Sam White Celebrant

What do you offer?

I'm Sam, a celebrant who creates personality-filled ceremonies for non-traditionalist couples and families. Vibrant, fun, story-led, joyful weddings and much more!

Why do you want to work with the LGBTQ+ community?

Everyone deserves a full of love and beautiful words delivered with sincerity, humour and an undeniable sense of affirmation. As an LGBTQIA+ ally and advocate, you can feel reassured that you will be given a safe space in which you can plan and experience your ceremony. My delivery is warm and down-to-earth. You are in a safe pair of hands. I always go the extra mile to ensure that the ceremonial space is accessible to all.

Every part of you will feel celebrated - your identity, values, your heritage and your spirituality. Together, we’ll create a ceremony bursting with heartfelt words and love which will have your guests laughing, crying happy tears, applauding and cheering you on. Gone are the days waiting for the formalities to be over before the fun begins. Your wedding ceremony should be all about you! Your story, your personality and your humour are woven through the script and it will be one of a kind.

Allyship

Allyship and active inclusivity are core to my everyday work as a celebrant across weddings and funerals. I'm not one of those suppliers who rushes to put out the rainbow flags in June - my inclusive practices are present all year round. Inclusive language in my copy, social media, ceremonies and forms, agreements and paperwork. Gender affirmation ceremonies form part of my celebrant offer as well as inclusive funerals. I read, listen and follow many LGBTQ+ activists and voices; remaining up-to-date is really important to me and following news, politics and organisations helps me do this.

Having led on diversity, equity and inclusion in a large Bristol secondary school as an Assistant Headteacher, I created and implemented policy which made the learning environment more inclusive, empowered students of all identities and backgrounds, and ensured that staff were equipped with knowledge, language and tools to challenge discrimination. We didn't just sanction, we educated with conversation. We actively worked to create an environment where everyone felt as though they belonged.

I've volunteered at Pride and this year advocated for trans women against the supreme court ruling on the definition of a woman. My local Women's Institute group (where I am on the committee) has voted to suspend it membership in light of the organisation excluding trans women. As a committee, we agreed that this is at odds with our core values.

I train celebrants and throughout the residential week, we use a range of gender terminology with the aim of teaching everyone to use a range of pronouns and wedding-related terminology. I share book, podcast and campaign recommendations as well as people to follow on socials so that new celebrants can set off in an inclusive fashion knowing that they have to continue to advocate, affirm and represnt a range of identities.

I am alsocampaigning for full marriage equality - one where non-binary identities are recognised in the legal marriage process. When I met with the Ministry of Justice to discuss wedding law reform, I advocated for the recognition of non-binary identities in the marriage law reforms stating that if we are going witness such historic reform, shouldn't we ensure that all to-be-weds feel that they belong in the institution of marriage. We need to campaign for the government to introduce non-binary legal recognition prior to this and I will certainly be supporting and campaigning to help this happen along with the wedding reform.