Products and Services
I’m Jess Masterton-Smith, an award-winning Humanist Wedding Celebrant dedicated to creating wedding ceremonies that feel alive with meaning, joy, and genuine emotion. If you’re dreaming of a ceremony that feels completely personal, not generic, not scripted, and certainly not forgettable, then you’re in the right place.
From my base on the Hampshire–Sussex border, I design and deliver bespoke ceremonies across the UK and beyond. Whether you’re planning a countryside celebration, a city gathering, or a destination wedding filled with adventure, I’m here to help you bring your vision to life.
💍 Ceremonies That Actually Feel Like You
No two couples are the same, and your ceremony shouldn’t be either. I take the time to get to know your story - the quirks, the humour, the heartfelt moments, and craft a ceremony that reflects your relationship with warmth and personality. Every word is written from scratch, shaped around your values and the atmosphere you want to create.
🌿 Your Ceremony, Your Way
I embrace all styles of celebration, including:
- Intimate elopements and relaxed micro-weddings
- Modern, stylish ceremonies with a contemporary feel
- Fun, vibrant celebrations packed with character
- Creative, symbolic ceremonies (handfasting, candle lighting, ring warming and more)
You can include readings, music, pets, children, rituals, surprises, or keep it beautifully simple. There are no rules and no limitations. Indoors, outdoors, licensed or unlicensed venues… if you can imagine it, we can make it happen.
😊 A Supportive, Enjoyable Process
My aim is to make your ceremony planning feel effortless and enjoyable. From our first conversation to the big moment itself, I’m here to guide you, advise you, and make sure you feel confident, relaxed, and excited. On the day, your ceremony will set the tone - heartfelt, engaging, joy-filled, and authentically yours. The kind that guests talk about long after the last dance.
✈️ UK & Destination Weddings
While most of my couples are based in Hampshire, Sussex, and the surrounding counties, I am happy to travel nationwide.
☕ Let’s Get Started
Ready to begin? I’d love to hear about your wedding plans and chat through all the possibilities. Get in touch and let’s start creating a ceremony that tells your story in the most unforgettable way.
Experience
What does it cost?
My current pricing is £790. This includes all the planning, writing, and redrafting of your bespoke wedding ceremony, a wedding rehearsal, as well as of course a fabulous ceremony delivered on the day.
Do you charge expenses?
I charge travel expenses at 0.50p per mile but do not charge for the first 20 miles of each journey. I also charge accommodation if your ceremony is beyond a certain distance, meaning I’d need an overnight stay. This is all made clear before you book – there are no surprise costs!
Are celebrant-led ceremonies legally binding?
Unfortunately, humanist weddings are still not legal in England and Wales. Humanists UK is campaigning hard to change that but, at the moment, you would need to have a separate civil service, in addition to your humanist ceremony. You can get married at your local register office for as little as £48 if you go for the very basic service. Often couples will have their civil ceremony a week or so before the big day to deal with the paperwork. They usually save all the ‘fun stuff’ (the dressing up, the vow exchange, the rings) for their humanist ceremony….their real ceremony.
How did you become accredited?
I trained with Humanists UK, who regularly observe their celebrants to keep standards and quality at the highest possible. As a Humanists UK accredited wedding celebrant, I come with full public liability and professional indemnity insurance.
Why should I choose a celebrant led ceremony instead of a traditional one?
The brilliant thing about a Humanist wedding ceremony is that you can have full control and create something that is entirely unique and bespoke to you. All of the words, readings and any other elements are chosen by you to make it really special. Other kinds of ceremonies have lots of rules about what you can and can’t say, do and even play at your wedding. They also have to take place at licensed and religious venues, whereas with a Humanist ceremony, you can get married wherever and however you like!
What’s included in a humanist wedding ceremony?
There are many common elements in Humanist ceremonies, but they also offer a lot of freedom too.
Popular content includes...
- What love and marriage mean to you.
- Music and readings.
- Your story — perhaps how you met, your shared values and interests, your dynamic.
- Secrets — words from your partner, that you won’t hear until the day.
- Vows reinvented — personal vows, promises or aspirations.
- Symbolic acts — such as ring/gift exchanges, handfasting, ring warming, sand-blending, lighting a unity candle, or anything else you can think of.
- The participation of friends and family.
How long is a Humanist wedding ceremony?
Typically around 30-45 minutes, but it’s really down to you
Can you help us with our vows?
It would be a pleasure! I encourage couples to write their own vows as this is the most personal and some would say a significant part of your ceremony. I am happy to walk you through the process, keeping your vows secret from each other for maximum impact on the day.