The Association of Independent Celebrants Ltd (AOIC) is a vibrant and forward-thinking Trade Association for professional celebrants across the UK.
As the one and only registered trade association for celebrants in the UK, our objective is to provide our members with the support and resources they need in order to create truly special ceremonies for every one of their clients. This includes offering a huge number of membership benefits to all celebrant members, along with assistance for newly trained celebrants for as long as they feel they need it.
As your representative trade body we can truly call ourselves ‘the voice of the celebrant’, speaking up for celebrants collectively whilst supporting every one of our celebrant members as individuals.
From the President
I am Brian Bull, and I have had the honour of serving as President of our Association over the past year. It has been a year of listening, learning, supporting, and strengthening the ground beneath us. I am proud to continue in this role for another year, and I would like to welcome you to the AOIC website personally.
My journey here has been a steady one. Member. Committee. Vice President. Now President. Each step has deepened my belief that this Association is something worth protecting and nurturing. It is built by celebrants for celebrants. People who stand beside families in their most meaningful moments. People who know how to hold a room, hold a silence, and hold a story with care.
We are a broad and diverse community. We come from different backgrounds, different experiences, and different corners of the country. Yet we are joined by purpose. To honour love. To honour memory. To honour life itself. We are, and will remain, the voice of the celebrant.
This year, our focus remains unchanged. Support, professional development, and connection through our CPD and member support services continue to be priorities. We also stay active, vocal, and engaged in the wider sector, including advocating for Wedding Law Reform.
My role as Suicide Safeguarding Supporter remains deeply important to me. When grief is raw and complex, when the world feels heavy, we must be steady and human first. If you ever need someone to talk to, you can reach me.
We are also continuing to support SOBS, Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide, as our chosen President’s Charity. Funds raised through our JustGiving page help to provide vital peer support for those living with loss. Thank you to everyone who has given, walked, fundraised, or quietly contributed. Your kindness matters to real people in real pain.
To those already part of the AOIC, thank you. The strength of this Association is felt in the way you support one another. To those thinking of joining, you are welcome here. Membership is not simply access to resources. It is belonging. It is knowing that when the work is heavy, you are not carrying it alone.
We have a meaningful year ahead. A year to steady the course, raise our collective voice, and honour the profession we love.
Here is to the work we do.
Here is to each other.
Here is to the year ahead.
Warm regards
Brian Bull
President, AOIC