Circle of Love Celebrant Services

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

💫MONDAY MAGIC 💫

There’s something magical about watching the swallows gather.

The days are getting shorter, the evenings cooler, and our swallows are getting ready for their long journey back to Africa for the winter.

Just think about that for a moment. These tiny birds will travel thousands of miles, crossing countries and continents, before eventually making their way back to the same places they’ve visited before.

Their departure may feel like a sign that our summer is drawing to a close, but I think there’s magic in what comes next too.

Because they’ll return.

Come next April, we’ll look up and see them gracing our skies once again — swooping and diving in their familiar flight, gathering nesting materials and beginning another season.

A reminder that leaving doesn’t always mean goodbye. Sometimes it simply means until next time. 💫

05/09/2026

✨WEEKEND WONDER - A Personal Thank You 💜

Today is my Mum and Dad’s wedding anniversary.

Although they are no longer with us, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you.

Thank you for the love, compassion and values you helped foster in me-values which I carry with me today and have shaped the person I have become.

We are all influenced by the people who come into our lives. Sometimes it is our parents; sometimes it is grandparents, family, friends, teachers or others who have made a difference along the way.

So today, I’m thinking about the people who have helped shape me and the values I carry forward.

Who would you like to thank today, and what have they taught you that you still carry with you today? ✨

02/09/2026

🌱 MIDWEEK MILESTONE September — a month of fresh starts and new beginnings. 🌱

As September starts, we’re reminded of fresh starts and new beginnings in our lives.

I experienced that myself this week when my yoga classes started up again after the summer break. There was something lovely about walking back into the class, seeing familiar faces — some of whom I only see during term time — and settling back into a routine.

For some, September brings the excitement of starting a new school year, heading off to university, beginning a new job or simply taking on a new challenge. There can be excitement, anticipation and perhaps a few nerves too.

As a celebrant, I see new beginnings in many different forms.

A naming ceremony welcomes a new life and the beginning of a child’s journey.

A wedding marks the beginning of a new chapter for two people.

And ceremonies following loss can provide a space to acknowledge what has happened and begin to find a way forward into life after loss.

New beginnings don’t all look the same. Some arrive with excitement and anticipation; others with uncertainty, hope or even sadness. But each marks a moment when life moves into a new chapter.

What new beginning, big or small, does September bring for you? ✨

31/08/2026

💫 MONDAY MAGIC Confetti – a tradition that has evolved 💫

When I was a child, I remember standing at our local church when there was a wedding, waiting for the groom to throw coins to the children gathered at the lych gate.

It was a great tradition – although, as a child, I didn’t really understand where it came from or why he had to do it!

It’s a little like confetti.

Over the years, we’ve continued to shower newly married couples with our good wishes, but what we throw has changed.

Originally, it could be rice, grains, pulses or even sweets – symbolising abundance, prosperity and good fortune, rather like the gifts and celebrations associated with harvest time.

Over time, these were replaced by paper confetti, and today we’re increasingly seeing dried flower petals and other more sustainable alternatives.

The ritual remains, but the materials have evolved.

We don’t simply inherit traditions. We maintain them by allowing them to evolve with us.

And perhaps that’s why some traditions survive for generations – not because we do them exactly as they have always been done, but because we continue to find meaning in them.

What wedding tradition do you remember from your childhood? 💍✨

30/08/2026

✨ WEEKEND WONDER – Freedom & Personal Choice ✨

On Monday, I introduced the idea that freedom and personal choice are important elements of Humanism.

But what does that actually mean when it comes to being a Humanist celebrant?

For me, it means creating ceremonies that belong to the people at their heart.

🌱 Naming ceremonies

Families can choose the people they want to stand alongside their child as guide parents and make promises about the support and values they will offer as that child grows.

💍 Weddings

Couples have the opportunity to personalise their ceremony and make choices that reflect who they are, their relationship and what matters to them. There are legal requirements that have to be included when they are formally married, but around those, the ceremony can be uniquely theirs.

🌿 Celebrations of life

There is no prescribed way to tell someone’s story. The ceremony can reflect the person they were, the relationships they shared, what they loved, what they achieved and the memories they leave behind.

And personal choice can extend to where a ceremony takes place too. A woodland setting, a garden or another place that has meaning can become part of the story.

Whether I’m welcoming a new life, celebrating a marriage or remembering a life well lived, I believe the ceremony should belong to the people at its heart.

Freedom and personal choice aren’t just ideas within Humanism — they’re values I see expressed in the ceremonies I create.

✨ What would you want your ceremony to say about you?

26/08/2026

🌿MIDWEEK MILESTONE🌿A Four-Legged Milestone 🐾

Today is National Dog Day although it has also evolved to International Dog Day, as dogs play a huge part of human's lives all over the world.

For many of us, dogs are so much more than pets. They become part of our everyday lives, our routines, our adventures, our memories and, in time, our stories.

They are there for the ordinary moments and the big ones too. Moving house. Family occasions. Walks that become adventures. Quiet days when their company is all we need.

And sometimes they are part of our biggest milestones too. A wedding, perhaps, where they walk down the aisle or simply have a special mention. Or a celebration of life, where remembering a much-loved dog can be an important part of remembering someone.

Because our stories aren’t just made up of the big moments. They are made up of the people, places and relationships that matter to us.

And sometimes, those relationships have four legs, a wagging tail and a very special place in our hearts. 🐾❤️

So today, I’m celebrating those four-legged friends who have become such an important part of our stories.

What part has your dog played in yours? 🐶