Nothing specific, though I would ask you not to share or forward any materials I create for you / share with you. Hand-fasting cords or ribbons. I am a self-taught macrame artist, now pretty good I think! So I can make these for you to your design, although I do need to ask for a fee for materials and time.

I am trained and accredited as a Humanist celebrant, but we don't need to focus on Humanist values per se if that's not your thing. The central theme of the ceremonies I develop and conduct is to make it highly personal. You can be as creative as you like, and I as your Celebrant would be able to suggest various things. These might be symbolic actions such as hand-fasting or mixing of coloured sand, exchanging different tokens such as rings or flowers, or releasing doves .... some people even like to have an owl fly in with the rings (although I’ve heard of that going a bit wrong!). Or you can keep it as simple and straightforward as you like. You can have friends or family read poems or readings, sing or play a song, pretty much whatever you like. That does not mean that the commitments you make are not serious and meaningful; they most certainly are. I work with couples to create exactly the right content and tone that suits you. I'm also a self-taught macrame artist; which gives me headspace, active relaxation and another creative outlet. This means that I can potentially make hand-fasting cords for you, if that is something you'd like to include.

Hello! I'm Josie .... I've had over a decade of lovely weddings and couples as a Celebrant, so I can offer you a vast range of experience and creativity. Alongside all sorts of advice and suggestions re the big things and the details. I love getting to know you, in whatever way works for you, and often liaising with friends and families along the way - I love to include the odd 'surprise element' in a wedding! I'm not trying to become your best friend, but I will walk alongside you throughout the process and the journey to your wedding day, whether that be long or short, intimate or grand. There is always some laughter, sometimes a few tears, but it's always thoughtful, engaging, and - most important of all - highly personal. I'm a former actor, a Speech and Language Therapist, and a bit of an obsessive macrame artist. I adore my feline best-friend, wine and cheese in almost equal measure: I truly believe that we have to value and appreciate the simple things in life as well as the big occasions. I look forward to getting to know you too.

I have an eclectic background with varied artistic, cultural and life experiences. I grew up in a family where the arts were the absolute norm: going to the theatre, dancing and drama lessons, and always encouraged to learn, question and explore. As a former actor, I would have to say that Shakespeare and the classics are high on my list, but I am also a huge fan of musicals, stand-up comedy, cheesy music and everything inbetween. Basically, I'm interested in anything and everything that is fun or thought-provoking, mainstream or a bit niche. Words and language, ways of thinking and understanding the world and the complex thing of being human; these are a few of my favourite things!

I conduct non-religious wedding ceremonies in the South West of England, since 2015. Like many people in the UK today, I think I have thought and lived as a Humanist / non-religious person for most of my adult life. It just took me a while to realise it. Things came into focus when my partner died in 2010, when I was in my 30s, and we had a Humanist ceremony / celebration. It was an incredibly personal, human and thoughtful experience, and I was distinctly inspired to take up the role of a Celebrant; to support people to make important transitions in their lives with personalised, non-religious and meaningful events. Many people desire a special day that does not include religious content or an official, legal text. But what they do want is something joyful, significant and unique. As your Celebrant I can work with you, at every step of the way, to create a really special occasion that reflects who you are and what you feel and believe. With eleven years experience as a celebrant now, I have innumerable tips and ideas to make planning your wedding feel nearly as fun as the Big Day itself! I've taken tiny ceremonies in people's back gardens, rustic ceremonies in fields, woods and barns, big celebrations in theatres and country houses, and even a chalet in the Alps! I've dealt with extreme weather, difficult family relationships, unexpected intrusions from dogs, tractors and little ones, and all manner of last-minute changes. My daily life as a Speech and Language Therapist has a strong focus on neurodiversity, so my approach is always highly flexible and inclusive. Anything is possible, and welcome. This is exactly why I love it so much, and I still do. Your story is my story, and I'm here to make it happen, in whatever way you want. "You were the perfect celebrant for our day - supportive and relaxed at the same time. We felt very reassured by your attention to detail on the running order and logistics of the ceremony, and through the structure and process you set up in the lead up to the wedding, we were able to create a bespoke ceremony that said exactly what we wanted it to. So many people have said to us it was the best wedding they have ever been to" J & S, Devon, 2015. “ We were both blown away by your warmth, professionalism, and amazing talent in helping create a ceremony beyond anything we could have dreamed of. It has also been a real pleasure getting to know you over the months (and years!) leading up to the big day. The ceremony itself was beautiful, and will always have such a special place in both of our hearts”. A & S, Frome, 2021. "We cannot begin to thank you enough for everything you have done for us; we couldn’t have ever found anyone more perfect than you to be with us. You helped make and shape our day into a magical one we will never forget. The way you spoke about [our parents] touched everybody, and means the world to us. Our ceremony with you was the best part of our day, and if we could share those moments with you under the oak tree, we would in a heartbeat. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Josie. You are pure magic". E & K, near Abergavenny, 2022.

Elmore Court, Elmore, Gloucestershire Woolley Grange Hotel, Bradford-on-Avon Eastington Park, Gloucestershire

The Roman Baths, Bath Assembly Rooms, Bath Botanical Gardens / Temple of Minerva, Bath Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath Priston Mill, Bath Radford Mill Farm, Timsbury, near Bath Parish's House, Timsbury, near Bath Chew Valley Weddings, Herons Green Farm, near Bristol The Old School Room, Chew Magna, near Bath and Bristol Aldwick Estate, Blagdon, near Bristol and Bath Coombe Lodge, Blagdon, near Bristol and Bath Village Hall, Compton Martin, Chew Valley, near Bristol and Bath Folly Farm, Bishop Sutton, near Bristol and Bath Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol (don't rule it out because it's a cemetery, it's gorgeous!) Splotts Moor Farm, near Glastonbury (lush!) The Matara Centre, Cotswolds, near Tetbury Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin, Somerset Old Barn, Kelston, near Bath The Silk Mill, Frome Orchardleigh House, near Frome, Somerset Rook Lane Chapel, Frome, Somerset Pennard House, near Shepton Mallett, Somerset Paintworks, Bristol The Kingscote Barn, Gloucestershire, Cotswolds Stone Barn, Upper Windrush, near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Cripps Barn, Bibury, near Cirencester, Gloucestershire