Chic, crystal clear, Celebrant ceremonies in Sussex
~ 'LGBTQ+ inclusive' Weddings, Funerals and Naming ~
I have enjoyed an extraordinary career, previously, performing in numerous musical theatre productions, many in London’s West End. Musicals including Les Miserables, The Phantom of The Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and The Ratpack Live from Las Vegas!
When it comes to planning a wedding or commitment ceremony, the choice of celebrant can make a significant difference in the overall experience. Imagine having a civil celebrant who not only brings professionalism and warmth to your ceremony, but also has a background in West-End musical theatre. This unique combination offers several benefits that can make your special day truly unforgettable.
As a celebrant with a career in West-End musical theatre, I am no stranger to the stage. My experience in performing before large audiences means I possess exceptional presentation skills. I know how to project my voice, maintain eye contact, and engage with the audience, ensuring that every word of your ceremony is heard and felt by all present.
Theatre professionals are inherently creative individuals. As a celebrant with a varied theatrical background, I can bring a touch of creativity and flair to your ceremony. Whether it’s through the use of dramatic pauses, expressive readings, or even incorporating elements of performance, I can craft a ceremony that is both unique and memorable.
One of the hallmarks of a great celebrant is their ability to personalize the ceremony to reflect the couple’s story and values. As a celebrant with a background in musical theatre, I am adept at storytelling and can weave your personal narrative into the ceremony in a way that resonates deeply with you and your guests. My ability to connect emotionally with the audience ensures that your ceremony feels intimate and heartfelt.
Performing in the West-End requires a high level of confidence and poise. These qualities are invaluable in a celebrant, especially when unexpected situations arise. Whether it’s dealing with a sudden change in weather or calming pre-ceremony jitters, a celebrant with theatrical experience can handle any situation with grace and composure.
Theatre professionals understand the importance of atmosphere and ambience. As a celebrant with a background in musical theatre, I can help set the tone for your ceremony, creating an atmosphere that is both celebratory and solemn. My ability to read the room and adjust my delivery accordingly ensures that the ceremony flows smoothly and keeps everyone engaged.
If you’re looking to add a special touch to your ceremony, with my experience, I can offer a unique performance. Whether it’s singing a meaningful song, reciting a poem with dramatic flair, or even incorporating a short theatrical piece, my previous experience can add an extra layer of magic to your special day.
Theatre professionals are known for their dedication and professionalism. As a celebrant with a West End background, I bring this same level of commitment to my role. You can trust that I will be well-prepared, punctual, and fully invested in making your ceremony a success.
Choosing a civil celebrant with a career in West-End musical theatre offers a range of benefits that can elevate your ceremony to new heights.
I have been asked to use my singing skill to add a different highlight to a couple’s celebration ceremony – for example;
While they were signing their souvenir certificate at their Vow Renewal ceremony, one couple asked if I would sing an significant song (‘She Wears My Ring’ by Elvis Presley) which had been played for their first dance, 30 years previously.
Another couple who had both been married before, were celebrating their marriage together. I sang ‘The Second Time Around’ by Frank Sinatra, the beautiful lyrics of which could have been written for them!
My presentation skills, creative flair, and ability to personalize the ceremony ensure that your special day is both memorable and meaningful. With my confidence, poise, and professional dedication, you can rest assured that your ceremony will be in capable hands, leaving you free to enjoy every moment of your celebration.
♥️ YOUR DAY – YOUR WAY ♥️
I am currently based in the wonderfully bohemian city of Brighton, fringed by the wide expanse of the widest part of the English Channel. I’m a true ‘water baby’ – I guess being a Piscean, I have a real connection with water. Swimming, paddleboarding, scuba, in addition to almost daily meditation/contemplation time on the beach, all have been a big part of my lifestyle.
I have enjoyed a long and successful career as an actor, working mainly in Musical Theatre. I have appeared in the original London casts of ‘Sunset Boulevard’, ‘Grand Hotel’ and ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’. I was in the early companies of ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ in the West End, played Lumiere in Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’, on the UK tour, Dean Martin in ‘The Ratpack, Live from Las Vegas’ at The Savoy Theatre, and since then I have appeared as Dean in numerous theatre and corporate shows and in my solo cabaret. More recently, I portrayed Florenz Ziegfeld in ‘Funny Girl’ in Paris for 5 months, returning to the UK straight into Lockdown!
I am a voice-over artist and have been heard narrating various TV documentaries, voicing characters on the BAFTA winning game ‘Divinity, Original Sin II’ and was the voice of the ‘E Harmony’ commercial campaign for three years! Perhaps I had been, in part, responsible for bringing couples together! So, it’s ironic that I now work as a wedding celebrant!
The voice work was a lifesaver throughout the covid lockdown, as I already had the facility to record from home. But, like many, this period of disruption forced a rethink of my career. I was inspired by a theatre colleague who moved into the civil ceremony industry about 7 years ago and is now enjoying great success as an independent civil celebrant. In early 2021, I was asked to sing at the funeral of a close friend’s father and Alison Ann was the celebrant. Seeing her in action started the thought process that this was work which would be hugely rewarding.
Alison’s advice has been invaluable, guiding me to the best training, with Civil Ceremonies Ltd, pioneers in the expanding interest in non-religious ceremonies. With the tutorship and guidance of Ann Barber and her wonderful team of experienced celebrants, I qualified with two Level 3 Diplomas. I have entered the business with so much background knowledge and pride in the craft of writing and delivering personalised ceremonies, the perfect work to utilize the skill set and life experience gained over decades of being an actor. Civil Celebrancy is a sort of theatre in many ways in it’s creativity and presentation.
In 2022, I began to establish my new business under the name ‘Civil Celebrant Sussex’. I decided to enrol in two nationally recognised level 3 diplomas and worked on the courses back-to-back. spent an intense 6 months of training and qualifying in both Funeral Celebrancy and Naming & Couples Celebrancy. By the end of the year I was ready to launch.
This followed a short contract at Christmas, to play Widow Twankey in the pantomime Aladdin, at the Brighton Centre, having been postposed from the previous Christmas because of lockdown – I was playing opposite the utterly fabulous, Anita Dobson!
The benefits of having had experience as an actor are obvious to many; Confidence in presenting live to an audience, making that delivery interesting and engaging – but it’s important to remember that the focus of the ceremony is the client, whether that be the couple, the deceased or even the subject of a naming ceremony! ‘It’s not about me’! – the ‘actor’s ego’ must be controlled, the ceremony should not be, unless specifically requested, theatrical! However, clarity in delivery is essential.
I have come into this new career as a mature person and my many decades of life experience certainly help in understanding the client’s needs, drawing from personal experiences and knowledge and sourcing material to include and enhance ceremonies. I was raised in a Roman Catholic family, so although not now practicing, I am very open to include some religious content, if it’s requested. One thing which encouraged my desire to provide bespoke civil ceremonies, is the widespread inflexible attitude of the church, when it comes to secular music and reading choice. As an example, whilst helping my Mum to arrange my father’s funeral and thanksgiving mass with the Catholic church, we were not even permitted to use the song ‘Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong – hardly inappropriate.
I love the challenge of featuring mixed cultural references and traditions within a ceremony. I was recently asked if I could include a traditional Greek ‘crown’ symbolic action – a beautiful moment involving the couple wearing wreath crowns connected together by a ribbon and worn during the declaration of vows and ring exchange.
Having lived in Brighton for over 20 years, I have been a part of this very vibrant, diverse and forward-thinking community which, for me, is an ideal location to launch my new career. I have been an active part of the LGBTQ+ community for most of my life and I am passionate about creating fully inclusive and colourful ceremonies, with complete equality always at the front of my mind.
There has to be a lot of focus, as a self-employed celebrant, to establish a reputation and to get my name out into the marketplace.
One of my first actions, was to become a member of the Association of Independent Celebrants (AOIC) – an organisation which provides a lot of support, both on a personal level, in providing insurances, further education and information, but also is actively campaigning, on behalf of civil celebrants, for modernisation within the industry, most especially with Civil Wedding Ceremonies.
The task of canvassing numerous funeral directors was met with mixed reaction, as expected, but the goal was to win over their confidence, to give me an opportunity to show them my skills. To date, I have created ceremonies for around 10 different funeral directors, and I am still hoping to win over more. I am occasionally approached directly, via online listings and my website – a vital tool for my business. I really benefit, personally, from my work as a funeral celebrant – having the opportunity to give the bereaved freedom of choice in creating the most personal send-off for their loved ones.
For the Wedding and Civil Partnership celebration ceremonies, I have experimented in various ways to gain work; advertising in an online magazine, also writing editorial content for them, but as yet, this hasn’t been productive and was quite expensive.
Another promotional opportunity, again not cheap, involves exhibiting at Wedding Fairs. These vary from shows staged by wedding venues, to show off their facilities and associated recommended suppliers; shows staged at venues by National Wedding Fair Organisers, such as Empirical and County Weddings. These companies also arrange shows at places which do not host wedding ceremonies, such as the Amex Stadium in Brighton and other National Exhibition Centres. These fairs offer stands to showcase the various suppliers to the wedding industry, Floral and event decoration, photographers and videographers, cake makers, venues, wedding dresses and suits, make-up artists and, not forgetting, Wedding Celebrants!
I hope that face-to-face engagement is the best way forward. However, I am learning very quickly, that a big part of this marketing is educating both the couples and the venues. Often, they are not aware of the options available to them, a registrar-led or a civil celebrant-led ceremony (once they have done their basic legals).
During the summer months, I was delighted to act as celebrant for a modest, unique but no less beautiful, Commitment Ceremony. The couple wanted to have a special day to mark their commitment to one another, in lieu of a marriage at a later date, the reason being that the brides mother was, sadly, terminally ill.
I was delighted to officiate a 30th Anniversary Renewal of Vows ceremony last spring. Knowing I am a professional singer, the couple requested that I sing a song while they were signing their souvenir certificate – specifically the song to which they did the ‘first dance’ 30 years ago, called ‘She Wears My Ring’! This is a USP for my work as a celebrant, and as much as I don’t push this as a possible feature, I do mention it in my early chats with clients, if I glean that it might suit their ideas. Also, I have been contacted directly through my website by potential clients who love musical theatre, having read my background.
By contrast, a sensational Wedding Celebration Ceremony was held in the Lantern Room at Farnham Castle in August 2023. This task was to create a fairly traditional British ceremony for a couple whose families were Azerbaijani and Kazakhstani. Coincidentally, both couples had chosen to have string quartets playing throughout their ceremonies, the one focussing on the glorious arrangements of modern pieces set in a more classical style, made popular as the soundtrack to the Netflix series ‘Bridgerton’.
I am now launching a Baby-Naming service and calculating the best way to market this. My aim is to promote naming ceremony options for everything from welcoming new babies, adopted and step-children into a new family unit, to gender transition celebrations.
I have issued press releases locally and I have had some success with free advertising, through local community publications and so far, three interviews with BBC Radio Sussex, thanks to my Panto colleague, Alison Ferns! The promotion goes on, and will be a vital part of my business – I hope, one day, that ‘word of mouth’ recommendations will begin to play a more important and productive role towards bookings.
So, if you’re looking for a chic, creative, eloquent celebrant, willing to consider any unusual themes or requests for your ceremonies, I’m your perfect choice; you may want me to sing a special or significant song during your ceremony, or perhaps dress up in period costume or even as Darth Vader! Maybe, you just want someone relatable and trustworthy to deliver something more traditional, then look no further than me, Mark, @civilcelebrantsussex
Your Day – Your Way!
You might be rather overwhelmed, thinking about all the elements which go into making the most perfect celebration of your marriage. As you dive into the thrilling world of wedding planning, one crucial aspect that can elevate your celebration is the ceremony itself. Mark Inscoe, an experienced civil celebrant based in Sussex, brings not only his expertise in crafting personalized ceremonies but also his extensive background as an actor, guaranteeing a crystal-clear, chic, and sophisticated presentation for your special day.
How about a ‘Bridgerton’ style wedding in a Georgian stately home? Or perhaps a ‘Lord of the Rings’ style woodland setting? the perfect opportunity to indulge in an eco-friendly celebration, demonstrating to your guests your love and care for the environment.
* By choosing a bespoke, celebrant-led ceremony, you do not need a licenced venue, as the legal bit will have been completed before your celebration; (unless, of course, you choose to have the registration and your celebrant-led ceremony done at the same venue and on the same day.)
I can craft a unique and personalized ceremony that reflects your love story. Contact me early in the planning process to secure my services for your chosen date.
Let’s schedule a meeting to discuss your vision for the ceremony. With the confidence of complete discretion, share details about your relationship, values, and any specific elements you’d like to include in the ceremony.
Benefit from my acting background and experience in composition and creative writing. Together, we will weave together a script that strikes the perfect balance between tradition and your individual choices and personalities.
Embark on this wonderful journey towards marriage with me, Mark Inscoe, your wedding celebrant by your side. My experience as an actor will ensure a ceremony that is not only thoroughly unique and personal, but also presented with crystal-clear, chic, and sophisticated flair. Together, we’ll create a celebration that beautifully captures the essence of your unique love story and will provide you with a wonderfully memorable wedding ceremony, one that beautifully represents the unique bond you share with your partner.
Here’s to a lifetime of love and happiness!
Season’s greetings!
Engagement Season in fact (officially running from Christmas Eve until Valentine’s Day – according to Hamish at Bridebook!), from your Brighton-based Wedding Celebrant Mark, civilcelebrantsussex.
Many of you beautiful, newly engaged couples will soon start to plan ahead for the big day – and organised planning is essential – venues and suppliers (especially Celebrants!!) will be getting booked up quickly.
You may well be aware of some popular traditions and superstitions surrounding marriage, but not know the origins. Many of these traditions are equally appropriate in modern ceremonies and you might want to incorporate some into your own wedding, even adapt them to reflect your values in todays society!
As a fully inclusive LGBTQ+ wedding celebrant, I am excited by the kaleidoscope of love and full equality for couples in British Law. We are so fortunate to live in a country which takes pride in it’s diverse and multicultural population.
I’m thrilled to take you on a captivating journey through the origins of just a few British wedding superstitions and traditions. Join me as we unravel the historical tapestry woven into these customs and explore their enduring symbolism in modern ceremonies and even breath new life into adapting these traditions for all couples.
In the quaint corridors of time, the tradition of “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” was born. Each item, carefully chosen, carries profound symbolism. The old symbolises continuity, the new represents optimism for the future, the borrowed item embodies borrowed happiness, and the blue colour wards off the evil eye. In modern weddings, couples embrace this tradition as a heartfelt connection to the past while stepping into their shared future.
Couples from different cultures and backgrounds may choose to infuse their ceremonies with items that honour their heritage, creating a harmonious blend of the old and the new.
In the vibrant spectrum of modern love, the tradition of “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” transforms into a celebration of diverse histories and shared futures. Same-sex couples infuse their ceremonies with the radiant colours of pride, turning each item into a vibrant symbol of their unique journey.
In ancient Britain, couples sought a union blessed by nature. Handfasting, a Celtic tradition, involves the binding of hands with a cord, symbolizing the intertwining of two lives. However, within small communities and between tribes many 100’s of years ago, a marriage contract was less of a love match and more of a contract between families to cement allies or gain assets. So the bride and groom were often tied together to prevent them ‘disappearing’ before the marriage!
In contemporary ceremonies, couples embrace this ritual as a powerful symbol of unity, choosing cords that reflect their unique journey together. Same-sex couples may choose cords in the colours of the pride flag, symbolizing the intertwining of their distinct stories and the beauty of their shared connection.
From the rural fields of Britain to modern wedding venues, the act of throwing rice or confetti has deep roots in symbolizing fertility and prosperity. As grains rain down upon the newlyweds, they are blessed with the hope of a bountiful and fruitful life together.
Nowadays, with a greater need for ‘green’ products, there are many sources providing sustainable, biodegradable confetti – favoured more by most venues, especially with outdoor wedding ceremonies.
The enchanting world of wedding veils is one where mystery and tradition converge. Originally worn to protect brides from evil spirits, veils have transformed into a symbol of purity and the unveiling of true love. The delicate lifting of the veil in modern ceremonies represents reverence for the bride’s beauty and the unveiling of a new chapter in the lives of the couple.
The ancient act of carrying a partner over the threshold, once rooted in protection from malevolent spirits that may linger at the entrance of the home.
The act of carrying a partner over the threshold transcends cultures, each with its unique twist. From South Asian weddings, where the bride may enter with a red foot imprint, to Nordic traditions where both partners may enter together. For today’s couples, the act transforms into a gesture of support and commitment, whether same-sex or opposite-sex couples. Together, they step into a shared space, creating a sanctuary built on love, understanding and acceptance.
As we journeyed through the corridors of time, we discovered the profound symbolism behind British wedding traditions, now enriched by the diverse love stories of all couples. From something old to the lifting of the veil, these customs continue to add depth and meaning to modern ceremonies, celebrating love in all its beautiful forms and cultural expressions.
As an LGBTQ+ wedding celebrant, I am thrilled to include the blending of tradition and contemporary love stories, creating inclusive ceremonies that are as unique as the couples they celebrate.
May your own journey into love be adorned with the richness of tradition, the promise of a beautiful future, and the radiant colours of the love you share.
Happy Celebrating!
Mark
Your Day, Your Way
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