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Sarah Chapman
Celebrant S
arah conducts weddings, funerals, civil partnerships, hand fasting, naming ceremonies and wedding vow
renewals. Each ceremony is as unique as the next, with personal anecdotes and rituals, and she remembers every single one of them. She was recently reunited with a lady at a party whose
mother’s funeral she’d officiated. The woman gave her a huge hug and told everyone at the party about Sarah’s work.
She said: ‘Being a celebrant is such a rewarding role. It’s all about people marking their special days creatively and in the way they want. People often say ‘can we do that?’ and ‘are we allowed to do that?’ They don’t realise there are alternatives out there. ‘The most exciting thing I’ve done was a wedding vow
renewal at South Milton sands when everyone went out into the bay on kayaks. ‘My husband and I have a tandem kayak, so he was
taking photos while I performed the ceremony. The couple sent out little paper origami boats with guest’s wishes on, followed by a ‘ribbon of love’ circle and a BBQ on the beach.’ Sarah has a wealth of creative ideas including romantic cere- monies with roses, sand, water and wine. She added: ‘Getting married or
christened in a church is fantastic but if you’re not religious or it just isn’t your choice you have other options. ‘I suggest couples go to the
registry office first to fulfill the legal ceremony, followed by a ceremony conducted by me which will be as individual as they are and can include spiritual or religious elements in a setting of their choice. ‘Prior to their wedding
ceremonies couples share their stories with me - where they met, who proposed and how, which I can then relate back to at the ceremony. ‘The best thing people say to me is I’m professional, warm and
interview by Kate Cotton
Many people wish to mark important life events in a more unique and personal way and are increasingly looking to celebrants such as Sarah Chapman for help.
empathetic and that means more to me than anything in the world.’ Sarah often goes the extra mile for her clients. Recently
she learnt some Japanese words to help conduct a wedding ceremony. she conducted the ceremony for a Japanese couple
GETTING MARRIED OR CHRISTENED IN A
CHURCH IS FANTASTIC BUT IF YOU’RE NOT RELIGIOUS OR IT JUST ISN’T YOUR CHOICE YOU HAVE OTHER OPTIONS.
who’d already had a wedding where they live in Japan, which was quite formal. They wanted a traditional English ceremony too and their friend Keishu, who speaks English, translated the full ceremony for the couple and their families and friends. Sarah works with The Wedding
Wishing Well Foundation, a charity dedicated to organis- ing and funding weddings for terminally ill people. She offers a free ceremony once a year for the charity and this year is renewing a couple’s vows on a beach in Cornwall. After 15 years of teaching music
and drama Sarah came across the celebrancy world at her mother-in- law’s funeral three years ago. She said: ‘I was looking
for a change of career after the children had left home, and found inspiration in the unlikeliest of places – at a funeral.
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