Just a quick read today!
So we’re coming up on the end of the year and I’m sat in my little office with a steaming cup of tea in my Star Trek mug, and I'm feeling all cosy and nostalgic looking back at the people I have met this year, and feeling very lucky to do what I do.
I know, #Greatful... #Blessed... #GetOnWithIt!
But I thought I’d tell you really quickly about why it is I do it, and what lead me to setting up this (and this is a real quote from my wife), "really weird, happy little job." Simply put, I have always believed one thing:
Stories deserve to be celebrated.
Hot take, I know. But it doesn't make it any less true!
Stories can do anything, and be anything, and we all have stories in us! But I went though a few twists and turns before I figured out the best way to explore that idea…
Board treading and script writing
Like many creatives, I started with a single, clear passion. For years, I trained as an actor, honing my craft, auditioning, and throwing myself into the world of theatre, film, and television. Acting was all I wanted to do. I studied it at university, trained endlessly, and worked hard to make it in an industry that demands persistence, creativity, and resilience. Honestly, I must have been insufferable.
The challenges of acting taught me many things—most importantly, that the industry isn’t always a smooth path. There are knockbacks, uncertainty, and long stretches of ups and downs.
Notably, there was a moment where someone pointed at me and said, “what, that one with the beard? Yeah, no, I agree,” scrunching up his face and waving me away like a mangey stray cat…
But I’m over that now, as you can tell…
While I loved the creative energy of the performance world, I found that the unpredictability of acting industry didn’t offer the stability or purpose I was ultimately looking for.
That and sometimes people are mean. But I’m over that… honest.
But here’s the thing: even though my focus shifted, my love for storytelling and creativity remained. It’s what I had devoted so much time to.
So I retrained with a master’s degree in screenwriting through Falmouth University, and from there, I began working on my own projects, founding my own creative company—Studio Armstrong. I offer screenwriting consultations, craft original screenplays, and have been involved in mentoring new writers through organizations like The Script Department and audio drama ventures such as Outwrd.
I even went back and currently lecture at Falmouth University, and spent years teaching drama, screenwriting, and storytelling to students at schools and Universities, with ages ranging from 11 to 80!
But here’s the thing, screenwriting (like acting) isn’t the most reliable thing in the world, and I found that I was looking to move away from secondary education – so I needed a new day to day job.
What the hell’s a wedding celebrant?
And then, totally by chance, I came across a girlfriend of a friend of a friend (deep breath) who was a wedding celebrant.
“What the hell’s a wedding celebrant?” Was my first question – see my earlier blog with a less flippant title for more info there; but she was kind enough to explain.
And as she did, something clicked into place. It was one of those moments when you just know—when all those years of training, experience, creativity, and passion align in a way that makes perfect sense. Except we were about 6 pints down in a dingey pub, but that somewhat takes the shine off the lightbulb moment…
So the next day (after some paracetamol) I started looking into it properly. And man, I really liked what I found…
Being a wedding celebrant isn’t just about leading a ceremony; it’s about storytelling, connection, and joy. It’s about working with couples to craft ceremonies that are theirs—unique, personal, emotional, and memorable. And that’s the part that excites me the most: using my experience in storytelling and performance to bring your story to life.
Basically, it’s all about choice!
As a celebrant, I can use my acting training to deliver ceremonies with warmth, confidence, and connection. I can draw on my screenwriting background to craft beautifully personal ceremonies that reflect your journey together, knowing just where to merge these lovely moments with humour, tasteful micky taking and laughter.
What drew me to celebrancy is the opportunity to take all these years of passion and creativity and turn them into something that matters—to create ceremonies that people will remember forever, full of laughter, emotion, and the unique personality of the couple at the heart of the day.
One of the most exciting things about becoming a celebrant is how this path brings together creativity, storytelling, and connection. Weddings are, at their core, personal stories—two individuals joining their lives together through joy, love, promise, and shared history. My job as a celebrant is to listen to those stories, help craft them into meaningful ceremonies, and deliver them in a way that feels intimate, authentic, and truly special.
And I get to meet the most wonderful people! Couples and guests from all corners of the world gather together to celebrate all the wonderful stuff about love, but also to celebrate and have a good time! Getting to meet people in this moment and mood, is the greatest privilege – because I get to see people at their absolute best; even through their slurring words!
So I get to meet awesome people, write beautiful original ceremonies, and then deliver them to more awesome people. I mean, why would anyone not want to do this job!?
I could be your celebrant? Go on…
Becoming a celebrant was the most amazing choice for me in my career, and like I said above, the thing I love most is meeting you lot! And that's the thing I'm thinking about on this cosy, windy, cold day in December in my office with my now-empty Star Trek mug.
People contain the best stories, and it is my great privilege to be trusted to bring them out and tell them!
So go on, if you’re beginning your wedding journey or simply curious about the role of a celebrant-led ceremony, I’d love to chat. Let’s craft your story, your way.
Because your story deserves to be celebrated.
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