February '26 Reflections

Wedding Ceremony writing season is in full swing

On the weddings front, I met SEVEN of my 2026 couples to plan their ceremonies and have been happily buried in scripts ever since. Each couple are planning wildly different weddings, but every single one is chilled, fun, and fully paid up members of team good vibes. You’ll have to imagine photos of the meetings, because despite being a chartered marketer by training, I remain spectacularly bad at my own marketing.

Remembering the importance of resilience and self-care

It’s been a busy month for funerals too, and a good reminder to look after myself. Beach walks help, as long as the dog gets the memo not to act like a complete moron. Cadbury’s Dairy Milk is also very effective.

Three funeral ceremonies from February I’ve thought about a lot:

1. When the partner of someone whose funeral we were planning died unexpectedly, the funeral director replanned at short notice so they could be together one last time. I was honoured to be part of it.
2. A husband used his tribute to speak about the pressure facing the ambulance service in North Wales. He did it with more grace and dignity than most people manage on their best days, and I will never forget it.
3. Bangor crematorium was full for a young man who died by suicide. People filled the chapel, the foyer, the entrance canopy, and stood in the pouring rain. The love in the room was palpable, and it was a great reminder of the importance of community.

Huge thanks to R & J Hughes & Son, R Glyn Jones, Tom Owen & Son, John Turner & Daughters and Ivor Howatsons for trusting me with the families they serve.

Humanist Ceremonies Conference 2026

February also brought my first Humanist Ceremonies Celebrant conference. It was a brilliant opportunity to meet fellow celebrants I'd only spoken to on social media and on the celebrant forum, and the talks and workshops were incredible. Lucy Easthope spoke about coping in crisis from her background in disaster recovery with such humour, warmth and grace, I instantly wanted her to be my best friend. It was great to hear the latest on the campaign for the Legal Recognition of Humanist Marriage, as well as amazing workshops and panels by fellow celebrants including my mentor, Louise Gather AKA Kickass Gatherings.

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