About Alicen Dines

My story

Alicen Dines, independent celebrant

I started out as a marriage registrar with the Dorset Registration Service, doing Saturday weddings. I was quickly hooked and decided to take the plunge and go full-time. I trained as a funeral celebrant and in 2017, set up my own business, Beautiful Day Celebrant, offering weddings, renewal of vows, baby namings, funerals and memorials.

Looking back, all roads led me to celebrancy, which is all about helping people and being creative. I’ve always volunteered – from my gap year onwards. I worked with disabled people with The Winged Fellowship Trust and with children at a Rudolf Steiner school. I gave tours as the abbey guide at Iona Abbey. I’ve worked with youth teams in Bridport, and victims of crime with Victim Support.

After my gap year, I took a degree in English Literature and Language at Edinburgh University. I set off for London and joined the glittering world of PR. The glitter came later though – I had to start at the bottom (literally!), promoting Anusol haemorrhoid treatments. You can ask me anything :). More glamorous clients like Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars followed. I organised loads of events, press calls and campaigns, working with interesting people from all walks of life. That taught me a lot about how we all see the world differently.

I moved on to work in training, giving presentation skills workshops, mostly for British Airways. I still love helping anyone who needs a boost making a wedding speech, or a funeral eulogy. I also recently completed a two year counselling skills course, learning to listen properly and talk less. I still struggle with the talking less sometimes!

So, all these life experiences and skills fed into celebrancy. I love every aspect of my work. I meet amazing people every day and work with them to create something really memorable and life-affirming.

I love living in the busy town of Bridport and I’m lucky to have a lovely husband, son and daughter, plus a nutty black spaniel Holly and two grey rescue cats Hamish and Marco. Other things I love include a decent coffee, a good dry white wine. I love colour, art and all flowers (especially dahlias), stupid jokes, incredible performers like The Killers and Beyonce. The Antiques Roadshow never fails me on a Sunday night. I like the gym (not obsessively) and nice dresses (slightly obsessively). I’m curious about almost everything and I never ever tire of meeting new people and hearing their stories.

Affiliations and memberships

I am a member of the Celebrants Collective, which gives me ongoing professional development. I follow the code of conduct for the Good Funeral Guild, which promotes high standards of funerals. I am featured in various directories including www.thecelebrantdirectory.com and www.hitched.co.uk

How I work with you

The most important thing to me, is getting to know you and finding out your wishes and hopes for your ceremony. You might already have strong ideas about what you want, or you might still be at the thinking stage. I’ve created all different kinds of ceremonies, from relaxed family gatherings at home, to formal celebrations in large venues. I can help you develop your ideas and give you advice on how to create a cohesive, flowing ceremony.

My personality is warm, enthusiastic and empathetic. I am proud of my high professional standards. Being your celebrant, whatever the occasion is my privilege, and I never forget that.

These are some of the ceremonies I offer

And finally, my name!

People often ask about my name. Alicen is an old nickname for Alice, dating back several hundred years. It’s fallen out of use, so not surprisingly, there are very few other Alicens around. It’s pronounced the same as Alison.