Carole Pluckrose - Independant Family Celebrant

I’m an independent wedding celebrant, creating warm, personal ceremonies that genuinely reflect the people at the heart of them.

And just to be clear from the beginning, I am not a registrar and currently cannot conduct the legal marriage formalities until we hopefully see a change in the law. Couples usually complete the legal part separately at a register office, often choosing a simple statutory ceremony with two witnesses. Your celebrant ceremony can then become the occasion you share with your wider family and friends and the part that truly feels like your wedding. And that separation from the legal formalities is actually what gives us so much freedom. Your ceremony can take place where, when and how you choose, and instead of working from a standard script, we can create something completely personal, something that tells your story and reflects your relationship, your values and the people you want to share it with.

Your ceremony might be heartfelt, joyful, funny, reflective or a mixture of all of those things. It can include personal vows, readings, music, family and friends, cultural traditions or a symbolic ritual — or it can be beautifully simple. There is no set formula. The important thing is that it feels like you.

My background is in theatre-making, storytelling and writing, so I know how to listen carefully, find the heart of a story and shape it into something meaningful. I will spend time getting to know you, talk through what matters to you, and then write and lead a ceremony that feels natural, relaxed and unmistakably yours.

If you’re looking for something more personal than a standard ceremony, I’d love to begin a conversation with you.

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I trained as a celebrant in 2020, but in many ways it felt like a natural extension of work I had already been doing for many years. My background is in theatre-making, storytelling, writing and bringing people together. Throughout that work, I have always been interested in people’s stories, what shapes us, what connects us and how we find meaning in the important moments of our lives. I became a celebrant because ceremonies matter. At their best, they give us a moment to pause, to recognise what is changing and to say something that might otherwise remain unsaid. I love the idea that a couple can create a wedding ceremony which reflects who they really are, rather than feeling they have to fit themselves into somebody else’s words or traditions. What inspires me most is the privilege of listening to people, discovering the small details that make their relationship uniquely theirs, and then shaping those into a ceremony with warmth, imagination and heart. It brings together so much of what I have spent my working life doing, listening, writing, storytelling and creating memorable experiences with people.

I qualified as an accredited civil celebrant building on many years of experience as a theatre-maker, storyteller, writer, facilitator and host. Much of my working life has involved creating and leading events, working closely with people from many different backgrounds, and helping individuals and communities tell their stories. I am comfortable speaking in front of an audience, holding the emotional atmosphere of an important occasion and responding calmly when the unexpected happens as it so often does at live events! Alongside my celebrant work, I founded and led a busy arts and community venue in East London for over a decade. This gave me a wealth of experience in bringing people together and creating occasions that feel warm, welcoming and carefully held.

My clients are couples who want their wedding ceremony to feel genuinely personal rather than formal or formulaic. They may be planning a relaxed wedding, bringing together different families, cultures or traditions, marrying later in life, renewing their vows, or simply wanting more freedom to create a ceremony that reflects who they are. They value warmth, imagination and good storytelling, but don’t necessarily arrive knowing exactly what they want , part of my role is to help them discover that. I am an independent celebrant rather than a registrar, so my clients complete the legal marriage formalities separately and choose me to create and lead the personal ceremony they share with their family and friends.

I trained as a civil celebrant with Civil Ceremonies Ltd in 2020 and am a member of the Association of Independent Celebrants (AOIC). My work follows its professional standards and code of conduct, and I hold appropriate professional and public liability insurance.