Where your story takes centre stage
Wedding Celebrants in the South West Who Make the Ceremony the Best Bit
We're Melissa and David, a married celebrant duo, creating bespoke wedding ceremonies and vow renewals across the South West and beyond.
Your ceremony is a chance to pause, gather the people you love and celebrate your story. It's a moment to reflect on the experiences that have brought you here, the things that make your relationship special and everything you're looking forward to sharing in the years ahead. We know there's a lot to think about when planning a wedding or vow renewal, and it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. That's where we come in.
We'll guide you through the process with warmth and care, helping you feel relaxed, supported and able to be fully present. We believe your ceremony should feel just as personal as the relationship it celebrates – thoughtful, romantic, creative and full of the details that make it uniquely yours. When the day arrives, we want the busy-ness to fade into the background, leaving you free to take it all in and enjoy every moment.
Melissa & David
Hello, We're Melissa and David
We’re married, we’re actors, we run a theatre company together, and we love bringing our passion for storytelling and creativity into the ceremonies we create.
Melissa is Irish and grew up overseas, while David is English. We met in 2008 while on a theatre programme in Stratford-upon-Avon. We’ve made our home in the South West for more than 15 years, and we love living here, surrounded by beautiful countryside, vibrant towns and cities and the calm of the coast. There are so many wonderful places to celebrate your relationship!
While we’re based in Devon, we got married in 2019 in Cornwall by the sea with a celebrant duo who made our ceremony feel truly personal. It made us feel so happy and it inspired us to want to create that same feeling for other couples. As actors and storytellers, we love getting to know people, discovering their stories and creating ceremonies that feel genuinely true to them.
The Ceremonies We Write
Weddings
Admit Two
Any venue, any words, any length – it's all about you.
Whether it's at a venue that holds personal meaning, one that brings your wedding vision or theme to life, or simply somewhere you've just fallen in love with, we'll create a ceremony that feels unmistakably you.
It's about the stories you share, the people you love and the little details that encapsulate your relationship. Perhaps that's a favourite piece of music, a family tradition, a handfasting, a unity candle or a loving cup ceremony. Maybe it's a nod to a much-loved film or novel, a meaningful cultural ritual, or your family dog bringing in the rings – if it means something to you, we’ll write it in.
Whether you already have ideas you’re excited about or you’re starting completely from scratch, we'll bring everything together with care and creativity, creating a ceremony that feels natural, heartfelt and completely personal to you.
Whether you're marking a significant milestone, celebrating the life you've built together, creating a moment you wish you’d had the first time around, or simply wanting to say ‘I still do’ in a way that feels meaningful, we'll create a ceremony that honours your journey, celebrates your love and looks forward to everything still to come.
Vow Renewals
Admit Two
Two storytellers, one shared goal
There Are Two of Us
Most couples get one celebrant – you get two! Two storytellers, one shared goal: creating ceremonies that feel like you.
Your ceremony should be more than a moment in the schedule. It should be a moment you feel, remember and recognise as completely your own.
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Two writers on the script.
We write it, we edit it, and nothing reaches you until we've read it out loud to each other. We work together to craft a ceremony full of personality, meaning and those little details that make it distinctly yours.
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We understand what it means to you.
Having had our own celebrant-led wedding, we know how much it means to want to have a ceremony that genuinely reflects your relationship. We’ve been in your shoes, where we’ve panicked about the weather or worried about all the logistics falling into place and we know exactly how much it matters that the person standing at the front actually gets you. We'll guide you through the process with sensitivity and reassurance.
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Two backgrounds, blended together.
With our Irish and English backgrounds, we love thoughtfully weaving together different cultures, faiths, family traditions and meaningful rituals. At our wedding, we drank from a quaich (a Celtic drinking cup) with Irish and English mead poured by our mums to mark our families coming together. We’d love to hear your ideas.
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A little theatrical magic.
We know how to engage an audience, bring a story to life and balance laughter with those lovely, quieter moments, always making it about you. On request, if you’re a couple who would love a themed ceremony or for us to be in character, we’ll make it happen – tell us your thoughts.
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Every detail has a place.
From a much-loved heirloom to a favourite book, a symbolic ritual to a family tradition, we'll help you bring the elements you love together in a ceremony that feels natural and personal, building it in and never tacking it on.
Lovely Things People Have Said
"You are a natural storyteller, and how you bring the ceremony to life is just superb. You managed the ebbs and flows of the ceremony with ease, there were moments of fun and laughter right through to the more serious and sensitive parts. The ceremony really felt brilliantly inclusive of all from start to finish."
"David, you smashed your live wedding ceremony with an upbeat, exciting, theatrical and interactive ceremony and so much more. You have a confident but gentle authoritative voice, which guests will love to listen to and hear more. Your engagement with your audience invited them in, and guests responded with laughter and applause throughout, helping them to feel involved and encouraging them to participate."
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Devon
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Cornwall
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Somerset
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Dorset
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Bristol
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Wiltshire
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Gloucestershire
Celebrants for the South West and Beyond
Based in Exeter, we travel throughout the South West, including Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
If your plans take you further afield in the UK or overseas, we'd love to hear about them. We're always happy to travel for a good love story!
Melissa grew up overseas, so if you're a Third Culture Kid or have a multicultural background, there's a little common ground already. We also have family connections in Cork, Dublin, Derbyshire and Yorkshire, so if your ceremony is in those areas and we seem like your cup of tea, do get in touch (and of course we always have a soft spot for Stratford-upon-Avon!).
Whether it’s coastal ceremonies, countryside settings, elegant manor houses, beautiful gardens, rustic barns, boho marquees, charming hotels or historic buildings, we love discovering the places that make your celebration feel personal. We're equally drawn to the character of more unconventional spaces, whether that's a theatre, cinema, museum, library, train station or a village hall you've filled with your own unique touches.
For us, it's not about being indoors or outdoors, or choosing a traditional venue over something a little different. It's about finding the setting that feels right for you and creating a ceremony that brings your story to life.
Come and Tell Us About Your Day
Our first conversation is free, with no strings attached. It's simply a chance to meet, have a cuppa and chat about your big day – in person, over video call or on the phone. We’ll be led by you.
Tell us how you met, what you're imagining for your ceremony, the little details that matter to you, and anything you're excited or secretly nervous about. You don't need to have it all figured out. We'll listen, get to know you both and start exploring how we could bring your story to life in a ceremony that feels true to you. We look forward to chatting!