No two lives are the same, so no two ceremonies should be either. Every thread, tailored to your story.
Start the conversationJohn Davis - Independent Family Celebrant was created out of a growing awareness that traditional ceremonies don't suit everyone. Not everyone holds a religious belief, some families bring together members with different beliefs, traditional timings and venues aren't always convenient or appropriate, and some moments worth celebrating don't even exist in a traditional format.
Every ceremony I design and lead is shaped entirely around your needs and wishes, creating a bespoke, unique ceremony. No two will ever be the same. Being an Independent Celebrant means having the freedom to create completely individual ceremonies, tailored to you, whatever the occasion.
Read more about John >>The start of something new.
Baby naming, a new identity, family blending, moving home.
Learn MoreTwo stories, one thread.
Weddings, vow renewals, commitment and partnership ceremonies.
Learn MoreYour story guides every ceremony I create — nothing pre‑written, nothing generic, only what is truly yours.
John Davis - Independent Family CelebrantWhatever the occasion, I'd love to hear your story. Reach out by phone, email, or the form alongside.
Whether your ceremony is to mark a new beginning, a joining together, or an ending — or maybe a combination of more than one of these — it will be a privilege to work with you to ensure your ceremony is everything you wish it to be, whether for yourself or for someone close to you.
Please select a section below to learn more about the types of ceremonies I am able to tailor to you.
The start of something new.
Baby naming, a new identity, family blending, moving home
Learn MoreThere is the option to include additional elements to make your ceremony unique to you, should you wish to do so.
Some examples are given below, and you may also have your own ideas about what you would like to include:
Incorporating the use of some of the items below is also an option:
If you feel that you would like to add any of the above, or explore any other ideas, please mention it to me at our initial meeting.
Below are answers to some common questions you may have.
If you'd like any further information or wish to clarify anything, including arranging a no-obligation conversation and quote for your ceremony, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.
The fees below are the usual fees for the individual ceremonies. There may be additional charges for items or elements you request for your ceremony.
New Beginnings Ceremonies – All ceremonies from £300
Joining Together Ceremonies:
An individual contract will be drawn up for each ceremony detailing terms and conditions.
All ceremony fees include
I am based in Whitehead and travel all around Northern Ireland.
Please be assured that I understand the importance of your privacy and I will only ask you for personal information that is relevant to your enquiry and your ceremony.
Any personal information I collect from you will only be used by me and will only be used to plan and conduct your ceremony.
Any personal information I collect from you will not be shared with anyone else without your consent (for example, it may be necessary to share with someone involved in your ceremony or its arrangement but this would not be done without first obtaining your permission).
Your information will be securely stored on a password-protected computer.
Please contact me if you have any questions about this privacy policy.
A few words about the person behind the ceremonies.
I’m John Davis, an Independent Celebrant trained and certified through the UK Society of Celebrants. My practice is rooted in compassion, inclusivity, and the belief that every story deserves to be honoured with sincerity, warmth, and individuality. Whoever you are, whatever your background, and whatever moment you are marking, you will always be welcomed with openness and respect.
I live in Whitehead, the beautiful coastal town that inspires so much of my work, with my husband Neil and our two teenage sons, whom I adopted when they were very young. Family is at the heart of everything I do, and it shapes the way I approach every ceremony — with care, attentiveness, and a deep appreciation for the connections that make life meaningful.
Alongside my celebrancy work, I have a full‑time career in the IT industry, where I’ve spent many years developing the skills that now enrich my practice: clear communication, structured planning, problem‑solving, and the ability to support people through moments of change. I’m also a certified Zumba instructor, having taught classes for over 15 years — a role that has given me confidence in public speaking, a love of bringing people together, and a joyful approach to life’s big (and small) occasions.
These experiences — professional, personal, and creative — come together in my celebrancy work. They allow me to write and deliver ceremonies that are thoughtful, well‑crafted, and genuinely reflective of the people at their centre. Whether you are marking a beginning, a joining, or an ending, my commitment is always the same: to listen closely, to guide gently, and to create a ceremony that feels truly yours.
It would be a privilege to work with you and help shape a moment that will be remembered for all the right reasons.
Your ceremony begins with a free, no‑obligation initial meeting, where we can explore ideas together and talk through what matters most to you. This can take place in person, online, or by phone — whatever suits your circumstances best.
If you decide to go ahead, I’ll create an outline of your ceremony for you to review. From there, we’ll continue shaping it together through further conversation and refinement. Once everything feels just right, you’ll receive a full, final ceremony plan and script.
After your ceremony, you’ll receive a beautifully presented commemorative copy of your script, along with any personalised finishing touches you’ve chosen — a keepsake to treasure long after the day itself.
I’m based in Whitehead, but I’m very happy to travel to the venue of your choice.
If you’d like to chat about your ideal ceremony, you can reach me through the contact form, email, or phone. I’d love to hear from you and begin creating something truly personal and meaningful.
A new beginning can start at any time in life. Your own unique ceremony is a way of acknowledging a time of new beginnings and hope for the future. Some such ceremonies are suggested below. You may have another in mind, which I would be happy to discuss with you.
Welcoming a new member of the family into the world and introducing them to their community has been a traditional rite of passage throughout history. A baby naming is an alternative to a religious ceremony such as a christening, although you may wish to include religious elements, together with other readings and poems. The choice is entirely yours.
There will be the opportunity to include other children, grandparents and significant people in the child's life, in a way that is right for you and your family. You may choose to incorporate other elements to enable them to play an active role, or you may wish to renew your promises to your other children at the same time as making them to their new brother or sister. Guests could bring a small gift or message for the baby to be included in a keepsake box, or a unity candle lit, to symbolise inclusion of all members of the family.
You will receive a commemorative copy of your ceremony, together with commemorative certificates for the baby, and supporting or guiding adults.
This a ceremony which welcomes children as family members by adoption, or the joining of two previously separate families into one, perhaps following remarriage.
The journey to this point may have been challenging, and the ceremony marks an acceptance of the events leading up to this point and looks forward to the future hopes and dreams of the new family unit. You may choose to include bubbles for children to blow, or messy footprint painting to symbolise the journey so far. A sand ceremony may be appropriate where individual particles are placed in a single container by different family members and guests to demonstrate unity within the newly blended family.
You will receive a commemorative copy of your ceremony, together with commemorative certificates for the children and any supporting adults.
Naming ceremonies can take place when someone changes their identity which signifies a moving forward in their life. A transgender person may wish to change their name as they no longer identify with it. Others may wish to adopt a new name following divorce. People of any age may wish to present themselves differently, with both a new identity, and new name.
Such a ceremony is a way of celebrating a transition and may include elements such as planting a tree or wild flowers to signify growth and development. You may have another reason for adopting a new name. If so, please do get in touch to discuss how your ceremony can reflect your particular circumstances and how it can be tailored to fit you.
Home leaving and welcoming ceremonies are a way of saying goodbye and welcoming in the new. You may experience a range of emotions during this period, particularly if you have lived somewhere for a long time. A ceremony in the home you are leaving and/or the one you are moving into can mark this transition, acknowledging a moving on from past memories and experiences.
You may wish to mark the new beginning in a home by burning a candle to let light into each room, or planting a tree, plant or flowers in a garden or container. Some people choose to transfer plants from one home to another, burn essential oils or sweep the rooms with a new broom.
The venue and timing of any ceremony is entirely your choice and I will be happy to discuss your preferences for this with you, together with any other aspects you wish. You may like to add in optional additional elements to your ceremony and details of these can be found on the Finishing Touches page of this website.
Please note that any certificates are commemorative in nature only, and do not constitute a legal document. You will need to ensure that any registrations or other legal requirements are completed according to the law relating to the area in which you live.
Prices for New Beginnings Ceremonies start at £300, and will vary according individual requirements. Special rates may apply in exceptional circumstances.
Joining together ceremonies can take place at any time of life and at a time and place of your choosing. I would welcome the opportunity to work with you, to ensure that your special ceremony is truly tailor-made for you.
A celebrant-led wedding allows you to have complete freedom regarding the form your ceremony takes. The ceremony is separate to the registration of marriage which is required to make a marriage legal. This takes place at the Registry Office and there is no requirement to have an associated ceremony with this. Many couples register their marriage before the ceremony, although some may do so afterwards. Deciding upon a celebrant-led wedding means that you are able to have the wedding of your choice, at a time and place that is right for you.
You can write your own vows and promises and decide upon any songs, readings and poems that you would like included. You may like to add in a unity ceremony which could involve others in your ceremony such as a sand ceremony or lighting of a unity candle, or you may like to share from a loving cup. There are many other aspects that could be included and I will be happy to chat to you about other possibilities and we can create a truly individual ceremony for you.
You may wish to sign a commemorative certificate of your wedding, in the presence of your guests, and you will receive a personalised copy of the script of your ceremony and certificate.
Not everyone wishes to enter into a legal marriage contract, but do want to make a declaration of their love for each other, or mark the beginning of a period of engagement or betrothal. You can still make vows to each other and exchange rings if you so wish.
You may wish to include other rituals such as handfasting. This literally involves tying the couple's hands together, and is where the phrase 'tying the knot' originated. Handfasting can be a commitment ceremony in itself, or can be incorporated as part of one. If you would like to know more about it, I am happy to chat to you about it further.
There are other aspects of unity ceremonies that can be included and we can also discuss ways of involving others in your bespoke ceremony.
You may wish to sign a commemorative certificate of your commitment, in the presence of your guests, and you will receive a personalised copy of the script of your ceremony and certificate.
Renewing your marriage vows can be a very special way of commemorating a significant anniversary, or sometimes can reaffirm love and commitment following a difficult period during a marriage, or perhaps you weren't able to have the original wedding that you wished for.
There are no legal requirements for renewals of vows, so your ceremony can be as individual and special as you wish, and other elements of unity can be incorporated, such as a ring ceremony.
You may wish to sign a commemorative certificate of your renewal of vows ceremony, in the presence of your guests, and you will receive a personalised copy of the script of your ceremony and certificate.
The venue and timing of any ceremony is entirely your choice and I will be happy to discuss your preferences for this with you, together with any other aspects you wish. You may like to add in optional additional elements to your ceremony and details of these can be found on the Finishing Touches page of this website.
Please note that any certificates are commemorative in nature only, and do not constitute a legal document. You will need to ensure that any registrations or other legal requirements are completed according to the law relating to the area in which you live.
Prices for Joining Together Ceremonies start at £300 (see FAQs for more information), and will vary according individual requirements. Special rates may apply in exceptional circumstances.
Saying goodbye to a loved one is such a special time. It is usually a time of sadness, particularly if someone dies unexpectedly, but can also bring back joyful memories. Working with you to commemorate the life of someone special, in a unique and meaningful way, would be an honour and a privilege. I am a trained Bereavement Visitor and Listener, and as an Independent Celebrant, use these skills to support you with care and compassion throughout the process of designing the ceremony together.
Celebrating the life of the person who has died, and supporting their friends and family, are at the centre of everything I do. Although I will never meet the person whose life is being celebrated, I regard it as a privilege to prepare and deliver the best possible tribute that I can, to honour their life (however short or long that may have been), and to support those who are left behind.
My aim is to work with you to provide a fitting tribute which is a reflection of your loved one's life. The ceremony can include religious or non-religious songs, readings or poems.
I would be happy to arrange to meet with you to discuss exactly how you would like the ceremony to be. There will be the opportunity for you to share memories and stories about your loved one, to create a truly personal service. After this meeting you can make any changes up to the day before the funeral.
If you decide that I am the right celebrant for you, please let your funeral director know, and we will work together when the date of the funeral is known.
You may prefer to have a memorial service at which the person who has died is not present, for a variety of individual reasons. This may take place at a time and a venue determined by you, and in a format of your own choosing.
Photographs may be placed at the venue and mourners invited to contribute to a memory tree or keepsake box containing their messages of love and memories.
I would be happy to arrange to meet with you to discuss exactly how you would like the ceremony to be. There will be the opportunity for you to share memories and stories about your loved one, to create a truly personal service.
Burials may incorporate a full ceremony at the graveside or follow on from a venue elsewhere. Mourners may wish to scatter rose petals at the graveside or place flowers on top of the coffin. Following a cremation, ashes may be interred in a burial plot, perhaps to join those of a loved one who has previously died. The process for planning a burial service with me is the same as for a funeral service.
There are many places where ashes may be scattered, and you may choose to combine this with a ceremony following a direct cremation, or sometime after the funeral service. It is important to seek the necessary permissions from the owner of the land where you wish the ashes to be scattered.
Talking about dying is not always easy, particularly during the emotional time immediately following the death of a loved one.
Some people would prefer to discuss their funeral before the event to make this time easier for the people they leave behind, or maybe you would like to discuss your own ceremony when the time comes. If this is something that you would like to talk about, either for yourself or on behalf of someone else, please do get in touch.
The fee for the script preparation for Advance Funeral Planning/Life Tribute Writing is £120.
Following any of the above Ending ceremonies, you will receive a commemorative record of the ceremony, together with a personalised memorial candle if you wish. You may decide to give small remembrance tokens to friends and relatives, for example in the form of wildflower seeds or candles.
The venue and timing of any ceremony is entirely your choice, and I will be happy to discuss your preferences for this with you, together with any other aspects you wish. You may like to add in optional additional elements to your ceremony and details of these can be found on the Finishing Touches page of this website. You will need to ensure that any registrations or other legal requirements are completed according to the law relating to the area in which you live.
Fees for Funeral, Burial and Memorial ceremonies are £190 and will usually be paid to me via the funeral director. Interment or scattering of ashes are free of charge if I have undertaken the Funeral, Burial or Memorial ceremony for your loved one. If this is not the case, fees start at £50 depending upon travelling distance.
There is no charge for Ending ceremonies for babies, children and young people up to the age of 18.