John Dawson | Wedding and Funeral Celebrant

Hi, my name is John and I am you Wedding and Funeral Celebrant in North Yorkshire. I live with my wife in the beautiful countryside surrounding York. I have a large garden which I have created from scratch and have, over the years, worked to make it a haven of calm and recreation for any who might visit. We co-exist here with all the wildlife which would love to eat what we plant before it is mature but we get along.

This is an amazing job. I get to know so many people, listen to and share their stories, and celebrate many different moments in their lives both joyous and sad. I have worked all my life as a teacher in a range of state schools and The Open University and so have come to know many, many people both young and old whom, I hope I have helped take the next forward on the path of their lives. I decided to take up celebrancy after I retired as a way of staying in touch with people. I have a large garden which occupies me much of the time and I am an active participant in many village events. But I love writing and creating stories which reflect life and the world we live in.

I am keenly interested in people’s stories and love writing about them and about what has made them what they are today. I like to think of myself as very open minded and I am very flexible and adaptable, so I am very open to ideas about how you want to celebrate your particular day. Our values, views, opinions and choices differ enormously. But we have in common a need to be treated non-judgmentally and without discrimination or prejudice. I proudly embrace diversity.

My aim as a celebrant is to provide you with a truly special ceremony for your family event. Your ceremony should reflect the individuality of your unique situation whether the ceremony is a wedding, naming ceremony, a renewal of vows or a funeral. Being asked to be a part of your special event by leading the ceremony is both an honour and a privilege and it is a responsibility that I undertake sincerely and with love.

If you know exactly what you want, I can make that a reality. If you have no idea where to start, I can guide you through the process of creating a ceremony, and suggest music, poems, readings or prayers that you may wish to include. I am happy to lead funerals from completely humanist celebrations of life through to full on Christian faith-based ceremonies. My first wife died of breast cancer in 2006, so I understand the nature of loss. I have also seen my children married and grandchildren named and I know how joyous these occasions are. Having remarried in 2012, I have found happiness again, but the good memories always remain with you.

So, should you choose to contact me, I can provide you with a bespoke customised service. I promise you, that whether you are experiencing either a sad or happy event, I will help you make it your event. I’ll help you celebrate, have fun, laugh and smile, and I’ll help you remember, cherish and say your goodbyes however hard they may be.

You would have full support from me to plan and create your ceremony with advice and guidance as required. Your first consultation with me makes no commitment - we need to make sure we are the right fit for each other as we will be working very closely together to deliver the ceremony you want.