Photo: Aga Hoskins

Hello there – my name is Leilia. I’m a Humanist wedding celebrant based in Bristol, working across the Southwest (where I grew up) and sometimes further afield, too. I create ceremonies for weddings, elopements, commitment ceremonies, vow renewals and more.

If you want your wedding ceremony to be the most joyful, meaningful and connected part of your day, you are in the right place.

Bringing people together is my thing. I create unique moments of celebration for the milestones that mean the most to you.

I’m so glad to have you here!

Everyone should have access to the joy of a personalised wedding ceremony – whoever you love, whatever you believe, and whatever marriage or partnership means to you.

I firmly believe that people need opportunities to come together to create shared meaning and to mark the big transitions in life. Humans have been doing this for thousands of years. Two people committing to loving each other and sharing a life is a beautiful opportunity for communities (tiny or huge) to come together in celebration!

I love working with couples like you to enable you to bring your whole selves to your wedding ceremony, whatever that looks like. My goal is to create a safe, caring and fun space for you so that your ceremony feels like home – from the moment we start working together until the last piece of confetti has fallen (and let’s be honest – long after that).

Photo: Sophia Kahlenberg

Whatever you want your ceremony to say, and however you want to say it – I will help you find beautiful words and meaningful symbolic acts to do so in a way that perfectly reflects who you are. Having lived and worked in many countries around the world (including Rwanda, Kenya, Switzerland and Lao People’s Democratic Republic), I love to incorporate the different traditions that matter to you – and to create new ones that represent you.

My passion for ceremonies has brought me to work with Humanists UK to manage their network of wedding, funeral and naming ceremony celebrants to bring non-religious opportunities for meaning and connection to more people across the UK. I spent the last decade working for the World Health Organization and UNICEF on public health emergencies like COVID-19, mpox, polio and cholera, empowering people to change their behaviours to protect themselves and others and to lead long and healthy lives. Outside of work, I travel, sing in a Georgian folk music choir, write, and go cold water swimming at every opportunity (you can see my adventures on Instagram at @swimmingthroughtheseasons).

Want to work together? Get in touch and let’s talk about how to create your perfect ceremony. I can’t wait to hear your story!