Photo by Kim Williams
ABOUT GITTE
Hi! I’m Gitte [G-ih-t-ah]
I put joy and meaning into what I do – to give you the most fantastic, feel-good start to your wedding, and making sure your ceremony is just right for you.
Your ceremony will be uniquely crafted from scratch around you and your story – and all the other people and stories that are important to you.
I am an experienced wedding celebrant, mc and mentor for trainee celebrants and based in Brighton & Hove. My training and accreditation by Humanists UK means I am expertly trained and insured, and support equality and inclusion. I work with modern and laid-back couples in the South East of England and beyond (abroad too) to create creative, personalised and inclusive weddings.
“Gitte is an incredible human being and celebrant. She's warm, supportive, has a beautiful energy, an amazing way with words and is a safe pair of hands. We've had lots of comments about how the wedding was very different from what people were used to, more relaxed and personal, and how good Gitte was as our celebrant. It was all pretty perfect.”
Katie and Kevin
This is me.
I wholeheartedly believe that you should be able to get married wherever you want, exactly the way you want and to whomever you love. A wedding is a wonderful and transformative experience and celebration, made even better as a shared experience with everyone you love and that loves you.
A Humanist wedding ceremony is the perfect solution to “having it all” for your wedding, if you don’t do religion or don’t want to follow conventions.
And, that’s why I do this work: to bring the joy of uniquely crafted gatherings that focus on you.
I care deeply about people, animals and the planet. I support animal welfare and rights and I follow a vegan diet.
I am wild about diversity, our natural world and it’s protection* and making meaning in our lives, especially helping to mark those special moments with meaning.
Outdoor weddings is my jam, but I’d be honoured to deliver your ceremony wherever you wish. I will happily stand in the sea, put on my wellies or even heels - whatever you need to have your perfect ceremony.
When I am not doing celebrant work, I am probably either writing, reading, swing dancing or swimming in the sea. I also teach English to teenagers and young refugees part-time.
Moving from Denmark to England, travelling, marriage, parenting, teaching, writing, being a circus ringmaster, volunteering with The Hummingbird Refugee Project, swing dancing and more has made me ‘me’.
All this life experience helps me connect with wonderful people and create meaningful and personal ceremonies.
I also create creative, inclusive and meaningful humanist funerals.
Queer affirming
I am working to be as ‘queer affirming’ as possible and want to make sure that anyone that is thinking about working with me knows what that means to me.
I chose to use the word ‘affirming’ as it feels like going further than sharing words online or just being willing to make a little space in my ceremonies who aren’t straight.
I think that to affirm someone’s identity, I have to be aware of what it is, accept and understand what it means to them, and believe their experiences.
I wanted to set some standards for myself so his is what you can expect from me, at work and as a person:
I will be open-minded and accepting.
I won’t assume your sexuality, identity or gender.
When I’m not working, I use some of my time to educate myself about different identities, orientations, and lifestyles that fall under the queer umbrella (including ones that don’t apply to myself personally).
I will respect your confidentiality, and will not out you without permission, in both queer and non-queer spaces.
I support research and academic projects that promote knowledge and wellbeing for queer people.
I will support your rights to have a ceremony that creates an affirming commitment and celebrates all that you want to.
I will support your choices for your ceremony and always be on your side.
*Because I love nature, especially trees, woods and woodlands, I will donate to plant a tree and dedicate it to you, when you book me as your wedding celebrant (through https://onetreeplanted.org).