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Northern Storyboard character strip for wedding ceremonies

Humanist Wedding Ceremonies by Rachael Meyer
in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland, Teesside and North Yorkshire

humanist wedding ceremony at The Red Lion, Burnsall.
The look of love - tattoed wedding couple in Yorkshire, after their humanist wedding ceremony with celebrant Rachael Meyer
Unity candle lighting at the Tithe Barn. Celebrant: Rachael Meyer, Newcastle upon Tyne, North East, North Yorkshire
Rachael Meyer, celebrant with bride and groom at a wedding in Thirsk
HOW COULD YOUR CELEBRANT LED WEDDING CEREMONY LOOK IN 2027?

 

Being a humanist wedding celebrant is a fabulous and utterly joyful job!  I've been lucky enough to write and deliver over 175 wedding ceremonies since I became accredited by Humanists UK in 2018.

 

I get to  meet couples for at least a couple of hours to plan their ceremony, hear their stories, learn about their lives, chat through ideas, and really get to know them.  I relish the challenge of crafting a completely unique script every time, with a perfect flow to ensure laughter, wonder and tears of joy. Whether you're into Spiderman, Game of Thrones, Disney, Maya Angelou, Charles Bekowski, opera or thrash metal, football, travelling, your career, mindfulness, dogs, cars or theatre, each ceremony I write reflects a couple perfectly. (I also love getting great feedback about that!)

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Each and every ceremony is completely different. We work out what yours will look like during our meeting! Anything goes. You can make it as simple or complicated as you like! I guide you through the whole process in a very chilled face to face or online meeting, ask you a zillion questions about your story and create a wedding script that you and your guests will adore when it comes to life on your wedding day!

​I could go on for days about what you could include. Around 50 percent of my couples like to keep it simple, beautiful and traditionally classic, with just words about love and commitment, a love story, wedding vows and a ring exchange, but if you want even more bells and whistles,  here are a few examples to give you an idea of how fabulously "you" your wedding ceremony could be!

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  • Hayley and Paul incorporated a sand blending ceremony that included their parents and step parents, secret letters, an exchange of rings and a handfasting/tying of the knot ceremony that included all their bridesmaids and groomsmen. Watch their highlights video below! (Video by Christopher Oxley at Signature Films)

  • Becky and Abi  had their friends sing and play them down the aisle - 2 bridal entrances with both sets of parents. And they said their vows holding an oath stone.

  • Suneet and Gurneet chose to have a humanist wedding ceremony as well as the traditional Sikh celebrations. A real hybrid wedding ceremony that finished with shots of the finest whisky!

  • Sheila and Dan had their guests warm their rings before they read their own vows to each other..

  • Kylie and Lisa  had a sing-a-long and a hand fasting as a finale at their outdoor wedfest ceremony.

  • Rachel and Hiroto incorporated Japanese traditions, readings and vows into their humanist wedding ceremony

  • Bobbie and Alejandro had a woodland faerie story about a prince and his bride, written and read by Bobbie's dad, to open the ceremony. They wanted a truly magical, lyrical and inclusive ceremony and they got it! Alejandro's dad spoke to them in Spanish, which was fabulous. They lit a unity candle to unite them and their families and they had 4 friends bring organic objects to an 'altar' to represent family history and all the seasons in their marriage.

  • Helen and Ollie had their five pugs and an oath stone ceremony at their intimate pub wedding, and all guests signed their certificate. Watch their video here

  • Pete and his groomsmen danced down the aisle before the entrance of the bridal party in front of 120 people,

  • Emma and Rich lit a unity candle with their children, to represent the blending of their family.

  • Susanne and Craig had a very simple ceremony, with a toned down love story, some "I do's" and just an exchange of rings.

  • Crystal and Steve had seven friends participate in the most beautiful flower ceremony and Amy and Pete had a loving cup ceremony as their final toast before they walked back down the aisle amongst their guests! Each couple is unique. Each ceremony is different and wonderful!

  • Steph and Matt and their children blended different coloured sand to represent their permanent binding as a family.

  • Adele and Jez were married by a Rabbi 20 years ago. They chose to mark 20 years of marriage with a party and a humanist ceremony. As well as recounting their story and showing their gratitude to their friends and family, we included an adapted (secular) Jewish blessing for their dads to read between them, and a traditional glass smashing to end their ceremony.

"Our ceremony with Rachael was the highlight of our wedding weekend, and we cannot thank her enough!"
- Issy and Miles, Thicket Priory, York
(image courtesy of Charlotte Nelson Photography)
"We couldn't have chosen a better celebrant. Your words were magic"
 
Josh and Beth (elopement) - Swinton Park, Masham
"We had so many compliments on the ceremony - it was definitely the favourite part of the day for everyone we spoke to afterwards"
- Georgia and Richard, Rudding Park, Harrogate

I was delighted to be asked to explain humanist wedding ceremonies for a BBC Look North feature. Please give it a watch!.

"Reading the draft ceremony, which was a pitch perfect mix of emotion and laugh out loud, instantly put us at ease. Rache's advantage here is her writing background, she is a gifted story writer and teller, this is the most important part of a humanist ceremony. Of course, on our big day, she also delivered it all with aplomb. 5 stars doesn't cover it, don't hesitate in speaking with Rachael. - worth every penny"
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Kevin and Vicki - Nation of Shopkeepers, Leeds wedding

© The Northern Storyboard 2026

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