Richard Ford - About Me

I believe that life’s milestone moments deserve to be celebrated in ways that feel true to who you are — reflecting your individuality, your values, and the way you see the world. When I conduct a ceremony, I feel like I’m coming home; that this is what I came here to do.

I love working collaboratively with my clients, co-creating unique ceremonies which truly reflect and honour their wishes and aspirations. Ceremonies are momentous occasions- stepping from one phase of your life to the next – consciously, lovingly, joyfully. I know that together, we will make a wonderful, beautiful and powerful celebration of your special moment.

For me, celebrancy is about bringing people together in meaningful, heartfelt moments. It’s about creating a space where your story, your values, and your aspirations can be expressed fully — with

warmth, joy, and reverence.

I love helping people design ceremonies that are unique, reflective, and unforgettable. Whether your celebration is traditional, spiritual, symbolic, or completely original, my goal is to ensure your

ceremony feels entirely yours — a reflection of your vision, your journey, and the love and connection you share with those around you.

I believe that ceremony, done with awareness and clear intent, can be life-changing; that the symbolic actions woven into a living ritual create a rite of passage which can truly carry you from one chapter of your life to the next. Crossing that threshold, consciously and willingly, integrating and embodying the changes you are choosing to make, is transformative and empowering. It enables you to celebrate stepping into the next phase of your life journey even more richly, beautifully and in away that you will never forget.

I welcome people of all faiths, spiritual paths, and non-religious perspectives. Every ceremony is designed to reflect your individuality, your beliefs, and your story, and to honour the connections that matter most to you.

I am equally at ease creating ceremonies outdoors in nature, in gardens, or in any indoor venue, tailoring each celebration to the energy and character of the space. The setting itself becomes part of the ceremony, woven into your story and the memories of your day.

• I hold the NOCN Level 3 Diploma in Celebrancy: Naming and Couples, the highest celebrancy qualification available in the UK. I trained with Civil Ceremonies Ltd. A highly respected professional training body, recognised by the QCA. I have also completed further training in Handfasting and Spiritual Elements for Ceremonies, with Dawn Kinsella, Priestess of Avalon from the Glastonbury Goddess Temple and founder of the Sacred Celebrants Academy. This has enabled me to incorporate symbolic, spiritual, or ritual elements with sensitivity and respect.

Alongside formal training, my life has been a journey of exploration into diverse philosophies, spiritual traditions, and practices that inform the ceremonies I create:

• Over 20 years teaching Tai Chi Qigong, grounded in Daoist philosophy, cultivating balance, mindfulness, and a deep awareness of the natural world.
• Training in spiritual healing, meditation, and yoga, helping bring calm, presence, and focus to every ceremony.
• Study to Master Practitioner level in NLP, supporting clear communication, connection, and presence.
• More than 30 years’ experience with pagan ceremony and ritual, combined with study of First Nation/Native American, Celtic, and Buddhist teachings, enriching the ways I can incorporate meaningful symbolism into celebrations.
• 35 years working in education, from Early Years Teacher to Lecturer and Consultant, addressing a wide variety of audiences, enabling me to deliver presentations with clarity and confidence. I hold two Post-Graduate Certificates in Education, one in multi-agency working.
• BA Honours Degree in Drama, with extensive experience of devising and performing theatre in a range of settings from busy streets, pubs and theatres, to barns, stately homes and Glastonbury Festival. This gives me the ability to adapt to and optimise the potential of diverse venues.

This breadth of experience allows me to craft ceremonies that are not only professional and polished, but also authentic, resonant, and spiritually attuned — wherever and however you choose to celebrate.