Hi, I'm Anna
It takes some guts to throw out the rule book and do things your way, so kudos to you for considering a humanist ceremony!
I’m Anna; wedding celebrant, life-long love story enthusiast and dedicated creator of ceremonies that are unique, joy-filled, romantic, brimming with warmth, super inclusive, sometimes a little cheeky but always authentically yours.
Going down the Humanist route is PERFECT for couples who want to shape their ceremony so that it truly reflects them. Your voice, values, idiosyncrasies, pet names, in-jokes, disaster first-date stories, special songs and favourite people become the bedrock of a ceremony that can only be yours.
Working together, we will joyfully reject what we think a wedding “should” be, to create the ceremony you truly desire.
It's a huge privilege that I get to be alongside couples as they prepare to take this step in their lives. It’s taken me a winding road through the arts and charity sectors to get here. As such, I’ll be bringing plenty of my own intention and thought to the process. Here’s a little of what to expect when you work with me…
A bucket-load of warmth
When the ceremony rolls around, I want you to feel you have a pal standing beside you. It can be an emotional time and I will be there in the run up and on the day to help you stay rooted in the delight, joy and love that underpins it all.
Endless curiosity
The ceremony script will emerge through getting to know you (really know you, waaaay beyond small talk!) so I’ll be asking you plenty of questions in our time together. It’s not always easy putting things into words, but we’ll go gently, at a pace that suits you.
An open mind
Have ideas already about your ceremony? Brilliant! The magic moments happen when we really collaborate - I’ll be there to guide you, but never to get in the way of the day you want.
Creativity
I love a chance to come up with creative ways to support people to express their love. This will come through in the unique words we choose for your script, but could also mean personalised ritual moments, chances for your guests (and pets…) to be integrated into the ceremony, music suggestions, poetry ideas, romantic surprises, support writing your original vows to each other…the list goes on!
An eye on the environment
I’m doing my best to make my contribution to your ceremony as free of harm to the environment as possible. This means taking public transport and reducing printing as much as possible.
Working with Anna was an absolute joy! We cannot recommend her any more highly. Anna is so warm and detailed, she really captured us perfectly and curated a ceremony that we and all of our guests loved. She made the whole process really smooth by being easy to reach, very thorough and very communicative throughout. The way Anna incorporated our four different cultures and backgrounds on the day was incredible. She made the whole process easy and fun. So many of our guests said it was the most beautiful, personal and special ceremony they had witnessed, and that is all down to Anna! Thanks Anna for a creating a truly fantastic ceremony!
— Sheida & Naveen - July 2023
Could not recommend Anna enough. We are so so so pleased we found Anna and had her be the celebrant at our wedding. She had so many amazing ideas to make our ceremony even more personal and special. Lots of our guests thought Anna was an old friend of ours with how well spoke about us and how well she knew our story. We only met a couple of times and a few zoom meetings but having Anna there was like seeing an old friend. She wrote the most wonderful ceremony and even found a way to incorporate our four nieces and nephew who mean so much to us.Thank you Anna for all the organising and writing for our special day. We are so glad we had you there.
— Rosie & Dean - April 2024
Looking for a celebrant we knew we wanted to find someone we felt fully comfortable and open with. When we met Anna for the first time, we knew right after our call that we wanted her as our celebrant and did not waste anytime in asking her! From the beginning she was so helpful and supportive, her method in building a humanist ceremony is such a wonderful journey and it's something everyone should do before getting married! Our ceremony felt personal and shone a light into what it means to be married for us. She even had wonderful ideas to include our pup Indiana! All our guests said they had never been to a ceremony that was so loving, fun and a real look into our relationship. Thank you Anna for everything and making our wedding so so special, it would not have been the same without you. Our wedding day will always be cherished! Xx
— Kat & Alex - May 2024
We are so happy that we chose Anna as our wedding celebrant. Anna helped us create a truly personal and unique ceremony with rituals, readings, roles for our guests, and exactly the right balance of humour and ceremony. The planning phase before the ceremony—from when we first met with Anna, to going through drafts, all the way to a final test run before the wedding day—was well-organised and thorough without being burdensome, thanks to her thoughtfulness and attentiveness to small details. We found it easy to share stories and thoughts with Anna. She was able to take the different strands of our story and come back with so many fantastic ideas and creative suggestions, and she always focused on what would reflect our story and be a good fit for our guests. Not least, she happily and flexibly accommodated our chaotic schedule. She also has wonderful stage presence and conducted the ceremony beautifully, with many guests commenting on her ability to create an atmosphere that was both ceremonial and welcoming. Anna helped make our wedding truly special and unique. We thank her for that and highly recommend her!
— Thomas & Tatiana - June 2024
Anna Thirkettle
Where I work
Norfolk, London and beyond
Fees from...
Price on application
How to contact me
anna@gentle-rebel-ceremonies.co.uk
Phone
Website
www.gentle-rebel-ceremonies.co.uk
HUMANIST CEREMONIES™ is the network of more than 550 celebrants, trained by national charity Humanists UK to a gold standard to provide memorable and meaningful humanist ceremonies to non-religious people. Operating throughout England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, we deliver authentic, tailor-made and heartfelt ceremonies for life’s key moments. They are always inclusive and welcoming, regardless of the beliefs of those attending.
You can trust Humanist Ceremonies celebrants: We are DBS-checked, fully insured, and regularly peer reviewed for quality assurance. We are committed to a code of conduct, and have a transparent and robust complaints process in the rare case of a problem. We all pay a monthly fee to Humanists UK to further support the work of the charity, and are part of a regional network for like-minded celebrants for support and learning.
Humanist weddings
A humanist wedding ceremony is a wonderful option to celebrate your wedding in the way you choose: without religion but with meaning, and totally true to the two of you. They are uplifting and heartwarming occasions, personal to each couple to reflect your personalities and interests, and your love story. Sincere and significant, your ceremony will be crafted to create an occasion which is unique and fitting to you both.
