About Us
Meet Your Independent Celebrant in Essex & Suffolk
At Civil Weddings, we believe every ceremony should be as unique as the people at its heart. Founded by Chris Champion, an independent celebrant and former local authority registrar with over a decade of experience, Civil Weddings offers personally designed, celebrant-led ceremonies across Essex and Suffolk — a personal, flexible, and heartfelt alternative to traditional ceremonies.
Why Choose Civil Weddings?
Based near Maldon, Essex, Civil Weddings specialises in celebrant-led ceremonies that reflect your values, your story, and your style.that reflect your values, your story, and your style. Whether you’re planning a wedding or civil partnership celebration, commitment ceremony, naming ceremony, or renewal of vows, Civil Weddings will work with you to craft a meaningful and memorable experience across Essex and Suffolk.
From Registrar to Independent Celebrant
After 11 years as a registrar, Chris founded Civil Weddings to offer couples something more personal. As an independent celebrant, he’s free to collaborate closely with you, blending formal traditions with heartfelt personal touches — something that wasn’t possible within the constraints of his former role.
What to Expect
Chris offers a free, no-obligation Zoom consultation, giving you the chance to connect and decide if he’s the right fit for your ceremony. His approach is warm, relaxed, and respectful, always aiming to strike the perfect balance between dignity and joy.
Locations & Availability
Chris officiates ceremonies across Essex and Suffolk, year-round, at the time and location of your choosing. Planning a wedding abroad? He can help you celebrate with friends and family once you return. He’s also happy to include religious or symbolic elements that hold personal meaning for you—such as faith-based readings, blessings, or cultural rituals. You’ll find a brief overview that touches on this in the next section.
Religious and Symbolic Elements
While Chris is not a religious officiant, he’s always happy to include meaningful elements from your faith tradition—such as readings, hymns, prayers, or specific rituals like the Thai White Thread and Water Blessing. He welcomes traditions from mixed-faith backgrounds and can weave them into your ceremony with sensitivity and respect.
These elements often sit beautifully alongside the symbolic rituals Chris offers—such as handfasting, ring warming, or candle lighting. You can explore some of these options on the Symbolic Rituals page.
Ready to Plan Your Perfect Ceremony?
Book your free Zoom consultation and let’s start creating something unforgettable.
