Joe - All the Best Celebrant

24/09/2025

The quaich remains a meaningful, beautiful part of Scottish tradition for weddings and celebrations, representing unity and hospitality. And I have been asked to perform one at a wedding next year. The groom is Scottish and his family are fond of the tradition and would like it incorporated into the ceremony. The only problem is… the bride doesn’t like whisky!
Of course, there are plenty of other drinks the couple could share whilst lovingly gazing into each other’s eyes but whisky is traditional and it seems such a shame not to include it. There must be an alternative solution.
I did a bit of research, looking for a vessel can could act as a a quaich but that could hold two different liquids. On Etsy, I discovered such a thing. It isn’t one vessel with two handles, but two vessels joined together.
Made by GonePotty32 I thought this would be the perfect answer. The groom could have the traditional whisky in one cup and the bride could have Champagne or whatever else she’d like in the other. Then, standing cheek to cheek, they could raise the cups to both their lips at the same time. I’m sure that with a bit of practice they could master it in no time.
A Quaich is a traditional two-handled drinking cup symbolizing friendship, trust and hospitality and used in ceremonies, including weddings, in Scotland and Ireland. The word comes from the Gaelic ‘cuach’, meaning cup.
Originally carved from wood and later crafted in metals, a quaich was used to offer guests a welcoming dram of whisky and, because of their two handles, made sharing with another person easy and allowed both parties to demonstrate trust—no hands free to hold a weapon.
In Scottish weddings, the quaich traditionally featured as a ‘cup of friendship’ or a ‘loving cup’. The tradition involved the bride and groom each taking a sip—usually whisky. The quaich ceremony represented the joining of two families and the start of a shared future. It was also passed around for guests to drink, emphasizing communal joy and trust as well as a relaxed attitude to sharing germs and possibly catching something nasty!

11/09/2025

Recently, I led the service for the funeral of a boating enthusiast. He had had a wonderful working life that had taken him all over the world but especially Bahrain, Qatar and Dubai. Once retired and back in the UK, he decided he’d accrued enough money to treat his wife and himself to a new boat so they had one built. Their retirement saw them sailing from Chichester to Brittany, down the French coast and across the Bay of Biscay to A Coruña in Spain. Then down the coast of Portugal to Gibraltar, through the Mediterranean to Ibiza and Minorca before finally berthing in Palma in Mallorca. They stayed there for three years, living the highlife on the high seas. Wonderful!
So, when it came to celebrating his life … what poetry or prose to recommend? I remembered a poem my Dad used to recite by heart when I was a little boy which I really liked. It was called ‘Sea-Fever’ by John Masefield. We used it and it worked really well but I wanted to end the service with something which combined this man’s love of the sea with a message of hope and comfort for the family that also avoided obvious religious language. I found it! A piece of prose called ‘What is Dying?’ by Rev. Luther F. Beecher. The analogy of a boat leaving harbour and going on a voyage to somewhere unseen and far away, being welcomed on the other side and celebrated is lovely I think. Do look it up.

11/07/2025

I only recently discovered this wonderful artist. I love to hear about people who are not only happy how they identify now but can warmly acknowledge their old lives too. Dylan Holloway says “It’s ok to embrace who you’ve been. That person brought you here today and every version of you matters. Don’t leave your past behind. Carry it forward. That’s freedom.” I understand that not all trans people are able to feel this way but I think it’s a very healthy attitude and also (and here’s the nub of it I suppose speaking personally) must give great comfort to their family and old friends who have always loved them.

https://share.google/g0rceAotQ1ENA67hX

30/06/2025

Sitting at home and wishing so much I was with my daughter at the festival, I tuned into this year’s Glastonbury eagerly. I watched everything pretty much and enjoyed a huge amount of it. My favourite moment though, and the thing I take away with me that is most joyous, was the presence of Kae Tempest. I’ve always liked their work, their written poetry, performance poetry and rap. What impressed me most about this particular performance was their presence, their whole demeanour. They just seemed so damned happy and confident which is so wonderful to see. I know they’ve struggled. I’ve read a lot of articles about their life. In August 2020, in an Instagram post, Tempest came out as non-binary. They announced their name is now Kae (rather than Kate and pronounced like the letter K), and explained that, going forward, they would be using they/them pronouns. “I have tried,” they wrote at the time, “to be what I thought others wanted me to be so as not to risk rejection. This hiding from myself has led to all kinds of difficulties in my life. And this is a first step towards knowing and respecting myself better.” Personally, I can’t really begin to imagine what it must have been like for them growing up in the wrong body. I’m not from the trans community although I know people in it. None of it is really my business only that when I see people, whoever they are, being happy being who they want to be it makes me feel happy. Good luck to them. I thought their set at Glastonbury was wonderful. 🌈 🏳️‍🌈

17/06/2025

Here’s an interview that my wonderful celebrant trainer, did with me. I’m very grateful to her. https://www.celebranttrainer.com/2025/06/15/joe-mace-celebrant/?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwK-kz5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp-2Z6hLH7QSp4MjPxSbu-D2-ceebkB-QzjB5utAxtSSJtb0BilFAfFtlrToN_aem_bz2IQPd0FZraeDMJFoRc3w

01/06/2025

A wedding and funeral celebrant is a professional who creates and leads personalised ceremonies for significant life events, such as weddings, funerals, and other milestones. Unlike traditional religious leaders or registrars, celebrants are not bound by specific religious or legal scripts. Instead, they focus on making each ceremony unique and meaningful to the individuals involved.

What Does a Wedding Celebrant Do?
Works closely with couples to understand their story, values, and wishes for the ceremony.
Designs a bespoke ceremony script that reflects the couple’s personalities, relationship, and preferences. This can include custom vows, readings, and symbolic rituals.
Offers guidance and practical advice on ceremony structure, music, and locations—ceremonies can be held anywhere, from traditional venues to beaches or gardens.
Leads the ceremony on the day, ensuring it flows smoothly and creates a memorable, heartfelt experience for everyone present.
Provides support and reassurance to the couple, helping them feel confident and relaxed.

What Does a Funeral Celebrant Do?
Meets with the family or loved ones of the deceased to learn about the person’s life, values, and wishes.
Crafts a personalised funeral or memorial service that honours the individual’s life and legacy, often including tributes, readings, and music chosen by the family.
Offers emotional support and practical advice during a difficult time.
Leads the ceremony, ensuring it is respectful, meaningful, and tailored to the wishes of the family and the memory of the deceased.

Key Features of a Celebrant
Personalisation: Every ceremony is tailored to the people involved, with no set templates or restrictions.
Flexibility: Ceremonies can be held anywhere and include any elements the participants wish.
Focus on Storytelling: Celebrants are skilled in capturing and sharing the stories and personalities of those involved, making each event truly special.
Emotional Support: Celebrants are sensitive to the emotions of the occasion and provide guidance and comfort throughout the process.

28/05/2025

If you care about the Trans community as much as I do, please consider signing this petition. Thank you.

Not in our name: Women in support of the trans+ community

25/05/2025

I always thought he was a lovely man. Now I know he had the love and support of another lovely man. How wonderful. It’s all any of us can hope for in life; to spend it with a soulmate.

🎬🎬Did you know?
Dirk Bogarde, the sophisticated British actor known for The Servant, The Night Porter, and Death in Venice, led one of the most private and emotionally complex personal lives in classic cinema.

Although he never married or had children, Bogarde shared his life with his long-time partner Anthony Forwood, a fellow actor and later his manager. Their relationship, though never publicly labeled due to the era’s stigma around homosexuality, lasted for over 40 years. They lived together in England and then in the south of France, quietly building a world of literature, art, and deep companionship.

Despite his fame, Bogarde rejected the spotlight in favor of a quiet, deeply intellectual life, often writing novels and autobiographies that subtly hinted at the depth of his personal experiences.

He once wrote in his memoir:
“The truest love stories are not always the ones that seek applause, but the ones that quietly endure.”

Dirk Bogarde’s “family” may not have been traditional, but it was built on devotion, integrity, and an unwavering bond that outlasted many Hollywood romances.

24/05/2025

When we got married waaaayyy back in 1990, our wedding cake was made by a cousin of Sally’s (also called Jo) and it was decorated with holly and ivy to represent ‘man’ and ‘woman’ in the old pre-Christian folk tradition. It was perfect and we loved it. Now, I think I’d rather have oak leaves and ivy because they represent ‘strength’ and ‘support & fidelity’ which could apply to any gender and any combination. I like that.

11/05/2025