Lovely to meet you…

Hello, I’m Sheryl Monk – a professionally trained, independent celebrant offering bespoke wedding and funeral ceremonies across Newark, Lincoln, Nottinghamshire, and the wider East Midlands. 

With over 30 years of experience as a barrister, court advocate, and leader in criminal justice, I bring a calm, warm reassuring presence and a deep understanding of how to use words meaningfully — whether you’re celebrating love or saying goodbye.

What is a celebrant?
A celebrant is a professional who creates and delivers bespoke ceremonies for a wide range of life events, including weddings, funerals, vow renewals, naming days, and more. Unlike a religious officiant or a registrar, a celebrant offers complete flexibility and personalization, ensuring your ceremony truly reflects your beliefs, values, and personality.
I can conduct weddings  or vow renewals, funerals or memorial services.

The Benefits of a Celebrant-Led Service

Personalised Ceremonies: 
Celebrant-led services are completely tailored to you. Your ceremony can include personal stories, special readings, unique traditions, and any elements that hold meaning for you.
Flexibility of Location: 
Whether you envision a ceremony at a beach, in your garden, at a favourite venue, or somewhere truly unique that is meaningful for the couple or the deceased a celebrant can conduct your ceremony almost anywhere.
Freedom of Content: 
You can include spiritual, religious, or secular elements—or mix them together. The ceremony can also incorporate symbolic acts such as handfasting, sand ceremonies, candle lighting or coffin decoration 
Support and Guidance
 A celebrant will guide you through the process, helping with readings, vows, music choices, and creating a ceremony that feels just right.
A Unique and Memorable Experience
 With a celebrant, you’re not limited by scripts or templates. Each ceremony is one of a kind, ensuring a heartfelt and memorable experience for everyone involved.
 If you'd like me to be part of your occasion - Heres how it goes....

 Getting in Touch: 
Start by reaching out to me via phone, text , what's app or email, or just book a meting through Calendly by following the link below — or we can meet in person at your home, or a local venue over a cup of coffee.
 Initial free discovery call- 
We can find out if we are a good fit and what your requirements are. You might want to pick a package or go totally bespoke. Once you have a bit more of an idea and can decide what you want I can give you a quote. You pay a small deposit and we can secure your date We will then need to meet again in person nearer the date of your ceremony. 
Our Meeting: During our chat, I’ll get to know you and your story, take notes, and discuss your ideas and wishes for the ceremony. I’m here to listen, ask questions, and help bring your vision to life. 
Creating Your Ceremony: 
I’ll then write a bespoke ceremony based on our conversation. I’ll share the draft with you so you can review it at your own pace. You’re welcome to suggest changes, and we’ll refine it until you’re completely happy with the final version. 
Support with Readings and Music: 
I can also provide suggestions for readings, poems, and music to help make the ceremony even more special.
On the Day: 
I’ll arrive early to make sure everything runs smoothly, delivering the ceremony with warmth, professionalism, and just the right tone for your occasion. If you’re ready to take the next step, I’d love to hear from you
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Weddings and Vow renewal or stand alone handfasting. 


Your love story deserves more than a template.

As your wedding celebrant, I’ll work closely with you to craft a ceremony that reflects your personalities, values, and shared journey. 

Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate woodland handfasting, a non-religious garden wedding, or a symbolic ceremony that blends cultural elements, I create and deliver it with warmth, humour, and heart.I specialise in:

  • Celebrant-led weddings (non-religious, spiritual, or blended faith)
  • Vow renewals and anniversary celebrations
  • Help with writing your own vows and choosing meaningful readings or rituals.
  • Handfasting



Funerals and Celebrations of life
I create personalised, respectful funeral services, whether held at a crematorium, natural burial ground, or family home. 

From pet funerals to memorial services and celebrations of life, I will support you with empathy, careful listening, and professionalism.

My services include:

  • Guidance on funeral structure and wording
  • Support with writing eulogies and tributes
  • Non-religious and inclusive funeral ceremonies
  • Collaboration with funeral directors and families

I offer the writing and conducting of Wedding, Vow Renewal, Naming and Funeral ceremonies.

Contact Sheryl

Testimonials

     

 A celebrant of character, wit and charm Sheryl provided a very special and professional service for our ceremony. It was unusual in being held inside an ancient stone circle high on the moors. Despite that she rose to the challenge and researched the area thoroughly, leading to an appropriate, informative and entertaining ceremony, with the right balance of humour and dignity. She worked out how to include and involve several other friends and family, including two young girls who were ring bearers and flower girls, and some more mature friends who got to be bridesmaids, torch bearers and drum beaters, meaning everyone had a role to play and felt included in, and significant to, the very bespoke ceremony. She carried out her duties beautifully, and then socialised with everyone and made us all feel special. When she left we felt like she was an old friend and all waved goodbye with a genuine warmth and gratitude. 

Roland Kamsika: Wedding guest
     

 Thank you so much for leading my sisters memorial service with warmth compassion and love. 

Doreen: Retired chef
     

 We asked Sheryl to organise our annual Handfasting Ceremony in Derbyshire as we live overseas and she organised everything seamlessly. We arrive jetlagged the day before the ceremony and everything ran super smoothly. Highly recommend Sheryl for a low stress ceremony 

Sudamala Villa: Wedding guest
     

 We are truly grateful for Sheryl Monk's compassionate and professional service during such a difficult time. She guided us through the process and created a ceremony that respectfully honored our loved one's memory. 

Peter Thompson: Bereaved Family Member