using the coloured ribbons to represent each person within the family unit.
You could even ask friends or family members to come forward and assist in adding their own cords to the finished piece…
As the name suggests - like in ancient times - you will have literally ‘tied the knot’.

​If you have children you can involve them too, by them lighting their own candles from the flame of your unity candle. This shows how together you have created a new energy and brought a new light into your life, through your child or children.
Why not light the unity candle every year on your anniversary to remind you of your wonderful day? ​

Once the pouch has been passed around everyone, the couple can continue with placing the rings on each other's fingers in the knowledge that the rings have been ‘warmed’ with the kind wishes and the love of those friends and family they have chosen to join them.

There are of course other symbolic rituals some ancient, others modern and some from other parts of the world - you may wish to plant seeds or a sapling at the site of your ceremony, or in a small pot to take home with you, as a way to represent your new life together and the continued growth of your relationship here after. There are crystal ceremonies, water ceremonies, painted canvas ceremonies, love letters sealed in a box with a bottle of wine and jumping the broom to name a few.
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If you are interested in finding out how we could include any of these rituals in your ceremony then get in touch - I would love to talk to you about your big day.

Find out if I have availability for your beautiful ceremony by leaving your details here:

Are all Celebrants Humanist? Are Independent Celebrants also Humanist?
Do we have to employ a minister if we want some elements of religion or spirituality in the funeral ceremony?
In short - not all Celebrants are Humanist - a large proportion of us are Independent and we therefore have the flexibility to reflect your beliefs  - whether religious, spiritual, agnostic or atheist. We do not need to be Humanist to officiate a non-religious ceremony and we can certainly include elements of religion or spirituality too!

If your loved one was not a church-goer or a practicing muslim or a lapsed visitor to the synagogue but they were brought up in religious family and had some beliefs - what are their options when it comes to their cremation or funeral?

How can we give them the send off they would want or deserve?  We don’t want the vicar or rabbi to officiate at the funeral - it would be wrong as they were not actively religious - but we should have a nod to their religious upbringing! How can this be handled sensitively?

Well there are of course options! 

​When you are planning a loved one’s funeral, you have choices - so many choices! But in my view (and I may be biased!) - the most important choice will be who will say the final words and what is said - will the words be right, will it sum up that person we are saying goodbye to, will it be special, will it be appropriate, will it be memorable for all the right reasons?⠀

As your Celebrant, I will be in contact with you more than once before the funeral and wherever possible I will meet you. I will find out all about that special person and the life they have led. I will get to understand your family dynamics, your family humour, their history, the importance of religion in their life and what made them tick. Then I will script a very personal service which is all about them - we will tweak it - you get that input, until it truly reflects and celebrates their life.⠀

A Humanist Celebrant does not support religion or spirituality - it has to be a non-religious ceremony if they lead your funeral. If you employ a religious minister - they will have very fixed impersonal scripts - it will be heavy on the religion - for obvious reasons!

​ Don’t panic!! Independent Civil Celebrants will write a script that honours that person’s story and beliefs - they can write a service with no mention of religion, but if it is relevant  - even if it is just a mention of their religious upbringing and the Lord’s prayer, a Civil Celebrant can do that. 

A Civil Celebrant will also make sure that the music they loved in life is included in the ceremony - even if it is deemed spiritual by others - yes Angels by Robbie Williams will apparently not fit the criteria if you employ a Humanist for your ceremony (they don’t believe in afterlife therefore no angels!)

You can and should choose your own Celebrant - you need to decide if they are a good fit for your family - we are all different so it is not one size fits all. Some Celebrants are fun, some are serious, some are modern, others are traditional - we reflect all parts of the community and we all have different styles of communication.

​Your Funeral Director will have some information about local Celebrants they have met or have experience of and can often match you with a suitable Celebrant. Or you can choose someone yourself - maybe you have seen a Celebrant take another funeral or had a recommendation from a friend. Or google us - the more modern Celebrants will have a website and social media accounts which will give you an idea of what we are like and who we are. ⠀

A professional Celebrant will be part of an Association, they will have had training and they will hold insurance.

We will meet you at your home, at the Funeral Director’s office or at a convenient location; the Celebrant will ask you questions and find out all about your loved one’s story. We can talk about music, give you some ideas on readings and eulogies and start forming a plan for the funeral. 

 ​The Celebrant will then write a really personal ceremony - hopefully one that will make you smile through the tears - (well that is how I work!)

The only rules I have as your Celebrant - make it special, make it personal, celebrate their achievements and give them the funeral service they deserve.

Get in contact for more information about funerals:

Why would you want to renew your wedding vows?
​We are all different and we have our own reasons for renewing our vows. In England there are no legal implications or constraints - you can say or do whatever you want to do (within reason)!

To renew your wedding vows is a very symbolic expression of your ongoing love and commitment to each other but it also gives you the chance to either share new vows which are appropriate for you now or re-create the vows you made on your wedding day - reminding yourselves and your witnesses what you said before and that you still mean it - (That of course assumes you remember the vows you said the first time round!)

It may be an intimate experience - just the two of you and a celebrant to officiate over the ceremony, it may be a public commitment of your love with close family and friends or it might be a massive event with many guests and a huge party afterwards. Just like your marriage and your wedding - do it your way!

You can renew your vows on a stunning mountain top, at the beach at sunset, in an atmospheric woodland glade or in your family garden; alternatively you could have a funky ceremony in a fifties diner, at the beginning of a family party (when no-one else is expecting it to happen), have the wedding day you would have loved the first time round or combine it with your child's naming ceremony in a smart hotel.

​ Whatever you choose to say to each other and wherever you choose to say it, what are your main reasons to want to renew your vows?:

Especially if you have made it to 2, 5, 10, 25 or 50 years together. These can be significant milestones especially if your contemporaries have not managed to reach these milestones and have ended in divorce. You have every reason to celebrate your longevity as a married couple (as every marriage inevitably has its ups and downs - marriage is not always easy). Working together and celebrating that partnership over a number of years is every reason to publicly confirm your love and respect for each other and remind each other of the promises you want to make to each other.

After a difficult period in your relationship, such as poor health, addictions, bereavement, infidelity, financial strains you may have had all sorts of pressures and strains on your marriage. It may have meant that you have had to work even harder to make it succeed - LOVE may be the one thing that has got you through these difficult times so renewing your vows is a very public way of showing your ongoing love and determination to make your marriage work.

Some couples want to include family members such as their children in a celebration - especially if they couldn't attend the original wedding or had not even been born at the time of the first ceremony! It can be a celebration of the beautiful family you have created from your union, as much as your marriage itself. Exchanging vows can be an expression of unity for you and your family.

You may now be able to afford a ceremony and party that was just not possible the first time round! Some weddings are created on a real shoestring especially when you are at the start of your adult life - Love and enthusiasm was all you owned back in the day - now, years down the line,  you may be able to afford to splash out a bit more and celebrate with your nearest and dearest with plenty of fizz, a special meal and a shindig.

It could be a wonderful surprise - set up by one of the couple to express their love and ongoing commitment to their partner for life. What an incredible way to publicly show your love to your partner. ​

One or both of you could be experiencing health conditions which could be life limiting or life shortening. You want to make memories, you want to celebrate your marriage and the life you have created. What better way to mark these achievements than to have a vow renewal and be surrounded by the most important people in your life?

A vow renewal is an incredible way of sharing special words, it is a way of renewing your commitment to each other and confirming your love (let’s face it - life runs at a million miles an hour and sometimes we just forget to slow things down and say ‘I love you’)

​Vow renewals give us a chance to also create visual memories - special photos to go with those special words.

Celebrate your relationship, Celebrate what you have achieved in life and Celebrate love.
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If you are planning an outdoor wedding - you will have one of the most magical days of your life - it will feel spiritual and natural and will look absolutely stunning. But like any engaged couple - especially in the UK , where our climate is changeable - you may be apprehensive about having a rainy wedding but let's embrace rainy day weddings and enjoy them!

Here are 10 top tips to make your outdoor wedding weather-proof and enjoyable:

Let your wedding guests know on the invitation, that it is an outdoor venue - so they can be prepared well in advance for any eventuality. If you want them to bring umbrellas and wellies if the conditions get challenging - let them know early.

Use your wedding website, social media or email to announce the weather forecast the week of the wedding - this way, guests can make any last minute outfit changes and have their wet weather gear to hand if necessary. ​

If there is rain forecast before the wedding ceremony - have tarpaulins to hand which can be draped over the chairs and removed just before everyone arrives - check with the venue if they will do this, if not, this could be a job for the Best Man to organise.

If there are showers predicted on the day you may want to source hay to cover any muddy areas and have umbrellas to hand to protect everyone if you don’t have an alternative covered area.

If you are pinning your hopes on an outdoor drinks reception or al fresco entertainment, make sure there are sheltered areas available should the worst happen. A gazebo or marquee with tables and chairs can be useful on both sunny and rainy days, so speak to your venue about setting one up a day or two before the big day. 
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Doormats and runners should be issued by the venue or marquee suppliers for rainy days to ensure floors remain as dry as possible - so check what they will supply. If you are holding a marquee wedding, ask your supplier about flooring options to prevent any unwanted accidents. Wooden flooring is generally better than coconut matting, especially for guests wearing high heels. Also, have a pile of old towels just in case the dance floor gets wet - get the groomsmen prepped to mop it if necessary!

​This can be a plan B or C - but not all outdoor venues will have this option.

​Bring a pair of bridal white or brightly coloured wellies or traditional Hunter wellington boots - they can look really cool and offer up a great photo opportunity. 

If you are desperate to wear your wedding shoes - bring them out for just some of the photos! (remember sensible footwear can also provide a welcome break from crippling bridal shoes!)

Prevent your dress from getting damaged come rain or shine by opting for an underskirt which can be hooked up to avoid dragging your train. Not only will this save the day when rain arrives, but it will also minimise dirt and snagging.

Request that your photographer carry a sheet for outdoor photos, to be placed on the floor for the bride and bridesmaids to stand on. It can be easily folded and placed under your dress and is the perfect saviour in these conditions.

Alternatively wear a shorter styled dress and then all panic about hems are avoided!

Make sure your photographer has a wet weather contingency plan well before the big day. Professional photographers should always have back-up ideas and a good photographer will be able to confidently tell you exactly what he/she will do when faced with rain. Pose the question early on in your wedding planning to ensure you don't get caught out. ​

Steer clear of any beauty product that's guaranteed to run. Have a spray tan rather than using instant tan on the day, use waterproof mascara and seal in your look with a setting spray. Your hair and make-up artists will be able to advise and prepare you accordingly.

With wet weather comes the peril of frizzy, flyaway hair. Hair and makeup touches will no doubt be required - so make sure you put together a handy kit, complete with hairpins, hairspray, tissues and waterproof mascara AND make sure someone you trust can put their hands on it easily on the day.

Finally, don’t panic! It’s your wedding day so enjoy it! 

Whatever the weather, those special moments of your wedding day will be captured - so you won’t even remember the rain and if you do - it will be with a smile!

Whatever you're faced with on the big day, delegate all jobs in advance and just enjoy every moment of it!

Want to check out my availability?

How can we book the date we want for our wedding when Registrars don't have any appointments available? We don’t want to wait another year! 
Let me tell you how to do it - and what you will discover is that this is how it should have been planned all along!!

We have been in lockdown forever (at the time of writing) and we are are only just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. All weddings have been on hold for months or have taken place with hugely restricted numbers - no long-term decisions have been made yet about when gatherings will definitely resume in a format we recognise. But how will Registrars fit every couple in? Let’s face it - 2021 only has 52 Saturdays in total - and between April and September - the peak wedding season - there are only 26 Saturdays! There are a limited number of venues registered for weddings, a limited number of Registry Offices in every county and more importantly a limited number of Registrars working on any given day. ​

Hopefully all wedding couples can mark their original wedding day doing something special, like a walk to a favourite spot or a delicious home-delivered restaurant meal or even a cream tea with a glass of fizz in the back garden; some are having a virtual ceremony held on Zoom or Skype and led by a Celebrant with a plan to legalise it and have a celebration later in the year.

​Others will just postpone their celebration but they may not be able to have exactly the same ceremony that they originally planned - due to availability or limitations of numbers after lockdown.

A Celebrant led ceremony could be the solution when registrar or church availability is scarce in 2021 or 2022 - maybe you haven’t considered it before? A registrar appointment for you and two witnesses to legalise the marriage in the weeks before or after the big celebration will give you the flexibility of finding a day when the venue, your guests, your photographer and all your other chosen suppliers can be available. The Celebrant can make it personal & bespoke and the wedding of your dreams. A Celebrant can be much more flexible on times as they don’t generally have other ceremonies booked in on that day - one less worry to stress about when everything else is so uncertain. Just think you also have two dates to celebrate! 

This time of lockdown is now perfect for reflecting on what is important to the both of you - just think - your wedding celebration could be even better than you originally planned! It can be more intimate and more about you rather than a massive event - if that is what you really want.

Contact me if you want to talk through your options - you can still have the celebration or celebrations of your dreams - it just may be a bit different to the original dream  - but it could be even better!

Kent is just beautiful - as an outdoor wedding Celebrant I am very lucky as my clients have so many beautiful wedding venue options! Kent has a long coastline which separates the UK from France, it sneaks into London in the north and has the city of Canterbury and historical market towns such as Maidstone, Ashford, Tonbridge, Rochester and Tunbridge Wells as well as numerous beautiful villages; but in between these settlements we have the most amazing countryside made up of woodland, forest and farms - it really is The Garden of England.

Where better than Kent to have a outdoor woodland or forest wedding? The choice of venues has never been so great as now to tie the knot under the dreamy forest canopy - if you are lucky enough to own your own woodland or have access to one (with landowner’s permission!) - then you are laughing - I’m sure you can find a beautiful accessible glade within that woodland, with the dappled light and enchanted atmosphere you want! Fairy lights, flowers and ferns, some quirky accessories and enough chairs or benches or straw bales for your guests and you have the most idyllic venue for a rustic wedding. Imagine the two of you and your marriage celebrant standing under the oak tree or a willow arch, as you exchange your wedding vows, then have a traditional hand tying service to involve your guests and a toast with home-made sloe gin whilst your best man plays guitar in the background. Whichever details you choose to include in your ceremony - you will definitely have the rustic, romantic wedding you dreamt of.

OK - so you don’t have a woodland in your back pocket? Well - there are venues out there for you too - this list is not exhaustive and I have not officiated a wedding at all of them (yet!) - but these are a good start to your search:

Have you got any other recommendations for dreamy woodland wedding venues?
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​Let me know!
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See my next blog on Barn Weddings for options on another stunning romantic wedding venue in Kent.

So please contact me to check my availability for your big day or leave your details below and let's discuss which venue works best for you. If you want a woodland with glamping or a treehouse for your wedding night, marquees or barns for your wedding breakfast - there are choices!

In answer to my question..... Yes you can get married in the woods in Kent - and remember - it's not just a woodland wedding that is magical - a woodland vow renewal would be perfect too!

Let's talk!

​So you are now engaged to be married - how should you start planning your wedding?
Will it be near to home or in another part of England or will you choose a destination wedding? (Note: There are regional differences even Scotland has different laws to England!)

OK - so we want to get married in England but should we start with choosing a venue? - I would love an outdoors wedding, but my partner is worried about the weather being unkind! Who should marry us? - my Mum is religious and would love a vicar to marry us in church - but is that what we want? Our wedding vows are the most important part of the ceremony - can we say our own words? - can I exchange those vows in a woodland clearing with 30 of my closest family and friends? When should it take place? - summer maybe but will everything be booked up over the next 2 years? - HELP!!

Well for a start just breathe slowly and use your mindfulness techniques and think about what you as a couple really want and importantly - remember why you want to get married!! ​

Where would your perfect day be? What type of service would you like? Who would you invite? Just start writing a list - maybe even both write independent lists and then compare for common ground - focus your mind on what you really want - that will help with the initial planning and for sanity checking as you go along the route of wedding planning.

Next step - speak to the person or organisation that you might want to marry you - they will be able to advise on venues, help you right from the very beginning of the process, look at availability for them as officiant and the venue and book you in, then you can start booking all the other bits like flowers, rings and meal options because the date will be in your diary.

A wedding Celebrant in the UK is someone who leads a wedding ceremony, they are professionally trained and usually self-employed. Celebrants are an amazing option for couples who feel they want something more personal, unique or meaningful than a religious or civil wedding or partnership. In the UK the Celebrant performs the ceremony - including any words, poems, music, modern or ancient rituals that the couple want, they can include any religious text or traditions - so a mixed faith couple can in fact include elements of both faiths or there can be absolutely no religion involved, the couple can exchange rings and very personal vows or they can use traditional vows - there is choice.

​The ceremony will usually be bespoke, there will be no time limits and it will include EVERYTHING the couple wants to include and added to that they can do that at ANY venue (beach, woodland, hot air balloon, back garden….) - providing they have the land owners permission AND it can take place at any time of the day or night - providing the celebrant is available! Usually a celebrant will only officiate at one ceremony a day - so there is less rush, making it a very relaxed and sometimes organic experience.

In the UK, the Celebrant is not currently legally permitted to register the marriage. Don’t panic though - that is not a problem! An appointment at the Register Office with two witnesses can take place separately - make the marriage official and legal and then you have the celebration you have dreamt of with a celebrant-led ceremony. Here is a link to the Register Offices in Kent.

A Humanist Celebrant works in just the same way as a Civil Celebrant BUT a Humanist is strictly non-religious. Humanist philosophy is that they only trust scientific method when it comes to understanding how the universe works, so their ceremonies cannot include any elements of religion whatsoever.

​Other than that, there is flexibility to make it the celebration you dream of.

The Registrar can be booked to marry you at the Register Office or in a venue that is registered for weddings by the local council such as a hotel or in a castle (there are limited number of venues registered for a specific outside space such as a gazebo setting and the venue needs to be open to the public so you cannot have a registrar-led wedding in a private house for example). The service has to be non-religious and must involve a minimum of two witnesses (although you don’t need to know them for them to witness your wedding!) Each partner is required to repeat a standard set of vows. These vows may not be changed, but may be added to, as long as the additions are not religious. Rings are not required but can be exchanged if the couple wishes to. The Registrar is legally able to register the marriage. 

If you choose the Register Office as the location of your wedding - slots in in peak season are filled back to back (especially after covid closures, so you need to book as early as possible.  If you choose this option, you can then go on to have a ceremony with a Celebrant in the location of your choice or just party with your family and friends at the venue of your choosing.

When a Registrar officiates at a registered location, remember - they will need to adhere strictly to time frames as they likely have a list of weddings to officiate that day - so do not be late - they cannot always wait for Grandma to get back from the loo or for a bride to be an hour late!

The Vicar - it will be of no surprise - will marry you in a church - a traditional service and a traditional church setting. The marriage must take place between 8am and 6pm on available days in the week - usually not Sunday and at a specific time - there may well be another ceremony before or after your wedding. Banns will be read out in the parish where you are getting married and the parish that you live in, for 3 consecutive weeks prior to the ceremony. If you are short of time - there is a way of skipping this step but you will need a Common Licence. The granting of a Common Licence is at the discretion of the church legal official to whom the application is made, so is not necessarily a guaranteed route to marrying in a particular church, also part of the Common Licence application process requires you to swear an oath in person (in England) before a legal official. Couples who live abroad need to bear this in mind when planning a wedding in England. 

You don’t have to be religious to have a CofE wedding but a catholic wedding requires at least one of you to follow the faith but remember this will be a religious service - you will be expected to have a connection with the church, whether that be living in the parish or your family have a link to the parish church. Some vicars may require attendance at church when banns are being read or lessons in faith.

Wedding vows cannot be altered in England or Wales although in Scotland you can vary the traditional vows as long as the minister approves them - so if you want to write your own vows - this probably isn’t your ideal service.
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Ministers and Priests of all other religions can be authorised to register marriages and must have a certificate or licence to do so from the local Superintendent Registrar. For Jewish and Quaker marriages, the authorisation is automatic. For all other religions, if the official performing the ceremony is not authorised, either a Registrar must attend the religious ceremony or the couple will need to have a separate religious and civil ceremony.

The choices are yours - religious or non-religious, indoors or outdoors, formal or informal, spiritual or themed, unusual or traditional, big or small.

​This is your ceremony - make it the ceremony that is special to you and therefore the people you love.

Choose what is right for you as a couple - do it your way and LOVE IT!