This week we caught up with Warwickshire local Lauren Duncan, a registered professional celebrant offering unique and bespoke ceremonies to mark many of your special occasions.
Why choose a celebrant for your special day? Lauren provides a bespoke ceremony for each and every occasion you want to mark with your unique touch. From naming ceremonies, wedding ceremonies, vow renewals and funerals, LD Celebrant can create the perfect, personable package for whichever occasion you are planning.
We asked Lauren why she chose to set up LD Celebrant, what drew her into the role and how she’s finding being a business owner in the current wedding climate.
After losing her parents in 2015, Lauren met a wonderful celebrant Bill when he conducted her father’s funeral. His personal and caring touch encouraged her family members to speak from the heart about their loss and she was incredibly inspired by how personal it felt.
She told us the desire to become a celebrant had been lurking in her subconscious for a long time, but after both losses Lauren experienced some time of grief and sadness that left her questioning her purpose in life and how she wanted to be remembered .
Lauren was travelling all over the UK working in a corporate role that just wasn’t fulfilling her and she desperately needed a change of direction. She finally took the leap four years ago and after leaving her high flying job in hospitality management, she was enrolled on a Celebrant course in London only a week later. And in July 2018 LD Celebrant was born!
“I can honestly say I have never looked back, there are ups and downs, as with all life changes you make and this was such a big one…… the connection and feedback I receive from my families and couples makes it all so worthwhile” she shared.
Celebrant ceremonies give you endless choice for your special day, from style of ceremony through to the words you share with your loved ones; the sky’s the limit. Lauren can help you plan your special day with a personalised touch; whether you want something traditional, modern, themed, relaxed, indoors, outdoors, or a mish mash of cultures, you can make your day uniquely yours with LD Celebrant.
Lauren perfectly captures the essence of your loved ones with her funeral services; working collaboratively with you and your family in a supportive and caring way to ensure your celebration of life ceremony is from the heart.
Her extensive background in hospitality management explains Lauren’s positive, people focused service. Her kind and caring approach to every ceremony puts your ideas and personality first. She will guide you through the process and together, you will be able to create your bespoke wedding ceremony, celebration of life ceremony, vow renewals and naming ceremonies to ensure your day is relaxed, informal and inclusive for everyone.
This wonderful business owner trained with The Fellowship of Professional Celebrants, where the ethos is “Your Voice, Your Choice, Your Ceremony”. Trained to write bespoke and personalised ceremonies for every person, couple or family, Lauren ensures that your ceremony is as unique as you are.
As many have experienced, the Covid-19 pandemic has thrown a lot of uncertainty into the wedding and funeral industry. During the height of lockdown, Lauren worked with couples to provide intimate services with just a handful of their loved ones in their own garden, ensuring their special day was one to remember.
She told us how her business was put on pause during the pandemic; she had to take on another job to manage and dedicated her time to building her brand in the interim. She has worked hard on her visibility online, networking locally and promoting her services via her social media pages (Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn).
You can find LD Celebrant and the face behind the brand at Wedding Fayres across Warwickshire and she regularly attends events to meet other business owners as a member of the Leamington Business Network and the Federation of Small Businesses.
Her bespoke and unique approach is captured in every attention to detail. Lauren can support you with vow writing, creating a handy guide available on her blog with hints, tips and examples. She also provides her brides and grooms with printed, personalised vow booklets for those wanting something they can read from. And if things become too emotional on the day, Lauren keeps a copy of your vows with her just in case!
These little touches are just a few of the ways Lauren makes sure your day is just as you imagined. She has been involved in ceremonies in some beautiful locations, taking part in ring warming rituals, chapel ceremonies and more. She is always excited to get creative with your ceremony ideas, providing a warm and inviting event for your loved ones.
Until the 30th September 2021, LD Celebrant’s wedding ceremonies are only £475. So get in touch with Lauren via her website today to bring your beautiful ideas to life. And be sure to follow her on Facebook & Instagram for ceremony inspiration and heartwarming stories.
Written by Heather Marie Willis
