Heartwood Ceremonies -Humanist Wedding Celebrant - Inclusive, authentic and full of joy
Jenny Ashley (She / Her)
Humanist Wedding Celebrant
Hi there! My name is Jenny Ashley (she / her) and I am a celebrant accredited by Humanists UK based near Abergavenny, on the edge of the beautiful Bannau Brycheniog (Brecon Beacons), Monmouthshire, South Wales. I am passionate about creating authentic, inclusive ceremonies, full of joy and sincerity that celebrate love in all it's forms.
As a former music teacher and general poetry geek, I believe that ritual, symbolism and a sharing of experience through words and music can encourage connection. Rituals do not have to be “sacred” or “old” to resonate, and should not be restricted to those with religious beliefs. Whoever you are, whoever you love; we can create something that shares your love with the world and marks this exciting start to a new chapter.
The first ceremony I wrote was for myself and my husband. We were obsessive about making sure that every word was something that we were confident we could stand by for the rest of our lives. I hope to enable every person to have that experience, and help them to create a ceremony that represents them perfectly as partners, as individuals and as part of their wider circle.
I’m told I don’t do cheesy, or soppy, it could even be said that I am not really all that romantic, but I genuinely believe that real,
authentic love is the best of human nature.The kind of love that brings out the best in everyone who encounters it. Truly loving a person with complete honesty and dedication is both one of life’s greatest achievements and fortunes. I believe it is worth celebrating as such.
If you have any questions, or any ideas you want to talk through, please get in contact - I am always happy to chat with new people who have chosen each other for marriage.
I can’t wait to hear your story,
- Jenny, Heartwood Ceremonies
Humanism is a non-religious world view. As a humanist, I believe I have only one life and I should do my best to use it well; not for the expectation of reward or punishment in an after life but simply because it is the right thing to do. I believe that life has meaning in and of itself and that through empathy and scientific reason we can leave the world a better place. It also means that I better make the most of the time that I have on this incredible planet and bring as much joy to it as I can!
And of course, there's no more joyful an occasion that a wedding! Humanist weddings are secular by their nature, but welcoming to people of any background. More than anything they give people a chance to begin their married life with a ceremony that truly reflects them and the lives they intend to live.
Click here for more information from Humanists UK.
Every ceremony is completely bespoke and as unique as the partnership it represents. When planning your ceremony, nothing is compulsory and nothing is ever "too weird"! Whoever you are, I want to create a ceremony where every word is something you can stand by, for the rest of your lives together.
Your Heartwood Ceremony will feel:
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Inclusive and welcoming to all.
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Personal and authentic, as if an old friend has created something very special, just for you.
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Relaxed and full of joy. There will be laughter, and probably a few (happy!) tears.
Together we will:
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Tell your story, celebrate your lives and the way you think about love and marriage.
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Incorporate readings, music and symbolic gestures that are meaningful to you.
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Include, adapt or renounce traditions to create a ceremony that reflects you and your values.
As your celebrant I will:
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Be flexible. Your wedding will be my only wedding that week so I can give it the attention it deserves.
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Support you as much as you need throughout the process, from writing your own vows to making sure everything and everyone is where they need to be on the day.
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Never make assumptions about you, your partner, your pronouns, your needs or relationship roles.
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Be incredibly privileged to get to know you so intimately and to put your thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams into words you will treasure forever.
I truly believe that the process is as important as the wedding. It's so rare in our busy lives that we get a chance to stop, to talk and think about things, even about something as important and incredible as choosing to get married!
Together we craft words and gestures that are meaningful and bespoke, a process I make as easy as possible with online exercises and work books and by giving my time to get to know you properly.
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What is your fee and what does it cover?My fee is £750. I take only a small number of weddings each year so i can give every script and every wedding day my full devotion. If you choose to book with me, I would write a bespoke ceremony just for the two of you. We’d incorporate all the things that are important in your lives to create a ceremony that tells your story and revolves around the way you think about love and marriage. It’s amazing how different people think about these things, no one’s ever the same! The script can be redrafted as many times as it needs to be to get it word perfect. I also cover symbolic actions, readings, music, the option of writing your own vows and can provide as much (or as little!) support as you like. Nothing is ever compulsory, and nothing is ever too “weird”! As well as writing and delivering the ceremony, I also coordinate with anyone and anything involved in it. This includes readers, musicians, the wedding party, photographers etc. I also offer a walk through rehearsal (generally the day before) so everyone can relax and just enjoy the moment. As a a Humanist UK Celebrant, I also have support from our incredible network. I am provided with ongoing training, peer evaluations and a number of people who could help in the case of an emergency. I am also provided with Public Liability Insurance.
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Do you travel outside Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons)?Absolutely! Many of my weddings are elsewhere in South Wales or across the border in Herefordshire or Bristol. I am always happy to go further afield, just get in touch with your planned dates and location.
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Do you do more than one wedding a day?Absolutely not - I don’t do conveyor belt weddings! Your wedding day is yours alone; I won’t be rushing off to other commitments. This means that if there are any unexpected delays I am able to be flexible and work to your schedule. I take only a small number of weddings each year so that I am able to give every single one the attention they deserve.
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Is it a "real" wedding?"It’s as real as you make it! Currently however, Humanist marriages are not recognised by law in England & Wales - we hope that legal status will be granted in the next few years, in line with the rest of the UK. This does however grant an element of freedom you don’t get with a legal wedding ceremony, which has to take place in a licensed location and using very specific language. A Humanist wedding is completely bespoke and has none of the same legal restrictions. Many couples have a Humanist ceremony and consider it their real wedding, alongside a civil ceremony in order to complete the paperwork. The legal marriage can take place before or after your wedding on the same day, or another day entirely. With the recent temporary reforms to wedding licensing due to covid, it feels possible that legal status could be granted any day now. For more information on the campaign for legal recognition for Humanist marriages please go to www.humanism.org.uk/campaigns/human-rights-and- equality/marriage-laws/ and www.humanism.org.uk/2021/06/20/temporary-marriage-reform- excludes-humanist-marriages/ for information about the recent reforms.
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I dont identify as a humanist, is that ok?"Of course! The flexibility of a Humanist ceremony is one of the most wonderful things about them and as a humanist, I encourage inclusivity and diversity. People want a Humanist wedding for all sorts of reasons - even if they don’t call themselves a Humanist. If you want a non-religious wedding that is welcoming to people of all faiths and none, then let's create your perfect ceremony.
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I have a religious partner / parent / Great Aunt / friend, will they feel comfortable?"Weddings can be important milestones for the whole family, but it’s up to you how you mark it in your life. Only you know your family and whether a Humanist ceremony is right for you and your partner. A Humanist ceremony is respectful and welcoming to people of all world views. It is also possible to incorporate elements that may seem familiar and relatable to loved ones with religious faith, or moments of silence for reflection or private prayer. Religious texts and songs are also often culturally significant, and beautiful even from a secular perspective. In principle, I have no problem with including these (within reason) as there are occasions when this is appropriate for a couple in the context of a non-religious ceremony. I am more than happy to discuss options and specifics on what we could do for you if this is something that would be an important element of your ceremony.
"We could not have dreamed of a more magical wedding ceremony. Not only is Jenny wonderful to work with because she is a fantastic person, but also because she is an amazing writer, a sensitive soul, and is keenly aware of the needs and desires of the couple. Jenny is super detail orientated and extremely organised; I knew our wedding was safe in her hands. She did an incredible job on the day and not only did we love the ceremony she delivered, but so did our guests. Look no further, Jenny is your girl!"
"We had the most personal and amazing wedding ceremony written for us by Jenny. We were so happy with everything from start to and finish and loved how so many of our favourite stories of us were included. We felt so relaxed about this part of the day and have had so many compliments about how beautiful our ceremony was. Jenny worked so quickly for us due to how short notice our wedding was but we couldn’t have been happier with the end result and we don’t think you will find a better celebrant to be part of your special day."
"From the start of the process, Jenny was amazing! She took the time to listen to us and our story!When we got the first draft, we were blown away with how amazing it sounded! She summed our relationship up in one short script, it was the perfect summary of us and our lives.From first zoom calls to the first meeting - to emails - to the rehearsal and then the wedding - she was amazing!We had so many comments about how lovely and personal the service was. It was just what we wanted.Thank you Jenny! We couldn’t have picked a better celebrant!"
"We had the most personal and amazing wedding ceremony written for us by Jenny. We were so happy with everything from start to and finish and loved how so many of our favourite stories of us were included. We felt so relaxed about this part of the day and have had so many compliments about how beautiful our ceremony was. Jenny worked so quickly for us due to how short notice our wedding was but we couldn’t have been happier with the end result and we don’t think you will find a better celebrant to be part of your special day."
Get in touch for a zero-pressure chat to see if I am the right fit for your perfect bespoke ceremony, I can't wait to hear from you!
Contact: Jenny Ashley (she / her)
Call / Text: 07403 170 104
Email: HeartwoodCeremonies@Gmail.com
Instagram: @HeartwoodCeremonies
