I love to work with creative couples to create bespoke ceremonies which are joyful, full of energy and personality and absolutely unforgettable...because the ceremony should NEVER be the boring bit!

FAQS

What makes you the celebrant for us?

My background is as a theatre director but I have also worked as a creative project manager, a party and events planner and ran the front of house at a swanky London restaurant, very popular with celebs - oh the stories I could tell…! I am absolutely in-love with love and storytelling and truly believe that life’s special milestones should be celebrated in style, and exactly how YOU want to celebrate them! I come with a wealth of experience, ideas, buckets of enthusiasm and a (not so) little black book of creative contacts to make your day as wonderful and unique as you. Whether you want a modern twist on a traditional ceremony or a total reinvention (or anything in-between) - with me as your celebrant, there are no limitations or rules! I am young, fun and vibrant and full of energy and personality. I bring a sense of creativity, reinvention and a sprinkling of magic to all my ceremonies as well as lots of ideas and enthusiasm.

Can we really get married anywhere?!

Yes!! The beauty of a celebrant led wedding is you can have exactly the ceremony you want, how you want it - perhaps in ways and in places you haven’t even dreamt of yet! You are not bound by registered venues or their limited availability. You can get married anywhere…yes, anywhere! Hot air balloon? Sure! Bottom of the ocean? Why not! The back garden of your family home? Absolutely! On a beach in Barbados? Yes, please! The possibilities really are endless..!

Why choose a celebrant over a registrar or civil officiant?

Over the years I have attended so many weddings, namings and vow renewals – and they were, more often than not, officiated by an older lady (usually dressed in a grey suit and called Susan/Gwenda/Shiela). They conduct the same ‘one size fits all’ ceremony, with the same scripted jokes about the ‘woman really wearing the trousers’ which always seem to raise a polite chuckle from the crowd. Getting a wonderful Registrar can really be pot-luck and you often won't get to meet them until the day - and then you are stuck with them! As your celebrant, I will spend time getting to know you and your story to ensure your ceremony reflects who you as a couple and your unique personalities. Unlike with a Registrar, choosing a a celebrant led ceremony means you not confined by a set format or script you are not comfortable with or a strict time limit. It is your day, so you get to do it how you want. If you don't want a religious wedding but want to find a way to include a traditional element or a nod to a specific culture or heritage, then together we can find a way to beautifully weave, blend and combine different ideas to create a ceremony totally unique and personal to you. I want you to have the best day and for your ceremony to be remembered by you and all your guests for years to come. I want your guests to leave the ceremony thinking ‘Wow that ceremony was so special – and just soooo them!’ One thing I am absolutely passionate about…The ceremony should NEVER be the boring bit!!

Is the ceremony legal?

Celebrant led weddings are not currently legal in the UK, however we are campaigning hard to change that, and we are almost there…! We passionately believe that couples should have a greater choice and be able to have weddings that are not only meaningful to them, but also legally recognised. You can read about the latest developments with the Law Commission - fingers crossed for 2021! As the law currently stands, you will need to have a separate civil service, in addition to your celebrant wedding. Many couples do ‘the legal bit’ at their local Registry Office a couple of days before their big day (this costs under £50 for a basic service). All you need are two witnesses and you don’t even need to exchange rings or vows so you can save all the ‘fun stuff’ for your ACTUAL wedding. Your celebrant-led ceremony (with me!) is a fully bespoke and personalised celebration of love and commitment witnessed by your friends and family and it is this date that will signify the anniversary of your wedding.

Is it not more expensive to have two ceremonies?

Not necessarily! Having a basic legal service at a Registry Office followed by a celebrant led wedding ceremony need not cost much more and in some cases may even be less expensive! I am obviously bias, but I truly believe the unique value of a bespoke and personalised ceremony, done exactly how you want, is well worth the extra pennies. For example, the cost of a Registrar-led ceremony at one of the Registry Offices or Town Halls in London are as follows: from £290 to £550* Monday – Friday from £400 to £900* Weekends and Public Holidays For a Registrar to lead a ceremony at an approved premises, the costs are: from £585 to £600 Monday to Friday from £665 to £900 Weekends and Public Holidays This does not include any fees charged by the venue and the cost of giving notice. Approved and licensed wedding venues charge a premium for weddings, often charging per guest with a considerable mark up. So by having a basic legal ceremony at a Registry Office a couple of days before (under £50 on a weekday) and then the main event with a celebrant led-ceremony in a venue of your choosing (not restricted by licences and approved suppliers) - then you are much more likely to be able to control costs and have complete ownership over your big day. By choosing a celebrant led wedding ceremony you are able to experience a personalised, bespoke and flexible ceremony that exactly meets your wants and needs without the restrictions of time, venue and suppliers. *information from RBKC website for ceremonies taking place 2020 - 2022 and excludes the cost of giving notice.

We are getting married abroad - can you still be our celebrant?

Absolutely! My standard fee stays the same for destination weddings, however travel and accommodation would need to be factored into costs.

Do you do LGBTQ+ weddings too?

Absolutely! Love is love! x

Testimonials

India has a deep and personal appreciation for family, relationships and meaningful connections. She understands from experience how to help people explore their own creativity and express themselves. She embraces and understands storytelling in an emotional and caring way and can find beauty and something special in the smallest of details.

Jimmy and Stacey

O.M.G. Where to begin!? India was absolutely brilliant and hilarious to work with. In all honestly we never originally planned to have a celebrant led wedding but we are over the moon that circumstances led us to India. She brings so much energy and ideas and personalisation to the table, she truly thinks of everything to make the ceremony everything you had ever hoped for and more. SO many of our guests ran up to us and her immediately after the ceremony to express how enjoyable it was and how unique she made it. If you are planning a wedding, book this woman immediately before she gets booked up for the next 10 years.

Billie and Viboo

Well where do we start? India has been an absolute delight to work with from start to finish and beyond. We knew from the first moment we spoke that she was the one and have not regretted switching over to her for our ceremony for one moment. She has gone above and beyond from a surprise video message of an actor from my favourite movie to learning the handfasting knot we wanted to use to actually saying yes even though it fell on the same day as a get away trip to York for her own anniversary and was booked so close to the time of our wedding. No ask was too big, no detail too small. We both felt that she actually took the time to get to know us as both individuals and as a couple and that the ceremony was a true and unique reflection of us that we simply wouldn’t have got if we had gone elsewhere. We never felt like a burden to India and her enthusiasm was infectious and really picked up my spirits especially, as a bride who had, by that point, tried to organise three different weddings. To be honest though, I am glad the others never happened because they wouldn’t have been what this one was - perfect. The ceremony was the biggest part of that. All the guests loved it without exception, and we know that we will remember it forever. We are so glad we trusted India to nail it and didn’t read the script beforehand. She made us all laugh, and cry… even myself who NEVER cries. The only thing we are sad about is no longer working with her as it has been a total joy! If you are looking for something truly special, memorable, romantic and fusion (if you are from a mixed heritage background like ourselves) We can hand on heart tell you that you will not be disappointed. Even for a classic set up with more of yourselves in it… We cannot think of someone who would give as much of their heart and talent into it as she has. We cannot say enough on how much the ceremony meant to us, how incredibly wonderful it was and how much of a mistake it would be to not have India if you have been lucky enough to come across her in your hunt for ‘the one.’ India, you were sensational. Thank you from the bottom of all our hearts, you are a true star. All our love, Mr & Mrs Berry (and all of our friends and family).

Beliz and Chris

Incredible!! We couldn't be more pleased that we had India there on our wedding day. All of the guests loved her, and the fun personalised element that she brought to the day. When we were first looking for a celebrant, we thought it was 'a shame' we wouldnt be doing the legal bit with our wedding... how wrong we were! As soon as we spoke with India we knew we had to have her with us on the big day, and that it would be all the better for it. She created an amazing ceremony, that really set the tone for the rest of the day - India bought fun, energy, laughter and romance, and was everything we wanted and MORE! I would encourage anyone looking to have a wedding that is reflective of themselves to speak with India ASAP!!!! AND that as India says, the ceremony should *never* be the boring bit. Thank you India for helping to make our day so so special.

Charlotte and Brad

India was the highlight of our wedding. Throughout the process our most enjoyable interactions were when we got to talk to her about our relationship. We enjoyed a wonderful evening and dinner with her early on to get excited and plan everything, followed by calls and immediate responses to any emails or questions we sent to her. As the day came closer India attended our rehearsals with enthusiasm and helped check over all our planning documents - helping us feel confident about everything. Even our groomsmen and bridesmaids didn't help us as much. Not once did we feel without support or concerned about what she might produce. In fact, we were so confident in her ability to deliver a great ceremony that we didn't actually want to see the draft in case it ruined our ability to live the moment. As people who enjoy control; that's rare. On the day, the ceremony was every guest's favourite part of the wedding - when does that ever happen?! Her research into our relationship was extensive without ever feeling uncomfortable, and almost every guest individually thanked us for the stories they learned about us through India's beautifully constructed narrative. My parents completely re-evaluated my relationship with my wife stating ""we had no idea how incredibly beautiful your relationship is"". And they weren't the only ones. Several of our friends are also re-considering their own wedding planning decisions as a result of the ceremony. India is a credit to her profession and herself. I'm profoundly grateful that we hired her.

Nadia and Matt

India Bel Ceremonies Social Channels

Featured articles for India Bel Ceremonies