simple ceremonies that are uniquely yours
in Bristol and beyond
Hi, I'm Toby
It’s hard enough planning a wedding without having to worry about all the things you ‘ought to’ include even though you don’t actually want them.My goal is to help you have a simple, perfect, memorable wedding that includes everything you want - and nothing you don’t.A ceremony with a little bit of Bristol-minded independence and creativity baked in.
"I cried. I laughed as well, but I was not expecting to cry. A brilliant wedding. Toby is the real deal."
Beth - Guest
Let's chat
You might know exactly what you want already, or you might be feeling overwhelmed by the infinite range of options that confront you. Whether you’re planning something intimate and bohemian, a lively celebration of your uniqueness, or a joyful fusion of traditions, I can help you work out the best ceremony for you, and I’ll guide you every step of the way. So you can focus on what matters most: each other.
How it works
• We meet (in person or over Zoom) for an initial chat so you can decide whether I’m the person you want to work with.• We then have another meeting to work out exactly what you want for your special day. Together we can create a tailor-made ceremony that is truly your own. One that seeks to touch hearts, not tick boxes.• On the day, I will be there to deliver the ceremony that we've created with the script that you've approved and to make sure that everything goes off perfectly.Your story deserves to be celebrated with love. Let’s make it unforgettable.
About me
I’ve been to quite a few weddings, but my favourite one was still my own. Not just because I married an amazing person, but also because we were able to include everything that we wanted, and leave out everything we didn’t (pretty much - we still had a surprising amount of canapé angst).And that’s why I trained as a wedding celebrant: to help other people achieve simple, perfect weddings. Weddings that combine lighthearted moments with proper gravitas at the crucial times. Where you don't stress out about the things that don't really matter in the great scheme of things.I’ve spent three decades working as a theatre reviewer and features writer, so I know how important language is. With that experience, I can definitely do words – words that create atmosphere, awe, laughter, and hopefully even tears (of joy, obviously). The right words to capture your story, your dreams, your unique moment.And as a proud long-term resident of Bristol, I can guarantee an infusion of my home city's independent-spirited, open-minded creativity.Although I'm based in Bristol, I'm more than happy to travel to your chosen venue (see details in the FAQs).
Ceremonies
Wedding, commitment, vow renewal
For as long as there have been humans, people have wanted to join their lives with that of a person who touches them in a way that nobody else has, and proclaim their love and make their commitments to one another in front of their loved ones, their friends and their family. That is the essence of a wedding ceremony.A commitment ceremony is the same as a wedding – declaring your coupledom to one another and your community – without actually getting legally married. A celebrant-led ceremony is perfect for that: your chance to stand up and tell the world that you are one another’s chosen person without the formalities of getting legally wed.A vow renewal is a ceremony for couples who want to restate their commitment to one another in a clear, distinctive way. Or who just fancy an excuse for a good party to celebrate their love.If you choose me as your a celebrant, all three of these can be tailored to make it truly your own. Unlike a wedding led by a registrar or a member of clergy, there are no rules and restrictions on a celebrant-led wedding. No 'insert name here' vibes. You can use the words you want and include any traditions and symbolic elements you like. From symbolic rituals like ring warmings, handfastings or jumping the broom (or more modern variants like making a cocktail together) to personal touches that reflect your story, we’ll craft a ceremony that’s meaningful and authentically yours.Note: celebrants in England cannot legally marry you. See Can you marry us legally? in the FAQs for an explanation of why it’s still worth using a celebrant for a truly personal celebration.
And more
There are many other life events that are worth celebrating. I would love to help you design your very own gender affirmation, coming out ceremony, adoption celebration, ceremony celebrating a change of name, leaving home celebration, uncoupling ceremony or anything else. The only limit is your imagination. Together we can make it whatever you have in your mind’s eye.
Frequently asked questions
Celebrants are currently not able to legally marry couples in England. The only people that can do that are registrars and members of clergy. Unlike a celebrant, they have a variety of rules and restrictions around what you can and cannot do and say as part of your wedding ceremony (for example, a registrar cannot allow anything religious – so no vowing to take one another “for better for worse, for richer for poorer, til death us do part” because it comes from the Book of Common Prayer).
But the thing to remember is that a wedding has two elements: the official and the ceremonial. The official part is a formality, telling the state that you are now a couple for legal purposes. The ceremonial part is where you both make your commitments to one another in front of your friends and family. Where you declare your coupledom to your community, if you like.
There is no reason why the two need to take place at the same time. For example, when you have a baby, you do the official part (the birth registration) separately from the ceremonial welcoming (the baptism/christening/naming). Which is why more and more couples are choosing to do the official part (short proceedings with a registrar involving just the couple and two witnesses) separately from the ceremonial part with their loved ones with a celebrant who can tailor it entirely to what is right for you.
Absolutely not. I am definitely up for celebrations of all kinds. If you want to mark something with a ceremony that will create a lasting memory, I am happy to help. I would love to help you create a gender-affirming ceremony, a coming out, an adoption celebration, a name change ceremony, a leaving home celebration, uncoupling ceremony or anything else.
Rather than a distance limit, my basic fee covers attending ceremonies within approximately 1.5 hours drive of Bristol. As a rough guide, that covers Oxford, Reading and Berkshire, Salisbury, Exeter, South Wales as far as Swansea, the Cotswolds, Cheltenham and Gloucester, Abergavenny & the Black Mountains, and Somerset. Venues located further from Bristol are available subject to an additional charge.
A wedding, commitment ceremony or vow renewal within my area of coverage costs £ 750. Further from Bristol will be subject to an additional charge. The price for other ceremonies is tailored to the event, depending on what you want.
I'm afraid I don't do funerals.
Let's chat
Ultimately, a website is nothing more than an introductory calling card. The best way to find out whether I'm the right celebrant for you is to get in touch using the contact form or through Instagram or Facebook. Let's arrange a meeting (in person or over Zoom) where we can talk about what sort of ceremony you're picturing. It doesn't commit you to anything.
Website design ©Toby Morse Images of Toby by Gavin Jacob Power Image of Toby's wedding by Noel Deasington