A few weeks ago someone told me I should probably be thinking about retiring by now. I laughed so hard I nearly dropped my tea. If anything, this year has shown me the exact opposite — that the work I do stretches wider and matters more than ever. From the grandest marquee to a quiet garden on a Tuesday afternoon, I have never written the same ceremony twice, and I never will.
So I wanted to take a Friday and tell you about the full, glorious range of what being this celebrant actually means. Because we are all different and the important thing is to find a celebrant who fits you. I think a lot of people still picture me turning up in my best dress, saying a few nice words about rings, and driving home. It is so much bigger than that.
Read the full article on my Substack, follow me there for my deeper humanist musings!
![How I actually write your ceremony (and why I ask so many nosy questions) [Dawn’s Substack]](https://dawnreesceremonies.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/dawnrees-writing-keyboard-400x250.webp)
