Graham Downes
Humanist Celebrant
I conduct ceremonies mostly in North, Central, and East London, as well as in Essex and beyond. I have taken ceremonies in Scotland, the USA, and Palermo in Sicily.
By working together, we can create the ceremony that you want. I will ensure that everyone present feels equally involved, whatever their personal beliefs.
Fees will vary depending on the type of ceremony, combined with where you live and where it is intended to take place.
I live in Forest Gate, East London.
We want to say a huge thank you to you for being the most amazing celebrant. We received so many positive comments about the ceremony, it was simply wonderful and we loved every minute. You put so much heart and thought into our special day. Everyone asked how long you'd known us and couldn't believe it was only a few months! Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts, it was indeed truly magical.
Thank you again
Anna and Matt
Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding. Let’s meet and you can tell me the sort of ceremony you have in mind. In return, I can offer you my experience and lots of ideas you may like to include. Together we can build a really lovely ceremony that is unique to you. A ceremony you will treasure forever.
The humanist wedding ceremony takes at its heart the tribute, which addresses the story of the couple’s relationship, how they met, how they discovered they had feelings for one another, and when they realised they were in love and wanted to move to the next step in their relationship. It is the public declaration of their private commitment.
The wedding is a joyous celebration; frothy and fun, romantic and serious in all the right parts.
Weddings
For more information about weddings, please visit the Reading Room.
graham.downes.celebrant@gmail.com
tel: 07941 234052
Funerals
Thank you for all you did to make today’s ceremony the best it could be. Everyone I spoke to found it very moving. You went well beyond what we could have hoped for from a celebrant.
With best wishes and much appreciation.
Pat Cochrane
Why choose a humanist funeral? Making this choice means that you can have the funeral you want. The ceremony will be unique and tailor made with you in control. It is a non-religious ceremony that can contain anything that is meaningful to you or the deceased.
I can help when you are at your most vulnerable and can’t think straight, to decide how the ceremony is to be organised and delivered from the arrival of the hearse outside, to the closing music. We will go over every aspect.
Whether for cremation or burial we bring the deceased centre stage for one last time. Put a photograph, a meaningful item, that precious thing that says so much, on the coffin during the ceremony. We will retrieve it before the curtains are drawn.
Your specific choice of music, as we gather, at a point at the heart of the ceremony and as we leave, can say so much about the deceased and make the occasion memorable.
If someone close to you has just died, please visit the Reading Room.
graham.downes.celebrant@gmail.com
tel: 07941 234052
Namings
We found Graham after we decided that we wanted a non religious ceremony for our first child 5yrs ago. Graham gave us all his attention and took us through what is involved in a humanist naming day. The day was a success and everyone said what a lovely ceremony it was. Many hadn’t attended a humanist ceremony before.
After we had a second child we straight away thought of Graham. Luckily he was available. Again he came to visit and took loads of information regarding our new baby. The naming day again went as planned and it was a lovely day.
Graham is always professional and full of advice and ideas.
Sinead and Craig
The naming ceremony gives the opportunity to acknowledge the joy, wonder and responsibility of bringing a child into the world. No matter how old the child is, they are the reason to have a lovely celebration!
Please take a look at Namings in the Reading Room
Get in Contact
If you're considering a humanist ceremony and want to find out more, please do get in touch. I offer a free consultation session, either in person or online, to chat and see if we're a good ‘fit.’
This is a chance for us to get to know each other and see if we can create something truly special together.
graham.downes.celebrant@gmail.com
tel: 07941 234052