SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT: THAT CELEBRANT GUY

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF

Hello! I’m Glenn and I’m That Celebrant Guy. I live in the Vegas of the North (HA!)…Sunny Blackpool. Originally I’m from the Cotswolds but after almost a decade living in The Balearic Islands as Head of Entertainment for a Hotel Chain, I came back to the UK with my partner. So, we stayed here, got two amazing dogs and started out on some new adventures. A fun fact about me (because who doesn’t love a fun fact, right?) is that I was actually in the final 5 kids to play Harry Potter in the films. Of course I was pipped to the post, but it was fun all the same, and thus the stagey kid was thrust into the world!

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO START YOUR BUSINESS?

I love a wedding, of course. Although originally it was never really in the pipeline.

It all started very much by chance. I started out just doing ceremonies for free for family and friends. My whole life I’ve always been into performing and being on stage, so I trained in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre at Bird College in Sidcup. After graduating, I moved to The Balaerics for a long while and of course friends and would come to visit lots. They saw that I was pretty comfortable being in front of people presenting and hosting in my own style, so I guess it’s why they asked me to be their celebrant.

It just so happened that after my cousins wedding, her friend asked her who “that celebrant guy” was, and that’s where it all began. All through word of mouth. It all seemed to take off super quickly, and I’ve never looked back! It has been the most amazing few years.

I have been to so many weddings as a guest and I have heard (more often than I’d like) A LOT people saying that the ceremony is “boring, forgetful, not the main event, dull”…you know, words to that effect. Granted, it’s possible it wasn’t a celebrant wedding because these should be anything but those things. So, I wanted to take away that thought process and make people remember that part of the day, because after all, what is a wedding without a ceremony?

HOW DOES YOUR TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE?

Tough question! Each day is mega different…just how I like it…”Variety is the spice of life” I believe is the saying. However, if we look at it quite broadly, probably as follows:

– I’ll get up nice and early and have my morning coffee (white, 2 sweeteners…just so you know) and check my emails, instagram and Facebook. I’ll then throw on something comfy and take out my dogs.

– When I get home, it’s another coffee and up to the office for some work. Then, I write ceremonies, do some basic wedding crafting for things like vow cards or printed candles, and sing loudly to whatever comes on Spotify.

– I’ll probably have a zoom chat or 2 with couples further afield, but often it’s a walk in a local park (with or without the dogs) with couples who are either already booked, or thinking of booking. We talk for ages and then they can decide if I’m the guy for them. If they’ve already booked then it’s usually a catch up to see where things are at.

– On a ceremony day, the couple have exclusive booking of that day. I get to the venue an an hour and a half before to set up and make sure everyone is good to go. After the ceremony is over, quite often I’ll stick around for a toast with the couple, family and friends, before heading home.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR JOB?

Where to begin?!

I love sitting and writing and being able to exercise my artistic license.

I love knowing that what I’ve created and delivered is something the couple have dreamed of for their big day.

I love it when at a ceremony the couple look so in love with each other that nothing else on this planet matters right now.

I love working closely with couples and becoming friends as the process goes on.

I love getting the cards, emails, letters, gifts of thanks from the couples. It literally gives me such a lump in my throat every time when I read them.

AND WHAT IS THE WORST PART?

When each ceremony is over. I just want to do it all over again.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?

Here are the most cliché things I’ll ever say: “Be True To Yourself” or “Believe You Can and You’re Halfway There”

I know, heard those before right? But one thing I can guarantee the couples who choose me, is that both of these bits of advice reflect me perfectly, and it’s advice that I will offer them when planning the ceremony. After all, it’s your day so never mind what anyone else does!

WHAT WOULD YOU WANT COUPLES TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?

My ceremonies are always going to be entirely personal to you. They will be memorable, they will be fun and I aim for them to be the bit that people talk about for all the right reasons.

I always work really closely with couples and I want them to feel like they can ask me anything and start feeling more like friends than simply “That Celebrant Guy”

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR COUPLES PLANNING A WEDDING?

Choose the right suppliers and venue for you. What works for one person is not right for everyone. It may sound like a really obvious piece of advice but do your research. There are so many different suppliers and venues and each of them is different to the next.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU DIDN’T WORK IN THE WEDDING INDUSTRY?

I’d probably like to be a TV presenter actually, or be in a soap…I’ve got too much energy to not utilise it somehow haha!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR TIME OFF?

Without a doubt it’s a good dog walk. There are so many gorgeous places to go walking that why wouldn’t you want to go? I love going to the Lake District and going for a little dip in a lake on a hot day, or if the weather is somewhat soggy, I’ll don my wellies and get ankle deep in mud!