“This was a wonderful experience for us. Thank you Tamiko. We feel so lucky to have had you as our celebrant and would wholeheartedly recommend you to anyone..  We also had so much positive feedback from guests. ‘Where did you find your celebrant? She was perfect.” I have run out of superlatives – it was utterly flawless!” G.S

Hello, I’m Tamiko O’Brien, an accredited Humanist UK celebrant, and I lead ceremonies for weddings, civil partnerships, funerals, and memorials throughout London and the surrounding area.

Each life is unique and complex, defined by its particular blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary, with its luminous moments as well as its darker ones.

Our relationships may be woven from similar threads — love, passion, hilarity, exasperation, and quiet contentment — yet each is entirely distinctive.

Supporting couples and families to create ceremonies that capture what is meaningful, personal, and true to them is one of the greatest privileges of my work. Weddings, funerals, and memorials mark some of the most significant moments in our lives. They deserve to be crafted with care, compassion, and sincerity: rich in reminiscence, inclusive in spirit, and authentic in tone. This is what I strive to achieve.

The role of celebrant draws upon a wide range of skills and insights, and my thirty years working in higher education and the arts have provided a strong foundation. During that time, I organised numerous events and wrote and delivered many talks and speeches. However, the quality I value most highly in my work as a celebrant is the ability to listen deeply and attentively — creating the space for people to share their stories, memories, and hopes.

“We have had so many appreciative comments about the funeral. Thank you so much for writing such a lovely tribute for P, pulling it all together, and ensuring all went so smoothly.” R.I

“You listened and interpreted so well achieving a balanced and accurate picture of O’s life.  The script reflected the atmosphere we were after – genuine, warm, with thoughtful reflection as well as some humour and lightness. Your presentation on the day was just what we hoped for and we had so many positive responses…” O.L

“we wanted to say how much we appreciated your organisation and sensitive delivery of T’s memorial… I think everyone present felt the warmth and sense of community that you managed to convey as well as the admirable summary of T’s life and work.” MB and MTB

“You have been so good throughout this whole experience – sensitive and seeming to sense what I wanted when I was feeling numbed and incoherent. When I look back on T’s burial and the celebration of life event  – I am very happy with how they both went and wouldn’t have changed a thing. This is in a large part due to your work, your guidance and understanding every step of the way.” VJB

 

More information about my approach to weddings is available here. For funerals and memorials, there is a dropdown menu here. Please feel free to contact me with any questions using the details in the column on the right.