Contact | 07837 988120
CELEBRANT sue-byyourside
Supporting you in the creation of highly bespoke &
beautifully heartfelt ceremonies honouring love, life and loss.
weddings - naming ceremonies - vow renewals - funerals & more
welcome
Hello, I’m Sue Denham.
I’m a professionally trained, proudly inclusive and independent celebrant based in glorious North Devon, but travel anywhere!
As an independent celebrant, it is a real privilege to walk alongside couples and families as they mark some of life’s most meaningful moments from joyful weddings and vow renewals to baby naming ceremonies, funerals and heartfelt celebrations of life.
Every ceremony I create is completely personal, thoughtful and unique, shaped around the people at the very heart of it. My role is to listen to your story with care, understand what matters most to you, and gently craft a ceremony that feels authentic, meaningful and full of warmth.
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I bring:
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extensive experience supporting people of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs,
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a deep commitment to celebrating love in all its forms, with inclusive, neurodivergent-affirming ceremonies
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creativity, confidence and warmth in both writing and speaking
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a reputation as a trusted celebrant and skilled storyteller who guides people through life’s most important moments with sensitivity, kindness and understanding
Becoming a celebrant has allowed me to bring together many years of experience supporting people, with a colourful, heartfelt and inclusive approach to ceremony.
Whatever you are celebrating or whatever you may be facing, you can feel reassured that I will be truly by your side.
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​Read my promises to you > here.
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Thank you
With best wishes,
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LOVE, LIFE & LOSS
Rainbows are a wonderful reflection of life's sunny moments and the inevitable sad times too. There is always beauty to be found and celebrated, and I'm here to help you do just that. Having personally experienced many of life’s ups and downs (including children, divorce, bereavement and cancer), I'll help you to consider creative ideas, or honour important traditions and rituals, so that the day is everything you feel it should be. Read about my popular ceremony services below.
A STORY TO BE TOLD
Having been a school headteacher for over 35 years, I'm an experienced storyteller. My career also led me to become a thoughtful and sensitive 'listener', with a huge heart. I'm naturally creative, resilient and always with a positive outlook on life. In 2022, these skills and attributes began to blend beautifully in my new role as a celebrant.
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Beyond my qualifications, I'm told it is my personality that makes me a reassuring person to have 'by your side'.
Please take a moment to get to know me and my differences by viewing my mini-videos below!
Wedding Celebrant FAQs | North Devon and UK Celebrant Weddings
What does a wedding celebrant do?
As your wedding celebrant, I create and lead a completely personalised ceremony that reflects you, your love story, your values, your people and everything that makes your relationship unique.
There are no templates and no set scripts. Everything is written from scratch,
just for you.
Unlike a registrar, I’m not restricted by legal wording or licensed venues, which
means you can have your ceremony anywhere, at any time, and in any style
that feels right for you.
How do we book you as our wedding celebrant?
I like to keep things simple and relaxed.
First, we’ll have a friendly, no-obligation chat, a chance to get to know each
other and see if I’m the right fit for you.
If you’d love to go ahead, I’ll send you a booking form to secure your date.
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From there, we’ll start creating your ceremony together:
• we’ll meet (in person or via What’s app video call)
• you’ll receive a thoughtful questionnaire to share your story
• I’ll write your ceremony script and send it to you to review and tweak
I’ll be there to support you every step of the way. On the day itself, I’ll arrive at
least an hour early to help calm any nerves and make sure everything runs
smoothly and I’ll stay around until the confetti settles and the drinks are flowing.
Is a celebrant-led wedding legally binding in the UK?
Sadly, in England and Wales, celebrant ceremonies aren’t legally recognised
(but fingers crossed for law changes very soon!).
Most of my couples choose to complete the legal part separately at a registry
office in a simple “2+2” ceremony, just the two of you and two witnesses a few
days before your wedding ceremony..
That way, you can keep the legal bit straightforward and then have a fully
personalised celebrant ceremony that feels like your real wedding.
Where can we have our ceremony?
One of the loveliest things about choosing a celebrant is that you’re not limited
by licensed venues.
You can get married:
• on a beach
• in a woodland
• in your garden or family home
• on a cliff top
• in a barn, tipi or somewhere completely unique
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If it’s special to you, I’ll help you create a beautiful ceremony there.
Can we include handfasting or symbolic rituals?
Yes, and I absolutely love this part.
You might choose handfasting, candle lighting, sand blending, ring warming or
jumping the broom or something completely your own.
I’ll help you weave these into your ceremony, so they feel natural, meaningful
and never awkward or staged.
Can you help us write our vows?
Absolutely. I’ll guide you with prompts, examples and gentle feedback so
you’re never staring at a blank page wondering where to start.
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Whether your vows are romantic, funny, simple or deeply personal, I’ll help
you find words that feel completely right for you.
We’re not very traditional — is that okay?
More than okay, it’s exactly what I love.
I specialise in relaxed, modern and non-traditional ceremonies that feel warm,
joyful and genuinely you.
Whether you’re quirky, romantic, spiritual, low-key or a mix of everything, your
ceremony will reflect who you are not what’s expected.
We’re nervous about speaking — can you help?
You’re definitely not alone in feeling this.
I’ll support you every step of the way and we can shape your ceremony around
what feels comfortable for you.
You can say as much or as little as you like, and I can always step in to guide or
speak on your behalf if needed.
My role is to help you feel calm, confident and able to enjoy every moment.
Do you offer inclusive and LGBTQ+ friendly ceremonies?
Always with warmth, respect and pride.
I celebrate all love stories and create ceremonies where you can feel
completely safe, seen and yourself.
Do you support neurodivergent couples and guests?
Yes, wholeheartedly, and this is a really important part of my work.
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I work in a neuroaffirming way and have lots of experience supporting autistic,
ADHD and PDA individuals, as well as those with sensory or processing
differences.
Together, we can shape a ceremony that feels comfortable and supportive —
whether that means:
• having a clear structure with no surprises
• using visual or written supports
• adapting the environment to reduce sensory overwhelm
• building in flexibility and quiet moments​
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You don’t need to have everything figured out. We can work it out together,
gently and without pressure.
How far do you travel?
I’m based in North Devon and regularly travel across the South West, including
Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset and beyond.
If you’re planning something further afield or even a destination wedding, I’m
always happy to travel — just get in touch and we can chat.
What’s included in your fee?
Everything I offer is designed to give you a seamless, supported and completely
personalised experience:
• a bespoke ceremony script written just for you
• planning meetings (in person or online)
• unlimited support and communication
• a dedicated WhatsApp group​
• vow-writing support​
• printed vow booklets
• a wedding ceremony certificate
• a keepsake copy of your script
• guidance with symbolic rituals
• my calm, experienced presence on your day
Looking for a wedding celebrant in North Devon?
If you’re planning a celebrant-led wedding in North Devon, the South West or
anywhere in the UK, I’d absolutely love to hear from you.
Get in touch and let’s start creating something truly special, together.
YOU DAY, YOUR WAY.
shared moments
Sometimes life's joyous moments deserve to be shared far and wide. Likewise, uniting over sad moments can help, but privacy and dignity mean a lot too. On my social media are a mixture of precious moments that clients have encouraged me to share, along with words and pictures to inspire, comfort and show you more of life 'by your side'.
