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