Weekday ceremony
£650
Monday to Friday
Humanist wedding celebrant · Essex and beyond
Handcrafted, joyful ceremonies
I'm Sammy, a wedding celebrant accredited by Humanists UK. If you're here, congratulations are probably in order! I'd love to hear about your plans, your story, and what kind of day you're dreaming up.
Accredited by Humanists UK Based in Colchester From £650
What you can expect
A meaningful but light-hearted ceremony where you can really enjoy yourselves.
I specialise in removing 'the ick' and writing ceremonies that are meaningful but also genuinely fun. I'd love to hear your story, see if I'm the right fit, and (if it feels right) build the kind of ceremony you'll be talking about for years.
My motivation? An ease with telling people's stories from my day job, a love of storytelling, and the fact that my own humanist wedding was flippin' brilliant. I'd love to help bring that joy to others.
What couples say
Sammy did a wonderful job at our wedding. Answering the questions she sent us was such a nice process for us both in the lead up to the big day, remembering the small every day moments and when we first met, not just those big milestones. It was all pulled together so thoughtfully. Thank you so much Sammy for telling our story!
About me
Hello, I'm Sammy.
I was raised between Essex and Suffolk, and I've spent time living all over the UK before settling in Colchester in 2022.
My 20s and early 30s were spent with very itchy feet, spending time living in Brighton, Edinburgh and London with bouts of travelling around South America, Southeast Asia and the States in between.
I've spent my entire working life supporting people and whatever yours or your family's needs on your wedding day, its unlikely to be something I haven't come accross before!
A year away from work, when we had our little boy and got married in the same year (would recommend, it can be done!), got me thinking about what really matters. So I took the leap to train as a humanist celebrant.
I absolutely love storytelling, and especially love stories. I want to hear everything about you both: how you met, what makes you laugh, what you put up with from each other because you love them so much, and where you see this going.
When I'm not running around after my toddler, doing celebrant work, or walking my big daft Labrador, you'll find me reading, with people I love, or playing music. If you'd like your celebrant to whip out a saxophone mid-ceremony, it can absolutely be done.
Humanist Weddings.
The dress, the decorations, the food, they all feel important, and they are. But for me the build-up to your wedding day should be a time to think about why you love each other, why you're making this commitment, even what irritates the hell out of you (but you love them so much you put up with it). What are your hopes for the future?
Because ultimately, once your big day is done, you have a marriage. I want your ceremony to feel like the highlight of the day, not a tick-box exercise to get to the party (although the party is important, of course!), and a real foundation for what comes next.
But it doesn't need to be super serious - my goal of every ceremony is to get you, and your guests, relaxed and laughing! Don't want gushy vows or the 'solemn moment' as you'd hear the Registrars say? Great. Want some lightness in the storytelling but the vows to be hopelessly romantic? Also great! It's about making your ceremony as you want it, and I won't stop until you have a script you are delighted with!
Whether it's a humanist wedding, a vow renewal, a civil partnership celebration, or you're getting married abroad (I got married abroad so fully understand the logistics, especially for a bilingual ceremony), I'd love to hear about your plans.
I'm a Humanist, and I believe we're so fortunate to have this one precious life. But a humanist wedding is a great choice for people of all faiths and beliefs, particularly couples from different cultural backgrounds who want to weave culture into the day while keeping it non-religious.
Another wonderful thing (and I'm speaking from experience here): if you have guests who speak different languages, we can plan in advance to include them. That might be an interpreter, or, like we did, a printed script for them to follow along. We'll decide how to manage this best as one of the first things we do. Same for access requirements!
I'd really recommend including at least one ritual in your ceremony. They give the ceremony a lovely flow, mean you aren't standing in one spot too long, and leave you with a memento of the day. Handfasting (tying ribbons or cords around your joined hands, the original 'tying the knot'), sand blending, a quaich (sharing whisky from a two-handled cup, a personal favourite), ring warming, or anything else you can think of that represents the joining of you as a couple. If it's not your bag at all? Totally fine, whatever you decide will be met with bags of enthusiasm.
I got married abroad and had a humanist ceremony. I know first-hand how special it feels.
Weekend ceremony
£750
Saturday & Sunday
Included in the above costs are your bespoke ceremony, written from scratch, an optional rehearsal ceremony, and a beautiful keepsake of your script after your big day.
Optional extras
Travel and add-ons, agreed in advance.
From around £250
A humanist element added to your civil ceremony
Like a handfasting woven into your registry office wedding, when you'd rather have one combined day.
40p / mile + accommodation if needed
Travel beyond a 2-hour drive
I'm happy to travel, even abroad. We'll agree the costs in advance so there's nothing unexpected.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Will my ceremony be legal? +
Unfortunately, humanist ceremonies are not yet legal in England and Wales, though they are in Northern Ireland and Scotland, where they're hugely popular. You can read more about the campaign to change this on the Humanists UK website. Almost all of my couples have a short legal ceremony at a register office before or after their humanist wedding, and treat the two as completely separate days.
Can I combine a humanist ceremony with the legal one on the day? +
I can't stand up there with the Registrar, but I can absolutely add a little humanist magic to your day. The most popular option is to have your humanist ceremony as the main wedding and make it legal shortly before or after. Another option is to weave a humanist element, like a handfasting, into the civil ceremony itself. Prices for the add-on are around £250.
How do I do the legal bit? +
Look up weddings on your local council's website. The cheapest ceremonies (you and two witnesses, usually around £80) book up well in advance, so do this as soon as you have a date in mind. Honestly, treat it as a day out. We went for bottomless pizzas and a couple of childfree pints and it was great. It's a lovely low-pressure day for the two of you, without the weight of it being your actual wedding day.
Do you have to talk about humanism in the ceremony? +
Not at all. I start every ceremony by saying I'm a celebrant accredited by Humanists UK. After that, it's entirely up to you, many couples don't mention it again. A humanist wedding is a brilliant choice for people of all faiths and beliefs, especially those from different cultural backgrounds who want to weave culture into their day while keeping it non-religious.
Are there hidden costs? +
Absolutely not. All costs are agreed in advance and I don't add anything on top of the basic ceremony fee. The only exceptions: if your wedding is more than a 2-hour drive away I ask for mileage at 40p per mile for anything over that, and for accommodation if it's essential I stay over. We'll discuss it all up front so there are no surprises.
Do you do weddings abroad? +
Absolutely, my own wedding was abroad! I just need plenty of notice and for you to contribute to my travel costs, which we'll agree well in advance.
Can I include my dog? +
Yes you can! From experience though, I'd really recommend assigning one of your guests as the official dog sitter for the day (or guests in shifts!), it's surprisingly easy for them to get involved in the merriment. We'll also build a Plan A and a Plan B together so your dog can have a specific role, like bringing the rings, without any stress on the day.
Can I include my children, or children in my family? +
Yes absolutely, and the dog advice doubles for kids! Even with very young babies who'll be with you most of the day, a wedding nanny can really help you and your guests relax during key moments. As a mum myself, I'll support you with anything we can think of. Having children involved in rituals like handfasting can be one of the loveliest parts of the day.
Do you do elopements? +
Yes, and I'm a big elopement fan. It matters that you get married in a way that feels authentic to you, and if that's just the two of you, that's amazing.
Do you do vow renewals? +
Yes absolutely, and everything I offer for weddings applies. Whether you're marking 5 years or 50, we'll build a ceremony that feels just as personal as a first wedding day.
Do we have to legally get married? +
Not at all. If you'd rather skip the legal side, I usually refer to your ceremony as a 'ceremony of commitment', or whatever feels right to you. The day is yours to define.
Do you do LGBTQ+ weddings? +
Yes, yes, and yes. LGBTQ+ rights are particularly important to my own values and beliefs, and all Humanist celebrants conduct weddings for couples of every identity and campaign actively for equal rights.
Contact
I'd love to hear about your plans
Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat about your ceremony. I'll get back to you within 24 hours.
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