Burnley wedding dress designer retrains to become celebrant

A fashion designer who has spent decades making wedding dresses has changed careers to conduct ceremonies for couples’ special days.

Angelina Brady-Batty, from Burnley, decided to retrain as a celebrant to become more involved in people’s wedding days after designing wedding dresses for 30 years.

She said: “Weddings have always been in my life, and I know how to make sure the bride has the best possible day she can have. As a celebrant, I do more than just arrange the ceremony, I welcome all guests, make sure everything is right for the couple and can even fix the dress if needed.

“I have done many jobs over the years, but being a celebrant is definitely the best one. It gives me such a buzz because I love to meet people and get to know them and help them when they need it.”

One of her most recent wedding ceremonies, at Accrington’s Haworth Art Gallery, combined traditional handfasting, ring warming and a quaich ceremony.

The couple had already been legally married at a register office with two witnesses.

As a celebrant Angelina is happy to include Hymns and Bible readings or to arrange a non-religious celebration.

For the last 25 years, Angelina has also been a funeral reader and went to a funeral that was led by a celebrant which inspired her to be trained.

She had completed her online training and was due to go on a residential when Covid hit.

Angelina has now finished her training and has conducted many funerals for families all over East Lancashire.

She said: “I feel it is an honour that I am the go-to person that can help a family through a very difficult time in their life.”

As a celebrant, Angelina has also performed naming ceremonies, renewing of vows and is now taking wedding bookings for all couples in 2023/24.