#6: Zena Birch, Humanist Celebrant, on The Power of Forgiveness, The Role of Storytelling, Creating Personal & Enjoyable Wedding Ceremonies & Finding Love & Grace in Darker Times

The Love My Dress Podcast: Weddings, Business & Life

LOVEMYDRESS.NET // Zena Birch is a Humanist wedding celebrant whose life mission is to inspire others to chose love in every aspect of their lives. Zena's path to becoming a celebrant was forged through deeply personal experiences. In moments of profound tragedy, unimaginable loss, and the power of forgiveness, she discovered firsthand the transformative nature of love. Through these experiences, she witnessed love's ability to heal wounds, forge connections, and imbue our lives with indescribable joy and treasured memories.
As a Humanist celebrant, Zena treasures the belief that love transcends boundaries and should be celebrated in a way that is authentic and profoundly meaningful to each couple. Her approach is rooted in inclusivity, embracing the beautiful diversity of love and the countless ways in which it manifests itself in our lives. She believes that love has the power to dismantle prejudice, ignorance, and despair.
With a compassionate heart and an unwavering commitment to her craft, Zena infuses her ceremonies with tenderness and an enchanting touch that is uniquely hers - I like to think of it as Zena magic. Zena has an innate gift for creating a safe and sacred space where couples can freely express their love, allowing their individual narratives to unfold in all their beauty.
ZENA BIRCH:
zenabirch.com
@zenabirchweddings
The Little Book of Humanist Weddings
LOVE MY DRESS:
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TRIGGER WARNING: Please note, this episode explores the issue of grief, a road traffic accident and loss of a sibling as a child.
DEAF? You will find a full transcript via the 'Transcript' tab on this page.
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1. #6: Zena Birch, Humanist Celebrant, on The Power of Forgiveness, The Role of Storytelling, Creating Personal & Enjoyable Wedding Ceremonies & Finding Love & Grace in Darker Times (00:00:00)

2. Podcast Introduction (00:00:09)

3. Guest Introduction (00:01:58)

4. Zena's childhood & discovering the power of storytelling (00:04:20)

5. What inspired Zena to become a celebrant (00:09:33)

6. On the loss of her brother (00:10:18)

7. On the power of forgiveness (00:14:23)

8. Zena's journey to discovering humanism (00:23:53)

9. The role and responsibilities of the celebrant (00:34:03)

10. The brilliant benefits of hiring a celebrant and recognising that you have the option to work with one (00:35:33)

11. How Zena helps her couples create authentic wedding ceremonies & her thoughts on wedding ceremony tradition (00:43:06)

12. Rules for getting married in England and Wales (00:53:24)

13. Writing your own personal vows (01:00:37)

14. The Little Book of Humanist Weddings (01:11:25)

15. How Zena takes care of herself as a busy wedding celebrant working throughout the UK and internationally & dealing with panic attacks (01:14:12)

16. Choosing not to apologise for taking time off and learning how to discipline yourself (01:19:09)

17. On Zena's love of people and humanity & her favourite things about being a celebrant (01:22:56)

18. Zena's best advice for anyone interested in becoming a celebrant (01:29:02)

19. Which 3 guests would Zena invite to her dream dinner party (01:31:11)

20. What items would Zena have with her if stranded on a desert island? (01:32:39)

21. What advice would Zena give to her younger self (01:33:32)