Brand Values: More than words

My values as a Humanist Wedding Celebrant and how they shape my brand.

by Thread Studio

Last night the IWPA hosted an insightful webinar for its members focusing on 'Building a brand that drives distinction and not just visibility' with Aisling McVeigh from Danu Collective as the key speaker. There were so many take aways as Aisling generously shared her knowledge and experience yet the one that has been lingering on my mind is ‘Brand Values’. As I ruminated over the conversation about ‘Brand Values’, I felt an overwhelming ache in my chest. A good ache. Because I know my values by heart. They are etched into my very existence.

My brand values are my core, human values (which can sometimes mean pain, frustration and disappointment with the current state of the world!). They are; Kindness, Equality, Joy, Inclusivity, Fairness, Authenticity, Fun and Humanity. They are the key factors that guide me as a person and the decisions I make for my business. How I show up for my business, how I engage with my community and how I raise my children is consistent.

by Pop Photography

That’s why I will never doubt the significance of humanist wedding ceremonies; they are greater than the sum of their parts. They are a merging of values, a declaration of love, a promise of friendship and family, a decision to continue to choose each other every day for the rest of your lives. Every story is an opportunity for a core memory or meaningful connection. In turn, this allows me to be certain of my worth and the value of what I provide to my couples and families. I work hard to build trust and make sure my couples feel safe with me. Being your true self and loving who and how you want to love are acts of revolution in our wonderful and terrifying world. I am privileged to tell these stories.

LIT Photography Kat Mervyn Photography, Holly and Lime, Elizabeth Naomi Photography

Brand Values, to me, aren’t a selling tool. They’re not just ‘buzz words’ or a trick to entice customers to believe whatever you want to sell them. Values are what propel my purpose, that reinforce my boundaries, that hold me accountable and that strengthen my relationships. They are what connects me to others. I have lived enough of this life to see what happens when businesses don’t actualise their supposed ‘Values’, when governments contort theirs for political gain and when people forget their humanity. But I have been lucky to see, first hand, when values build community.

Last year, I had an idea to fundraise for ‘Save The Children’ an incredible global charity who support some of the worlds most vulnerable children. Sadly and shamefully, the need for this support has only grown in the last couple of years. My goal was to run 5k a day in the month of June 2025 and raise £1,000. As many suppliers in the wedding industry are self employed and work by themselves, I put a call out to invite as many wedding pals to join me as possible.

To be honest, I was a little terrified. I was mindful that speaking up about the atrocities happening in the world might damage my business, I knew that was a possibility. It was a risk I was willing to take. But what worried me more is that no one would join me. Not from a popularity perspective but from a humanity perspective. That no one cared enough. Sometimes that’s how we are led to feel. Oh my days, how wrong I was. By the end of day 30 we had over 60 participants from 4 countries ranging from babes in arms to OAP’s; some ran every day with me, some walked or cycled. Collectively, we raised over £5,000. I have never felt so proud of the wedding community than I did last year. Since then, connections between us all have deepened and trust has soared.

by Ten 21 Photo at Thread Studio

With referrals (from venues, suppliers, guests and past couples) being my number one source of bookings (TYSM), it’s evidence that people are talking about me when I am not in the room. Does that hold a measure of pressure? Yes. Does that mean I am always ‘Performing’, always ‘On’? No. How bloody exhausting would that be?! I love people, I love learning about people and making genuine connections. When my Brand Values align with my personal core values, all I need to do is simply ‘Be’. I trust my instincts but am wise enough to know that I can always learn, always grow, always elevate.

All of this is shared with the acute awareness of the privilege I have as a white, straight woman living in the northern hemisphere. We are living in challenging times. We are all consumers yet we are all citizens of this world so how about we show up authentically, choose with intention and be brave. We are all we’ve got. We are all we need.  

I am trained and accredited with the charity Humanists UK, a charity with whom I share many values with. If the above has resonated with you and you think we might be a good fit for each other, fill out my quick contact form here and let's get chatting!