Nicky Swan Celebrant

What do you offer?

I craft heartfelt, bespoke ceremonies for weddings, funerals, and life’s big moments with creativity, warmth and genuine connection at their heart. And as a sweet bonus, I can bake celebration cakes, too!

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

Because I believe that everyone deserves to feel completely seen and celebrated. My work as a celebrant is all about creating ceremonies that honour people exactly as they are - their love, their story, and their truth. As the proud mum of a lesbian daughter who’s married to a wonderful woman, I’ve seen firsthand the joy and the importance of being surrounded by genuine acceptance. It's been a massive part of my life seeing my daughter come into herself when she shared her truth with me in her mid-twenties, and I just wanted her to be happy and fully herself. I'd love to help other LGBTQ+ folk feel the same, and it matters to me that every couple feels safe, respected and celebrated.

Allyship

Inclusivity is at the core of both my work and my personal life. I use gender-neutral and affirming language across all my ceremonies, forms, and marketing. I make a point of asking for and using people’s pronouns, and I ensure all couples are represented in my promotional materials and social media.

Beyond my work, my daughter initially helped me to stay engaged with LGBTQ+ events, and I started going to these with her, such as literary festivals like The Coast is Queer in Brighton. I also make an effort to support queer-owned businesses when I shop and have donated to charities such as Stonewall and MindOut LGBTQ+ Mental Health. I am continuously learning and, in particular, am currently educating myself more on the huge challenges the trans and non-binary communities are facing here in the UK.

My aim is to create spaces, both professionally and personally, where everyone feels safe, seen, and celebrated.

As a new celebrant, I'm building my business, so I don't yet have lots of couples under my belt, but representation and inclusion are ongoing commitments for me, not just a box to tick. While my celebrant business is still new, I’ve made it a priority to ensure that LGBTQ+ people feel fully seen and safe in every interaction - from the language on my website (sharing my own pronouns and asking for pronouns in the forms) and the images and stories I share online. I’m gradually building a portfolio that reflects the diversity of the couples and families I serve. In the meantime, I am keen to collaborate with queer creatives and venues who share my values.