A Luxury Wedding Ceremony at the Natural History Museum:

Luxury Wedding Celebrant London - Natural History Museum

Amanda & Cameron

There are few venues in London quite as breathtaking as the Natural History Museum. Amanda and Cameron's ceremony took place in Hintze Hall, beneath the soaring Romanesque arches and the museum's magnificent blue whale skeleton, Hope, suspended overhead, while their arrival drinks were held in the adjoining Fossil Way, with its beautiful stonework, while Hintze Hall was transformed behind the scenes for the ceremony itself. Few backdrops in the world can rival it, and for Cameron in particular, it meant even more than most: he grew up visiting the museum as a child, long before he ever imagined he'd one day stand beneath that same whale skeleton to marry the woman he loves. Weaving that personal history into the ceremony, rather than simply borrowing the room's grandeur, is exactly the kind of detail I love building a script around.

The Natural History Museum has played host to some of London's most spectacular weddings for over 25 years, and it's easy to see why. It's one of the very few venues in the country that can hold hundreds of guests while still feeling awe-inspiring rather than corporate, thanks to the sheer scale and drama of its architecture. Twelve of its galleries are licensed for ceremonies, from the vast Hintze Hall to the more intimate Darwin Centre Atrium, but nothing quite compares to getting married under Hope's outstretched fins.

Luxury Wedding Celebrant London - Natural History Museum. Ceremony by Love Celebrants - Kathryn B Wilson

A humanist ceremony, not a civil one

It's worth explaining the distinction, because it's one couples ask me about often. The Natural History Museum is licensed to host civil ceremonies, meaning couples can legally marry there via a registrar, following a fixed, standardised script with very limited scope for personalisation. Amanda and Cameron instead chose a humanist ceremony with me as their celebrant: entirely non-religious, and written completely from scratch around their own story, values and sense of humour, rather than a legal formula.

Under current English and Welsh law, a humanist ceremony like theirs isn't yet legally binding on its own, which is why couples choosing this route still need a separate legal registration, typically a short, simple appointment at a register office, alongside their humanist ceremony. It's an extra step, but one most of my couples find well worth it for a ceremony that's genuinely, entirely theirs.

That may be changing soon. The UK Government launched its "Tying the Knot" consultation on marriage law reform on 16 July 2026, running until 24 September 2026, with humanist marriages one of the central proposals under consideration. Humanist marriages have already been legally recognised in Scotland since 2005, where they now outnumber all religious marriages combined, and in Northern Ireland since 2018. If reform goes ahead in England and Wales, couples could soon be able to have a single, fully legal humanist ceremony rather than two separate ones. It's a genuinely exciting moment for couples who want a ceremony that reflects who they are, and I'll be watching the consultation closely.

Getting to know Amanda & Cameron

Amanda and I met over dinner before the wedding, which is exactly how I love to begin working with a couple. It gave us the time to properly get to know one another, not just the practical details, but who they are together: how they met, what makes them laugh, what they wanted their guests to feel. From there, we worked closely on their personal vows and every element of the ceremony script, right through to the final rehearsal.

The day itself

With a venue as spectacular as the Natural History Museum, there's a temptation to let the room do the talking. But what made Amanda and Cameron's ceremony special wasn't just Hintze Hall's grandeur; it was how personal the ceremony felt within it. Their day was planned by the wonderful Caroline Siân, whose eye for detail brought every part of the celebration together seamlessly.

What Amanda said

"We were grateful enough to have Kathryn as the celebrant at our wedding. I cannot recommend her enough. Not only is she personable, but also funny, charismatic, and truly loves what she does. She took the time to get to know both my husband and I prior to the wedding over dinner and helped us every step of the way, from writing our personal vows, to drafting our ceremony, and everything in between.

On the day of the wedding she even went above and beyond and assisted my mom with something entirely out of her job description, because that is the kind of person she is. She cares about making your wedding special in any way possible. All of our guests commented on how delightful the ceremony was and how funny Kathryn was. She adds such a personal touch to a ceremony that I have not seen before at other weddings I have attended.

We cannot recommend Kathryn enough. She is a delight to work with, speak with, and be around. She embodies happiness and love, and it is evident in the work she does."

— Amanda, Read the full review on Google

It wasn't only Amanda who felt this way; the team working alongside me on the day did too. Thanks to Alice who was content creator on the day:

"Kathryn is simply the BEST at what she does! She is warm, fun, personable and holds the room in the most natural and beautiful way. Her ceremonies are so meticulously thought through, yet everything she does is delivered completely effortlessly. I worked with her at a Natural History Museum wedding, and not only is she a dream for couples, she's also a dream to shoot content for and work with. Do not hesitate in booking her! You'll be in the safest, kindest hands."

Bride getting married in London

Planning a wedding at the Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum has hosted weddings for over 25 years and is licensed for civil ceremonies across twelve of its spaces, from the vast Hintze Hall to the more intimate Darwin Centre Atrium. If you're considering this venue, or somewhere similarly iconic, for your own celebration, I'd love to hear from you. Get in touch to talk through your plans.

Weddings at London's most iconic venues

Amanda and Cameron's day sits alongside some of the most memorable ceremonies I've had the privilege of writing and delivering: Blenheim Palace, Cliveden House, Hedsor House and Chapel House Estate among them. What ties them together isn't the grandeur of the room, it's the same thing that made this ceremony work: taking a venue with its own history and personality, and writing something entirely personal within it, so the ceremony never feels like it could belong to anyone else. Whether it's a UNESCO World Heritage palace, a Georgian country house, or a world-famous museum, my approach stays the same: get to know you properly, and build a ceremony around your story rather than a template.

See here for some behind the scenes content at the wedding of Amanda and Cameron

With thanks to the team

Every detail of this day was brought to life by an exceptional group of suppliers:

• Wedding planning: Caroline Siân Weddings & Events

• Videography: Forever Curious Films

• Photography: Rebecca Rees Photography

• Content: Alice Rose

• Florals: Lavender Green Flowers

• Production & Design: Event Concept

• Catering: Caper & Berry

• Live band: Supatight

• Wedding cake: Anna Lewis Cake Design

• Ceremony music: Chiqas Music

• Venue: Natural History Museum

A Humanist Wedding Ceremony at Chapel House Estate:

Megan & Chris

Tucked away in 35 acres of Kent countryside near Ramsgate, Chapel House Estate is one of those rare venues that feels like a private world of its own; wild orchards, open paddocks and dreamy gardens, with a restored barn and glass-walled courtyard at its heart. It was the setting for Megan and Chris's wedding, a day built entirely around who they are as a couple, and I'm so glad I get to share a little of it here.

Wedding Photography by Olly Knight Photography

Getting to know Megan & Chris

From our very first conversation, I knew this was going to be a special one. We met in person over lunch in central London before I began writing a single word, which is exactly how I like to work wherever possible. My job as a humanist celebrant isn't just to learn the timeline of how a couple met or got engaged, it's to properly understand them: what matters to them, what makes them laugh, what's shaped who they are, and what they've found in each other. Sitting across the table from Megan and Chris, that all came through in the first ten minutes. That's what makes a ceremony feel truly theirs, rather than something that could belong to anyone.

With Megan and Chris, that process uncovered so much warmth and humour that it made writing their ceremony an absolute joy.

Heres a link so Photographer Ollys photos on instagram

The ceremony

Every ceremony I write is entirely bespoke, and Megan and Chris's was no exception. Looking around at their family and friends during the ceremony, laughing one moment and wiping away tears the next, is exactly the reaction I hope for: a ceremony that feels so authentic, so full of love, and so unmistakably them, that everyone in the room feels it too.

Wedding Ceremony at Chapel House Estate, Kent

What Megan & Chris said

"It never once felt like Kathryn was just doing a job. It felt like someone who genuinely cared whilst standing beside us, telling our story. Kathryn didn't just learn about how we met or when we got engaged, she took the time to really get to know us, understanding what mattered to us, what made us laugh, what had shaped us, what we found in one another, and turned all of that into the most beautiful ceremony. Everyone commented on how it was the best wedding ceremony they've ever been to.

Thank you for giving us more than a ceremony. You gave us moments we'll carry with us forever. If you're reading this and wondering whether to book Kathryn, please do. You'll get so much more than a celebrant. You'll get someone who genuinely loves people, loves love, and pours every bit of herself into making your day feel unforgettable."

— Megan & Chris

Planning a celebration at Chapel House Estate

Whether you're planning a wedding, a vow renewal, or a ceremony to celebrate your marriage in front of family and friends, Chapel House Estate offers a genuinely unique setting; part countryside hideaway, part restored barn elegance. If you're considering this venue, or somewhere similarly special, for your own celebration, I'd love to hear from you. Get in touch to talk through your plans.

Full list of suppliers for this amazing wedding;

Venue @ChapelHouseEstate

Bride @meganje123
Groom @_chrisorford
Video @Mollyellenfilms
Second Photographer @Rachelclaire.photography
Celebrant @lovecelebrants
Band @Tundrapartyband
Dress @Amore.Brides
Alterations @alexandersharpebridal
Hair @HairbyPaigeLittle
MUA @Elegance_by__coral
Decor by the bride @halobymegan
Cake @kellymacken_cakes
Acoustic singer @georgestockenmusic
Rings @kingsdownrings
Flowers @contemporaryflowers
Sleeves & Choker @velobiancoofficial
Games @vintagecharmgames

Luxury Wedding Celebrant Kathryn B Wilson Love Celebrants

I Called Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Engagement 11 Days Early (Here's the TikTok to Prove It)

Okay, so. I need to talk about the time I accidentally became a Taylor Swift prophet.

On 15th August 2025, buzzing after watching Taylor's appearance on New Heights, the podcast Travis co-hosts with his brother Jason (watch the episode here), I did what any self-respecting wedding celebrant would do: I made a TikTok about it, mid-delight, and told the internet exactly what I thought was coming. "I'm placing my bet now! These two will marry THIS YEAR!"

Eleven days later? Engaged. 🎉

Eleven months after that? Married. Madison Square Garden. About a thousand guests. The whole spectacle.

I mean, I KNEW IT.

The video's sitting at 186,000+ views and 4,000+ likes now, and honestly the comments are the best part. "You called it!!!""WELL YOU SAID THE TRUTH.""Girl guess whatttt." Someone asked if I'd thought about taking up fortune telling as a side hustle. Listen, I would not be mad about it.

Wedding Celebrant Predicts Taylor and Travis engagement

Here's the thing people forget about that episode: Taylor absolutely had something to sell. She used it to announce her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, release date, cover art, tracklist, the lot. It was one of the biggest promo moments of her year.

But that's exactly what made it so telling. Taylor Swift doesn't hand a reveal like that to just anyone. Her future fiancé got first access, before the label rollout, before the official countdown clock, before any of it. That's not a press strategy. That's a woman letting the person she loves be the one she shares it with first, and being happy enough about that fact that it leaked through every second of the episode.

It was, without question, the most "her" we'd seen Taylor in years. Not performing happy, that unmistakable, can't-quite-hide-it happy. And when you've sat across from as many couples as I have in the run-up to their weddings, you learn to spot that shift: the moment someone stops performing and starts just being, easily, obviously, "we already know and we don't even need to announce it yet" happy. That's the energy that made me shout "END GAME, this is IT" at my phone and immediately hit record.

Celebrity "prediction" videos are everywhere and most of them are safely vague: "they'll get married eventually," sure, thanks. Mine was dated, specific, posted before the fact, and eleven days out from the real thing. That's not a horoscope. That's pattern recognition from doing this job for real couples, regularly.

Reading a couple, spotting the exact moment they've quietly already decided, before they've told a soul, isn't a party trick I save for TikTok. It's genuinely the job. I just happened to do it, for once, in public, about two of the most famous people on the planet.

Wedding Celebrant Predicts Taylor and Travis engagement

I'm not saying Taylor and Travis are booking me for anything! But whether it's Madison Square Garden or a barn in Buckinghamshire, the joy looks the same once you know how to spot it. If you and your other half are somewhere in that "we already know" phase, I'd love to hear from you.

Watch the tiktok - here https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRoqbNYF/

Wedding Celebrant at Blenheim Palace:

Victoria & Tom's Story

There are few venues in England as awe-inspiring as Blenheim Palace, and being the wedding celebrant for Victoria and Tom's celebration there was a genuine privilege. The couple travelled from Jersey to marry at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, and from our very first in-person meeting, it was clear their wedding was going to be as warm and personal as it was grand.

Meeting In Person

Victoria and Tom made the journey from Jersey to meet with me ahead of the big day, and that face-to-face time made all the difference. Writing your own wedding vows can feel daunting, and for many couples it's the part of the day they worry about most. We took it step by step — talking through their relationship, the moments that mattered most to them, and the tone they wanted their ceremony to strike. What emerged was a ceremony that balanced heartfelt sincerity with genuine humour, reflecting exactly who Victoria and Tom are as a couple.

A Luxury Wedding at Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is one of the UK's most iconic luxury wedding venues, and Victoria and Tom's day was planned by Bespoke London, whose meticulous, tailored approach to luxury wedding planning helped bring every detail of the day together beautifully. Working alongside their team to deliver a ceremony that matched the scale and elegance of the setting was a wonderful experience.

The Ceremony

On the day, the goal was simple: make Victoria and Tom feel completely at ease, so their personalities — and their story — could shine through. Here's what they had to say afterwards:

"We couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding celebrant for our wedding. From the very first meeting, Kathryn made us feel completely at ease. Initially, the ceremony and writing our own vows was something we were quite worried about but Kathryn helped us through every part. She really took the time to get to know us as a couple and our ceremony really reflected that. It was the perfect balance between heartfelt and humour which is exactly how we are as a couple. We really can't recommend Kathryn enough, she was calming and always very responsive, coming back to us pretty much immediately on any questions we had. She made the day so personal and touching. We can't thank her enough!"

You can read this review and others on Google.

Luxury wedding Celebrant Kathryn Love celebrants at Blenhiem palace

Planning Your Wedding at Blenheim Palace

If you're planning a wedding at Blenheim Palace, or any other luxury venue across London and the Home Counties, and want a ceremony that's entirely your own — heartfelt, personal, and true to who you are as a couple — I'd love to help. Get in touch to talk through your plans.

A Humanist Wedding Ceremony at Oxleaze Barn: Lauren & Gareth

There's a particular kind of magic to Oxleaze Barn. Set within thirty acres of working organic farmland on the border of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, its beautifully restored Cotswold stone barn and courtyard have an effortless, understated elegance that doesn't need much dressing up to feel special. It was the perfect setting for Lauren and Gareth's wedding on Saturday 2nd August 2025, and one of my favourite ceremonies to have written this year.

A couple made for each other

Lauren and Gareth are, quite simply, a gorgeous couple, inside and out, and it's the kind of thing everyone around them says. We got to know each other over a few Zoom calls in the lead-up to the wedding, but it was meeting in person over brunch near where they live that really let me get under the surface of who they are as a couple, which is always my favourite part of the process. That's where a ceremony stops being a script and starts becoming genuinely theirs.

Luxury Humanist Wedding Ceremony Oxleaze Barn with Love Celebrants

The ceremony

Lauren and Gareth chose an outdoor ceremony at Oxleaze Barn, taking full advantage of the venue's stunning courtyard setting; exactly the kind of relaxed, natural backdrop this venue does so well. Their ceremony included:

• A reading from Gareth's brother, Bryn

• A ring warming, where their rings were passed among their guests to hold and bless before the exchange

• Personal vows, written entirely by Lauren and Gareth themselves

• The exchanging of rings

• A group vow, bringing their guests into a promise of support for the couple's marriage

It was a ceremony built from genuine warmth, humour and the kind of detail that only comes from properly knowing a couple, shared in front of their loved ones on a beautiful August day.

Luxury Humanist Wedding Ceremony Oxleaze Barn with Love celebrants

What Lauren said

Lauren shared this after their humanist wedding ceremony at Oxleaze Barn:

"Kathryn was just brilliant! From our first meeting we were certain that she was the right person to help us create an authentic ceremony that felt true to us. Her entire process was seamless and made it all seem so easy! She was natural, passionate and engaging and brought such great energy to the day. Our guests had so many kind words for her and we would recommend her services again and again! Thank you SO much Kathryn, you are truly celebrant goals!!"

— Lauren

Behind the scenes

Every wedding is a team effort, and Lauren and Gareth's day was beautifully captured by Craig Williams Photography, whose relaxed, documentary style was a perfect match for their day.

Kathryn B Wilson - Love Celebrants with Couple Gareth & Lauren

Why Oxleaze Barn

Oxleaze Barn is one of those rare venues that manages to feel both grand and completely unpretentious at the same time. The exposed 18th-century beams and honey-stone architecture give it real character, while the flexibility of its spaces, from the Main Barn to the courtyard and the wilder WedShed at the top of the meadow, means every couple can genuinely make it their own. It's exactly the sort of setting where a humanist ceremony belongs: personal, unscripted, and free from formula, in a space that already has so much of its own story to tell.

If you're planning a wedding at Oxleaze Barn, I'd love to be part of your day. Get in touch to talk through your ceremony.

Luxury Humanist Wedding Ceremony Oxleaze Barn with Love celebrants

What Is a Wedding Celebrant?

(My Neighbours Still Don't Know, So I Made a TikTok About It)

A few months ago I filmed a little sketch on my doorstep. Two versions of me. One asking, in that classic "quick question" tone, "What's a wedding celebrant?" The other trying to explain it while very obviously losing the room halfway through, the way people do when someone asks about your job and their eyes glaze over by sentence three.

It's now sat at 184,700 views, 2,282 likes and 155 saves, which tells me one thing loud and clear. Nobody actually knows what a wedding celebrant is. Not my followers, not my neighbours, and if I'm honest, not even some of my own family before I started doing this for a living.

So let's actually answer it properly.

A wedding celebrant is someone who works with a couple, from the very first conversation, to write and lead a completely bespoke ceremony. Not a template. Not a script pulled off a shelf. Your actual love story, structured into words, read aloud by someone who's spent hours getting to know how you met, what you love about each other, and what you want this particular hour of your life to feel like.

Wondering what a wedding celebrant actually does?

Luxury celebrant Kathryn B Wilson explains, with the viral TikTok that proves nobody quite knows.

One comment on the video asked, quite fairly, "so a wedding planner?" Nothing like a wedding planner, and it's worth being precise about the difference, because I get this one a lot. A wedding planner handles the logistics, the venue, the flowers, the timeline, the seating chart. A registrar handles the legal side, the bit that makes the marriage official on paper, following a fixed script with very little room to personalise. A celebrant is neither of those. My entire job is the ceremony itself: the words, the story, the fifteen or twenty minutes where everyone in the room actually stops checking their phone because what's being said is genuinely about the two people standing in front of them.

That's the part people don't picture when they hear "celebrant." They imagine someone reading from a book. What actually happens, on the day, is that a couple's whole relationship and love story gets built into something they'll remember word for word, told by someone who was trusted to write it properly.

For the kind of weddings I work on, at places like Blenheim Palace or Cliveden House, that distinction matters even more. A grand setting deserves a ceremony that matches it, not a generic script that could belong to anyone. The venue sets the scene. The ceremony is what makes it yours.

So if you're currently the person on the other end of that "what do you actually do?" conversation, or you're planning a wedding and wondering who's meant to write the bit everyone actually listens to about you and your relationship, that's the job. And if you'd like to talk about yours, get in touch.

How to Choose a Humanist Wedding Celebrant

Your ceremony isn't the warm-up to your wedding day, it's the moment your guests will talk about long after the confetti's swept away. Choosing the right celebrant to write and deliver it is one of the most important decisions you'll make, and it's worth getting right.

Here's what I'd tell any couple starting that search.

Couple Chris and Megan - Chapel house estate

1. Look for someone genuinely trusted, by planners, venues, and couples

Anyone can call themselves a celebrant. What matters is whether the people around them, wedding planners, luxury venues, and most of all, past couples, actually trust them with the day.

Start with their website and their reviews. Read past the star rating: look for specifics. Do couples mention a particular moment in the ceremony? Do they talk about how the celebrant made them feel, not just what was delivered? Venues and planners who repeatedly recommend the same celebrant are one of the strongest signals you'll find, because they've seen that person perform under real conditions, at real weddings, more than once.

I'm fortunate to work regularly with some of the UK's most respected luxury wedding planners, including Susie Evans, Caroline Sian, Rachel Leach of The Little Details, Hannah Rose, The Revelry, and Cherelle Joseph of Perfectly Planned 4 You. If you're already working with a planner, ask who they trust; it's often the fastest way to a shortlist.

2. Ask to see their work, not just hear about it

Unfortunately, anyone can say they're an experienced celebrant. Not everyone can prove it.

Look at their content, photos from real ceremonies, video, written stories about specific weddings they've delivered. If a celebrant has little to nothing to show, it's often a sign they're not investing in how they present their work, and in my experience, that tends to reflect the level of care that goes into the ceremony itself too. A celebrant who's proud of their work will want to show it to you.

3. Have a call, and pay attention to how you feel

Credentials and content will narrow your shortlist. The final decision usually comes down to something harder to put into words: connection.

Have a call with a few celebrants you like the look of. Notice who listens properly, who asks good questions, and who makes you feel genuinely heard rather than just talked at. This matters more than almost anything else on this list, because the person standing beside you on your wedding day needs to make you feel safe, at ease, and as joyful as possible, not just deliver a well-written script.

Grooms Alex and Darrin at their wedding at the HAC in London with Celebrant Kathryn B Wilson Love Celebrants

A quick note on humanist ceremonies specifically

If you're drawn to a humanist ceremony, it's also worth checking your celebrant is trained and accredited, through Humanists UK or an equivalent body, rather than self-taught. Accreditation means insurance, a code of conduct, and ongoing quality checks, which matter for something this important.

I'm Kathryn B Wilson, a Humanist-trained wedding celebrant based in Buckinghamshire, working with couples across London and the Home Counties. I've had the honour of conducting ceremonies at venues including Blenheim Palace, Cliveden House and the Natural History Museum, and I bring 15 years of experience as a professional broadcaster and presenter to every ceremony I write.

Get in touch to talk about your ceremony.

Luxury Wedding Ceremony at the Bodleian Library: Victoria & Andrew

Some love stories don't need an introduction, they just need telling well. Victoria and Andrew's began moments away from the Bodleian Library itself, in the cloisters of The Queen's College, Oxford, where the two of them first caught each other's eye. Bringing their ceremony back to that same corner of Oxford, inside one of the most extraordinary libraries in the world, felt like exactly the right way to close the circle.

Wedding ceremony at the Bodleian library, oxford

Two cultures, one ceremony

Victoria is from Argentina, and Andrew is Scottish, and their ceremony wove both heritages together with real care. It included a ring warming, a Scottish Quaich ritual, the traditional two-handled "cup of welcome" symbolising trust and unity, and a handfasting, the ancient ritual of binding the couple's hands together as a physical representation of their commitment. Victoria's mother gave a reading in Spanish, Argentina's national language, adding a moment of real emotional weight for Victoria's side of the family, and a beautiful reminder that a ceremony can hold more than one language, and more than one home, at once.

What Victoria and Andrew said

I have to be honest: this is one of the best reviews I have ever received, and I don't say that lightly.

"We had the privilege of having Kathryn as our wedding celebrant for our wedding in August 2025. Hiring Kathryn as our wedding celebrant was the best decision we could have made!

From our first meeting, Kathryn showed us such warmth and excitement and immediately had so many ideas of traditions and elements we could incorporate into our wedding ceremony to really make the wedding ceremony feel like us. She travelled to our neighbourhood in London so we could have brunch and talk through our love story, and she was always available for any advice on vows or any questions we had leading up to our ceremony. She then crafted a beautiful wedding speech which we could then collaborate on and really make our own.

On the day, Kathryn delivered the best wedding ceremony we could have ever hoped for and more! Kathryn brought so much energy, joy and excitement to the day. She captured our love story perfectly, cracked jokes, integrated wedding traditions such as handfasting, and kept the guests engaged throughout.

We had so many of our guests telling us that it was the best and most romantic and touching wedding ceremony they had ever seen, and others telling us that they were crying throughout the whole ceremony. Some of our guests even asked if Kathryn were a long-term friend of ours, as the ceremony felt so personal!

A wedding is a day full of joy and memories, but there's nothing more significant than the ceremony itself. Our ceremony will live as a cherished memory forever, thanks to Kathryn.

We can't thank Kathryn enough for her warmth, positivity, energy, professionalism, and magnetic stage presence! We can't recommend her highly enough! She is absolutely brilliant!!"

Victoria & Andrew

Guests wondering whether I was a long-term friend of the couple is about the biggest compliment a humanist celebrant can receive. It means the ceremony did exactly what it was supposed to: disappear into the story itself, rather than feel like a performance layered on top of it.

Watch a moment from the day

These Bodleian ceremonies have even featured on the venue's own wedding journal, along with real footage:

• Watch a Bodleian ceremony I led

• Go behind the scenes at another Bodleian wedding

The Bodleian Library

Few venues in the world carry the weight of history quite like the Bodleian Library. One of the oldest libraries in Europe, it has stood at the heart of Oxford academic life for over 400 years, and hosting a wedding ceremony within its walls is a genuinely rare privilege. I'm proud to be a preferred supplier at the Bodleian Library, listed among their recommended celebrants, and ceremonies like Victoria and Andrew's are exactly why.

Read "Love Saves the Day," my interview with the Bodleian Library Weddings team about what it's like to conduct ceremonies in one of Oxford's most iconic spaces.

Every ceremony I write, whether at a centuries-old library, a countryside barn, or somewhere entirely unexpected, starts the same way: getting to properly know the two people standing in front of me. Victoria and Andrew's is one I'll be proud of for a long time.

Luxury Wedding Celebrant at Petersham Nurseries:

Autumn & Adam's Story

Most people know Petersham Nurseries as a garden centre and restaurant tucked away in Richmond, which is exactly what makes it such an exciting choice for a wedding. It isn't the obvious venue, and that's the point. For Autumn and Adam, that quiet exclusivity was exactly what they were looking for, and being their luxury wedding celebrant for their intimate garden dinner party wedding was an absolute joy.

An Intimate Garden Dinner Party, Not a Traditional Wedding

From the outset, Autumn and Adam knew a conventional wedding format wasn't for them. Instead, they chose to host an intimate garden dinner party: a beautiful outdoor ceremony, followed by a cocktail drinks reception, and finished with a Michelin star four course meal inside Petersham's stunning indoor garden room. It's a format that suited both their personalities and the setting perfectly, and it meant every part of the day flowed naturally into the next.

Wedding Ceremony Reception at Petersham Nurseries

A Venue Built Around Nature

Petersham Nurseries is known for its glasshouses filled with antique furniture, trailing vines and seasonal blooms, offering a botanical, softly lit backdrop that feels a world away from the city just minutes outside. The venue's own team works alongside expert florists and a Michelin Green Star restaurant to curate every wedding, using seasonal British blooms and produce led menus, which meant Autumn and Adam's day felt genuinely rooted in its setting rather than layered on top of it.

A Ceremony That Brought Everyone In

One of the most important parts of the day for Autumn and Adam was making sure guests who had travelled from out of town, and from abroad, and who hadn't been present for their legal ceremony, still felt part of the full ceremonial experience. Together, we wove in traditional British rituals so that every guest, wherever they'd come from, felt genuinely included in the moment, not just the celebration afterwards.

What Autumn Said

"For our special day, we didn't want the typical, traditional fair and hosted an intimate garden dinner party instead. Kathryn helped us bring that vision to life while making our friends and family feel part of the magic and ceremony. It was important for us to have those from out of town/abroad who didn't attend our legal ceremony have the full ceremonial experience filled with some traditional (British) rituals.

Thanks to Kathryn's creativity, humour and ingenuity, our day was a success for us and all our guests. Plus as a seasoned pro, she eliminated any wedding planning stress (or concerns) from the ceremony part of the day. Seriously! If you're looking for someone to help make your special day uniquely YOURS, highly recommend Kathryn as your humanist celebrant."

You can read this review and others on Google Reviews.

Planning a Wedding at Petersham Nurseries

If you're drawn to something a little different, a beautiful, botanical setting that isn't the obvious choice but is all the more memorable for it, Petersham Nurseries offers a genuinely unique backdrop for a luxury wedding celebration. I'd love to help you create a ceremony as personal as Autumn and Adam's. Get in touch to talk through your plans.

Wedding at Petersham Nurseries London - Bride Autumn in B&W

A Humanist Wedding Ceremony at Stoke Place: Kerry & Matt

Kerry and Matt met working in the film industry, so perhaps it's fitting that their own love story reads like it was written for the screen: a Belfast bride, an Instagram message, and a celebrant booked before there was even an engagement to celebrate.

Couple Kerry and Matt, had their wedding at Stoke Place, Buckinghamshire

Booked before they were even engaged

Kerry found me on Instagram, and, thanks to our shared connection to Northern Ireland, where she's from too, she booked me as their celebrant before Matt had even proposed. It's one of my favourite stories to tell, and exactly the kind of trust I never take for granted. From there, the two of us built their ceremony together over months, texts, phone calls, and, memorably, a completely unplanned meeting on a flight back to Belfast.

Kerry and Matt knew from the start that they wanted their wedding ceremony in Buckinghamshire, close to where they now live with their children, with their legal signing to follow a few days later at Belfast City Hall.

Stoke Place

Their humanist ceremony took place at Stoke Place, a beautifully preserved 17th-century Queen Anne mansion set within 26 acres of parkland landscaped by Capability Brown. It's a venue that manages something quite rare: genuine grandeur, sweeping staircases, antique chandeliers, a lake framing every outdoor ceremony, without ever feeling stiff or formal. Kerry and Matt chose to say their vows indoors, then led their guests straight back outside afterwards for ice creams on the lawn, which felt exactly right for a couple who wanted their day to be about substance over formality. Guests are just as at home wandering its gardens as they are dancing in the Ballroom later that night, which suited Kerry and Matt's ceremony perfectly.

What Kerry said

"We knew before we even got engaged that Kathryn was who we wanted to be our celebrant (so much so we booked her the day before our engagement!). Kathryn has helped us every step of the way making the process of our ceremony fun and enjoyable, from texts to phone calls to even a random meeting on a flight back to Belfast.

As a couple we wanted our ceremony to be about us, and Kathryn delivered that tenfold! By answering her well thought out questions she created a script that was the story of our love together. We had a ceremony with our guests laughing but also, down to Kathryn's pure talent, we also had tears. Our guests still talk about how much they enjoyed our wedding!

Being an Irish bride getting married in England, having Kathryn be our celebrant meant I had a little bit of home with me, and that I will always cherish."

— Kerry 

My reply

"This review has genuinely made me emotional, thank you both so much! Booking me the day before your engagement might be one of my favourite stories EVER 😂💛 And bumping into each other on that flight back to Belfast! What are the chances! It was such a privilege to tell your love story, and I'm so glad we got the perfect mix of laughter and tears. That's everything I aim for. Being a little piece of home for you on your big day in England means more to me than you'll ever know. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness together. Your actual now mate (you're not getting rid of me, ahah). Kathryn x"

For couples who want more than a ceremony

Kerry and Matt's story is exactly why I take on a limited number of weddings each year: a ceremony built on this level of trust and closeness simply can't be rushed, or repeated at scale. If you're looking for a celebrant who becomes part of your story rather than a supplier ticking a box, and you have a date in mind for 2027 or beyond, I'd love to hear from you before availability runs out.

Wedding Celebrant Kathryn B Wilson at Stoke Place - Kerry & Matt May 2025

Humanist Wedding Ceremony at Bigstrup Farm, Dinton, Buckinghamshire: Nicole & Brady

Some love stories start with a grand gesture. Nicole and Brady's started with a poke on the arm.

It was 2013, a good old night out at LJ's nightclub in Aylesbury, and Nicole made the first move in the most refreshingly ordinary way possible. From there, things moved quickly in the way they do when you just know: by their second date, Nicole had already discovered the long, long list of Brady's hobbies, and rather than being put off, found the connection between them only grew stronger. Ten years on from that night in Aylesbury, the two of them were married just a few miles down the road in the Buckinghamshire countryside, at a wedding venue in Dinton they'd fallen for the moment they saw it.

Kathryn B Wilson - Wedding Celebrant Love Celebrants with Couple Nicole and Brady

Bigstrup Farm, Dinton

Nicole and Brady chose Bigstrup Farm for their wedding, a family-run farm hidden in the Buckinghamshire countryside just outside Aylesbury, with its beautifully restored 400-year-old Tythe Barn and courtyard garden at its heart. Surrounded by grazing cows, sheep and pigs, it's exactly the kind of venue I love working in: relaxed, rustic and entirely unpretentious, with none of the formality of a grander stately home. For a couple whose story started with a poke on the arm in an Aylesbury nightclub, it felt like exactly the right kind of setting, a celebration close to home, among the countryside they grew up around.

The ceremony

The sun was shining for their mid-August wedding, perfect for an outdoor ceremony surrounded by the farm's fields and courtyard garden. Their luxury celebrant-led ceremony was written entirely around their story: the ten years since that first night out, the friendship that grew from it, and the very long list of Brady's hobbies that Nicole had come to know (and love) so well. As with every ceremony I write, nothing about it followed a template. It was theirs, start to finish.

Nicole and Brady were kind enough to share the day on Instagram afterwards, describing me as their "amazing wedding celebrant", which is about the nicest thing you can say to someone who spent months getting to know your story before standing up in front of your family and friends to tell it.

Wedding Post - Newspaper

Why choose a local Buckinghamshire wedding celebrant

I'm based in Penn, Buckinghamshire myself, and there's something particularly special about conducting a ceremony so close to home. Working with a local humanist wedding celebrant means someone who already knows the venues, the roads, and often the suppliers across Aylesbury, Dinton and the surrounding villages, rather than travelling in blind on the day. It also means you can meet in person easily throughout the planning process, exactly as Nicole and Brady and I did, rather than relying purely on calls and emails.

Getting married in Buckinghamshire

If you're planning a wedding at Bigstrup Farm, or anywhere else across Buckinghamshire, Aylesbury or the surrounding countryside, I'd love to hear from you. Get in touch to talk through your plans, or read more about what a humanist ceremony involves if you're just starting to explore your options.

A Humanist Wedding Ceremony at Mickleton Hills Farm, the Cotswolds: Jordan & Mike

A Humanist Wedding Ceremony at Mickleton Hills Farm, the Cotswolds: Jordan & Mike

There's a particular kind of couple who know exactly who they are, and Jordan and Mike are exactly that. While they love spending quality time with the people close to them, they'll both happily admit that nothing beats a wholesome weekend at home together with their dog, Greggs. That same unpretentious, entirely-themselves energy ran through their whole wedding day at Mickleton Hills Farm, a beautifully restored 18th-century barn tucked into the Cotswold countryside near Chipping Campden, dressed head to toe in rich autumn and Halloween-inspired colours for their October wedding.

Mike and Jordan’s Dog, Greggs was the ring bearer at their humanist wedding ceremony

The ceremony

Greggs wasn't just at the wedding, he had a job to do. As ring bearer, he delivered the rings to Jordan and Mike right on cue, ahead of the exchange of rings and vows.

Their ceremony also included a unity sand ceremony, pouring different coloured sands together into a single vessel to symbolise their two lives joining as one. It's a ritual with a lot of meaning packed into a simple gesture: once poured together, the sands can never be fully separated again, representing a joining that can't be undone. Each colour still keeps its own character within the mixture, reflecting two individual people coming together without losing who they are. And unlike a moment or a spoken vow, the finished vessel becomes a lasting keepsake the couple can keep and display in their home long after the day itself.

Wedding ceremony at Micklefield Hills farm, Cotswolds

These two were so completely, unapologetically themselves throughout their ceremony, and that's exactly the point of a humanist wedding. There's no fixed script to follow, no box to tick, just complete freedom to shape a ceremony around who you actually are as a couple, dog included, right down to a celebrant dressed to match an autumn and Halloween theme.

What Jordan said

The morning after their wedding, Jordan sent me this message, and it's stayed with me ever since:

"Kathryn we cannot thank you enough for creating such a special ceremony 🥹 we loved every single second and we had so many comments to say it really suited us as a couple and everyone felt a huge amount of love in the room. And can we also talk about your amazing outfit that fitted the theme perfectly!! Thank you so much from both of us 💛💛💛"

She also left this review afterwards:

"Best celebrant ever! From start to finish, Kathryn was amazing in making us feel at ease with creating our ceremony and bringing it to life. Kathryn helps to personalise everything and thought of parts we never would have without her. Also, Kathryn's outfit could not have been more perfect to match our theme! Thank you so much for making our wedding experience so special, we'll forever remember our ceremony and planning it with you! Xxx"

— Jordan

Love Celebrants - Humanist wedding celebrant at Micklefield Hills Farm with Jordan and Mike

Behind the scenes

Every gorgeous detail of the day was captured by the wonderful Mark Horton Photography.

Planning your own completely-you wedding

If a humanist ceremony sounds like the freedom you've been looking for, whether that's a four-legged ring bearer, a sand ceremony, or simply the chance to be fully yourselves in front of the people you love, I'd love to help you write it. Get in touch and let's talk.

An Intimate Vow Renewal at Cliveden House:

Gennifer and Jei - Vow renewal after 22 years of marriage - Cliveden House

Jei & Gennifer's Story

When Jei and Gennifer got in touch from Seattle, Washington, they were planning something special: a vow renewal at Cliveden House to mark over 20 years of marriage. They wanted to travel across the Atlantic for an intimate celebration in one of England's most beautiful stately homes, and I couldn't have been more honoured to be part of it.

Planning a Vow Renewal from Across the Atlantic

Distance is never a barrier to creating a meaningful ceremony. Jei, Gennifer and I began the process over Zoom, and from that very first call it felt less like a planning meeting and more like catching up with old friends. We talked, we laughed, and — by their own admission there were a few happy tears too.

Vow renewals are a wonderful opportunity to reflect on a marriage as it stands today, not just as it began. Rather than repeating the vows from 20 years earlier, Jei and Gennifer wanted words that reflected who they are now: the years they'd shared, the life they'd built, and the love that had only deepened with time. Through a series of thoughtful questions and gentle encouragement, we crafted vows that were entirely their own — personal, honest, and full of the kind of detail only two decades together can provide.

Why Cliveden House

Cliveden House needs little introduction. With its formal gardens, sweeping parterre and unmistakable grandeur, it's one of the most sought-after luxury wedding and vow renewal venues in Buckinghamshire — and a setting that matches the significance of a milestone anniversary. For Jei and Gennifer, it was the perfect backdrop for an intimate, elegant ceremony surrounded by close family and friends.

The couple's wedding planning was also expertly handled by Susie Evans, an award-winning luxury wedding and events planner based in Surrey, specialising in bespoke celebrations at exclusive venues across the UK. It was a pleasure to work alongside Susie's meticulous planning to bring the day together seamlessly — this is one of several luxury weddings I've had the privilege of being celebrant for alongside her.

The Ceremony

On the day itself, Cliveden's timeless setting provided the backdrop for a ceremony full of warmth, laughter and a few happy tears. Guests later said it was the best vow renewal they'd ever witnessed — and hearing that kind of reaction from a couple's nearest and dearest is exactly why I love this work.

Here's what Jei and Gennifer had to say afterwards:

"Vows 2.0 with the Ultimate Love Celebrant! Let us just say, when you decide to renew your vows at a place as stunning as Cliveden House, you need someone who can match the magic. Enter — Miss Kathryn.

From our first Zoom call (we're from Seattle, WA), it felt like chatting with an old friend who just got us. We laughed, we cried (well, maybe just one of us) and my husband and I instantly knew she was the perfect person to guide us through this milestone.

Kathryn didn't just show up with a script, she brought soul, sparkle and the kind of care that made every step feel personal. She walked us through crafting our vows that truly reflected who we are now, not just who we were over 20 years ago when we first said "I do." Her thoughtful questions, encouragement and tips made it easy and even fun to put our hearts on paper.

The ceremony itself? A dream and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Kathryn brought so much warmth and joy to the moment that even our family and friends couldn't stop raving. Our guests told us afterward that "that was the best vow renewal I've ever witnessed," and my husband and I know exactly why — it was because of her.

Thank you so much Kathryn for making our vow renewal unforgettable. We wish we could relive it all over again just to have you marry us. You made us laugh, cry and fall in love all over again. Truly, you're the officiant dreams are made of."

Planning Your Own Vow Renewal or Wedding at Cliveden House

Whether you're renewing your vows after 20 years, getting married for the first time, or planning an intimate celebration far from home, a humanist ceremony at a venue like Cliveden House offers something truly personal — a script written entirely around your story, with the freedom to include exactly what matters most to you.

If you're planning a wedding or vow renewal at Cliveden House, Or Hedsor House which is only moments away. Or perhaps you’re looking at Blenheim Palace, Claridge's, or any other luxury venue in London and the Home Counties, I'd love to hear from you. Get in touch to talk through your ideas.

Wedding Celebrant at Hedsor House:

Victoria & Declan's Story

Some love stories take an unexpected turn along the way, and Victoria and Declan's is one of the most moving I have had the privilege of being part of. Their journey to their wedding celebration at the stunning Hedsor House is a testament to patience, resilience and the enduring strength of their commitment to each other.

A Wedding Postponed

In 2020, just days before their wedding at Hedsor House, the couple found themselves facing something no one could have planned for. COVID hit, and with it came the sudden need to rethink everything. Rather than lose the day altogether, Victoria and Declan made the decision to marry quietly and intimately, choosing to save their grand celebration for when it could truly be shared with the people they love.

Wedding Celebrant at Hedsor House

The Celebration, Finally

By March 2022, that moment arrived. Since Victoria and Declan were already legally married, what they wanted was something different from a traditional wedding ceremony: an opportunity to revisit their vows in front of family and friends, and to properly celebrate the milestone that COVID had once threatened to take from them.

Finding the right celebrant for such a personal and unusual brief took time, but once we met, it was clear we were the right fit for each other. Together we crafted a ceremony that honoured everything Victoria and Declan had been through since 2020: the setback, the patience, and the love that carried them to this point.

Hedsor House

Hedsor House is one of Buckinghamshire's most beautiful wedding venues, set within acres of parkland with sweeping views across the Thames Valley. As a celebrant based locally in Buckinghamshire, I have a real fondness for this venue and the way its history and grandeur provide such a fitting setting for a celebration of enduring love.

See more of what I’ve blogged about Hedsor

What Victoria & Declan Said

"When COVID hit in 2020, just days before our wedding at Hedsor, everything we had planned was suddenly up in the air. We had to rethink our approach and ultimately chose a more intimate ceremony, saving our grand celebration for a later date. By March 2022, it was finally time for our long awaited celebration. Since we were already married, we wanted a celebrant who could help us revisit our vows in front of family and friends. The search took time, but when we found Kathryn, we knew she was the perfect fit. She brought warmth, energy, and a unique perspective that made our ceremony truly special. Kathryn took the time to understand our journey and made sure every moment felt meaningful. If you're looking for a celebrant who brings passion, authenticity, and a personal touch, we wholeheartedly recommend Kathryn."

Planning a Celebration at Hedsor House

Whether you are planning a wedding, a vow renewal, or a ceremony to celebrate your marriage in front of family and friends, Hedsor House offers a truly special setting. If you are considering this beautiful venue for your own celebration, I would love to hear from you. Get in touch to talk through your plans.

Wedding Celebrant at Old Luxters Barn:

Mark & Megan's Story

Set within the Hambleden Valley's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Old Luxters Barn is one of my favourite local venues to work at, an 18th century converted barn on the grounds of Chiltern Valley Winery, surrounded by vineyards and orchards near Henley-on-Thames. Being wedding celebrant for Mark and Megan's celebration here was a genuine joy from our very first conversation to the final moment of their ceremony.

Getting to Know Mark & Megan

From that first call, it was clear Mark and Megan and I were the right fit for each other. My approach has always been to ask the right questions and really listen, so that a ceremony ends up sounding entirely like the couple standing in front of me rather than a generic script. With Mark and Megan, that meant drawing out their stories, their feelings, and the small details that mattered most to them, then shaping all of it into something that felt authentically theirs.

Luxury Wedding Celebrant Kathryn B Wilson with Megan & Mark

A Ceremony Built Together

What made this wedding special was how collaborative the process was. Mark and Megan were never afraid to ask for changes along the way, and I loved being able to refine and adjust their ceremony until it felt completely right, right up until it truly reflected who they are as a couple. That care paid off on the day itself, with a ceremony that struck the perfect balance between heartfelt and genuinely funny.

The Reaction Said It All

Since their wedding, Mark and Megan have told me about the sheer number of guests who came up to them afterwards with comments like "that was so you, it was perfect" and "that was the best ceremony I've ever been to." One guest even called it one of the most spectacular weddings they had ever attended. Hearing that kind of reaction from a couple's own family and friends is exactly why I love this work.

What Mark & Megan Said

"From start to finish Kathryn was amazing. As soon as we had our first call we knew she was the perfect fit for us, our ceremony and our vision of the day! She was always there to support and answer questions and was so enthusiastic, warm and friendly. She knew just what to say and ask to get the best out of us. We loved the final result, the ceremony was so true to us, who we are, and so special. Kathryn was so helpful with pulling out our ideas, feelings and stories and bringing them to life through a beautiful story. She was willing, enthusiastic and happy to get feedback and make edits as needed to make it 'more us', you can tell making it feel genuine and special is what truly matters to her. She was also a star on the day! Her presentation was heartfelt and moving, with the perfect touches of humour. Since the wedding, we've had numerous people comment on the ceremony, saying things like 'that was so you, it was perfect', 'that was the best ceremony I've ever been to', 'it was so genuine and full of love, so personal', and 'one of the most spectacular weddings we had ever attended, the ceremony, simply outstanding'. We cannot thank or recommend Kathryn enough! You made our day truly unique and special and you were absolutely amazing to work with. Thank you!"

"Kathryn was great right from the start! We knew right away she was the perfect fit for us and our day. She was kind, creative and knew how to get us to open up and share our stories. From there she was able to take our words and create something truly unique. From our first meeting to all the calls and support along the way to the final day, even making sure I had eaten beforehand, Kathryn was great. Thank you so much for everything, you really helped make our day something special."

As Featured in

Absolutely Magazine

Press with Luxury wedding celebrant Kathryn B Wilson Love Celebrants

Megan and Mark's wedding was even featured in Absolutely magazine's May 2025 issue, as part of a five-step guide I wrote on finding the perfect wedding venue. It was lovely to see their day, and their photograph by W Fuller Photography, included in print alongside my advice for couples starting their own venue search.

Planning a Wedding at Old Luxters Barn

As a celebrant based locally in Buckinghamshire, Old Luxters Barn is a venue I know well and love returning to. If you're planning a wedding here, or at another beautiful vineyard or barn venue in Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties, I'd love to help you create a ceremony as personal and memorable as Mark and Megan's. Get in touch to talk through your plans.

A Humanist Wedding Ceremony at Hatfield House: Laura & Daved

Some relationships are shaped by distance before they're shaped by anything else. Laura and Daved met on 14th July, and theirs has been a love story carried across three countries ever since, a real, recurring theme of who they are as a couple.

It made their wedding day at Hatfield House, the Tudor Old Palace once home to a young Elizabeth I, feel less like the end of a journey and more like a proper homecoming.

Humanist Wedding Ceremony at Hatfield House, London

Laura & Daved

Laura describes Daved as an extension of herself, and that closeness was tested in the strangest possible way in 2020, a year when the world was actively working against couples being near each other at all. Through it, she found her sense of comfort simply in being near him. Daved, for his part, has a habit of telling her to "just enjoy your life," a small phrase that helps Laura stay grounded and hold onto a sense of lightness, even childlike wonder, without the weight of worry. It's the kind of quiet, steadying dynamic that doesn't always make it into a wedding speech, but absolutely belongs in a ceremony.

Wedding ceremony at Hatfield House - Wedding Celebrant Love Celebrants

The ceremony

Laura and Daved's humanist wedding ceremony included:

• A ring warming, passing their rings among their loved ones to hold and bless before the exchange

• Walking together, a symbolic moment representing the life they're choosing to walk through side by side

• The exchanging of rings

• Exchanging vows, written entirely in their own words

Set against the Old Palace's medieval brickwork and centuries of history, it was a ceremony that felt both timeless and entirely, unmistakably theirs.

A love story worth writing properly

Every couple I work with has a story that deserves more than a fixed script, but Laura and Daved's stood out even by that standard: three countries, a global pandemic, and a partnership that only grew steadier under pressure. That's exactly the kind of material a humanist ceremony is built for.

Laura and Daved - Hatfield House Wedding

Got a similarly unconventional story of your own, distance, timing, the odd global pandemic thrown in? I'd love to hear it. Drop me a line and let's talk about how it could become your ceremony.

A Nigerian & Scottish Vow Renewal at That Amazing Place: Felix & Claire

A Nigerian & Scottish Vow Renewal at That Amazing Place: Felix & Claire

Ten years after they first said "I do," Felix and Claire renewed their vows surrounded by those they love most, at That Amazing Place in Old Harlow, Essex. A Grade II listed, exclusive-use manor house, it's one of only a handful of country houses in England offering couples full run of the house and grounds for their celebration, no other wedding happening alongside yours, just your own people, for the whole day and night.

The venue's setting is exactly the kind of backdrop a milestone celebration like this deserves: landscaped gardens, a private lake, and a gated secret garden and orchard that couples regularly use for their photographs. Ceremonies can take place indoors in the elegant Lakeview Lounge, outdoors beneath the lakeside gazebo, or in the venue's light-filled marquee for larger celebrations, and with fifteen individually styled bedrooms on site, many couples (Felix and Claire included, given the scale of the celebration) make a full weekend of it with family staying over. It's a venue that manages to feel both grand and genuinely intimate at once, which suited the warmth of this particular day perfectly.

Love Celebrants prefroms Nigerian & Scottish Vow Renewal

Two heritages, one ceremony

Felix is of Nigerian heritage, and Claire is Scottish, and their vow renewal beautifully wove both traditions together. As part of the ceremony, they included a Quaich ritual, the traditional Scottish two-handled "cup of welcome," historically used at Highland gatherings to offer a welcoming drink and symbolise trust and friendship between two families coming together.

Felix and Claire made the tradition entirely their own. Their Quaich was engraved with the Costus spectabilis, Nigeria's national flower, and rather than the whisky traditionally sipped from a Quaich, they drank fresh Nigerian lemon juice, squeezed by Felix's mother especially for the occasion. It's one of the loveliest examples I've had the privilege of including in a ceremony: an old Scottish symbol of welcome, made new, and made theirs.

A Nigerian & Scottish Vow Renewal - Couple walk hand in hand

What Claire said

"Such a wonderful personalised experience. Kathryn really took time to get to know us to help us write our marriage vows, which was central to the whole occasion."

— Claire

I loved replying to this one so much I'll share it here too:

"Thank you so much for this and for posting the gorgeous photos from your Vow Renewal Ceremony. Your friends and family know how to party, and they must have learned it from you and Felix, haha! Thank you for choosing me as your Humanist Celebrant, allowing me to write your ceremony about your love story and marriage. I'd also like to mention how grateful I am to you for making me feel so welcomed on the day at That Amazing Place.

A Nigerian & Scottish Vow Renewal. Piper with Felix and Claire.

 Congratulations on a beautiful 10 years together. Here's to many, many more. Lots of love to you both, Kathryn x"

Planning a vow renewal that celebrates who you are

Whether it's a milestone anniversary, a blend of two cultures, or simply wanting to say your vows again surrounded by everyone you love, a vow renewal can be shaped entirely around your story, just like a wedding ceremony can. If you're planning a vow renewal at That Amazing Place, or anywhere else, I'd love to help you write it. Get in touch to talk through your plans.

A Family Affair at High Billinghurst Farm:

Rose & Tom's Story

Some weddings are about two people. Others, like Rose and Tom's celebration at High Billinghurst Farm, are unmistakably about a whole family. With their two children walking Rose down the aisle and a carousel turning away in the background, theirs was one of the most joy filled days I've had the honour of leading as celebrant.

Rose & Tom on their wedding day at High Billinghurst Farm

A Setting for Something Different

High Billinghurst Farm, hidden away at the end of its own private lane in the Surrey countryside, has a way of encouraging couples to think beyond the traditional. Its barns, fireplaces and open countryside give a day room to breathe, and Rose and Tom used that space to bring in something few ceremonies include: a full size carousel, turning quietly nearby as guests arrived and celebrated.

Walked Down the Aisle by Her Children

For Rose, having her two children walk her down the aisle was never going to be a small detail tucked into the day, it was the heart of it. Building a ceremony around that moment meant thinking carefully about pacing, words and tone, so the significance of that walk landed exactly as it should. It's the kind of request that reminds me why no two ceremonies I write are ever the same.

Black & White image of ceremony led by Love Celebrants Kathryn B Wilson

Finding the Confidence to Speak From the Heart

One of the parts of this work I care about most is helping a nervous bride or groom find their own voice. Rose has spoken since about how much it meant to be encouraged to say exactly what she wanted to say on the day, in her own words, rather than following anyone else's script. That confidence, paired with plenty of warmth and fun throughout the planning process, shaped a ceremony guests are still talking about.

What Rose & Tom Said

"I cannot thank Kathryn enough for giving us a wedding ceremony that was so true to us. We have had so many comments on what a beautiful and different ceremony it was. Kathryn encouraged me to have the confidence to say what I wanted to say and she were kind and fun throughout. I would highly recommend her to anyone and everyone xxx"

— Rose and Tom

Blurry colourful image of ceremony led by Love Celebrants Kathryn B Wilson

Planning a Family Wedding at High Billinghurst Farm

If children, blended families or unusual personal touches like a carousel are part of your own wedding vision, High Billinghurst Farm offers the freedom to bring all of it to life. I'd love to help you build a ceremony as individual as Rose and Tom's. Get in touch to talk through your plans.

Luxury Wedding Celebrant at High Billinghurst Farm:

Charlotte & Rene's Story

Tucked away at the end of a long, meandering private lane in the Surrey countryside, High Billinghurst Farm is one of those rare venues that feels like an exclusive secret the moment you arrive. On 30th June 2022, I had the pleasure of being luxury wedding celebrant for Charlotte and Rene's celebration there, and it remains one of the most elegant, vibrant ceremonies I've had the privilege to be part of.

A Venue Full of Character

Set within 65 acres of rolling countryside and wildflower meadows, High Billinghurst Farm blends rustic charm with genuine glamour. The main barn, with its huge inglenook fireplace, sparkling chandeliers and warm timber interior, sits alongside the adjoining Elizabethan barn, giving couples a natural flow between ceremony and celebration. It's exactly the kind of setting that invites a couple to bring real personality and style to their day rather than follow a template, which suited Charlotte and Rene perfectly.

A Ceremony Full of Colour

Luxury Wedding Celebrant Love Celebrants at High Billinghurst Farm

Charlotte and Rene's ceremony was a masterclass in styling. Charlotte's bridesmaids wore striking orange and hot pink, chosen to match the couple's vivid floral designs, and the effect against the timber beams and soft countryside light of the Elizabethan barn was simply gorgeous. It's a detail I still think about, proof that a beautifully considered colour palette can transform a ceremony space into something truly memorable.

Creating Something Unique

From our very first conversation, it was clear Charlotte and Rene wanted a ceremony that felt entirely their own rather than a conventional one. Together we worked through ideas until we landed on something that reflected their personalities, their story as a couple, and the elegant, colourful vision they had for their day. Bringing the right energy to match a couple's own is one of my favourite parts of this work, and Charlotte and Rene's celebration had that in abundance.

What Charlotte & Rene Said

"Kathryn was amazing from start to finish, she came up with the best, most unique ideas for our day. It wouldn't have been the same without her! She had the perfect energy for our special day. I can't recommend her enough!"

— Charlotte and Rene Naya

Planning a Luxury Wedding at High Billinghurst Farm

If you're planning a luxury wedding at High Billinghurst Farm, or another exclusive barn or countryside venue in Surrey and the Home Counties, and you're after a ceremony that's beautifully considered and genuinely your own, I'd love to help. Get in touch to talk through your ideas.

Look out for a second blog post about another wedding at High Billinghurst Farm, coming soon.

Five reasons why you should consider hiring a humanist wedding celebrant for your wedding

Hello, hello, hello! If you’ve made it to this blog, you’re probably considering hiring a humanist wedding celebrant for your special day. HOW EXCITING! It can be difficult to decide on this key part of your wedding, so let me provide some reasons on why I feel I’d be the PERFECT fit for you!

Customised to your wedding

No two weddings are the same – so why would the same ceremony work again and again! I create a personalised ceremony that reflects your unique values and beliefs, your story and most importantly, YOU! As a humanist celebrant, I believe that your wedding ceremony should be a true reflection of who you are as a couple. (This is also my favourite part, as hearing the same stories from two different perspectives ALWAYS makes me laugh!)

Here for LOVE, not discrimination 

I am open to all couples, regardless of your backgrounds or beliefs! Humanism is a non-discriminatory philosophy that values the inherent worth and dignity of every human being! I am committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all couples, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. You deserve love, you deserve happiness, and I love to help you capture both of these things on your special day!

A non-religious alternative

Not everyone wants a religious wedding! I can offer a non-religious alternative to traditional wedding ceremonies: If you are looking for a ceremony that is free from religious language or symbolism, a humanist wedding may be the perfect choice for you. I can help you create a ceremony that is meaningful, authentic, and reflects your shared values and beliefs.

Environmentally conscious support

We all want to do more to support the environment – including on our wedding days! I can work with you to create a ceremony that is environmentally conscious, committing to promoting ethical and sustainable practices.

Whether that means using eco-friendly decorations, choosing a location that is easily accessible by public transportation, or incorporating sustainable rituals into your ceremony – there is always something we can do to help the planet a little more! 

Guidance, Support and Stress Relief!

There’s no beating around the bush here - wedding planning is STRESSFUL! So much goes into it, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed – and that’s where I come in! I can offer guidance and support throughout the wedding planning process, and I’m happy to help you every step of the way. Whether it’s choosing the perfect readings and music or creating a ceremony that reflects your unique love story, we can do it! Let’s craft your wedding the way YOU want it.

I hope the above has answered some of your questions on the humanist wedding celebrant process! To summarise, I am here to HELP – and would love to answer any queries you have about your special day.

I am taking bookings for weddings in 2024 and beyond NOW, so hit the link below to drop me a line!

LET’S CHAT

Love,

Kathryn x