Let me tell you a little about me – Michael Gurner – The Milton Keynes Celebrant.
I was born in Bletchley (Whalley Drive Maternity Unit, for those of an age to remember it) and have lived in and around Milton Keynes for most of my life.
That means that I do genuinely remember when this was all fields, and I’m very proud of the new city that we have all built together.
I’ve had a rich and varied career in a wide variety of roles and industries, however nothing has given me greater pleasure, satisfaction and pride than working as a celebrant. I genuinely love my job, and while both the extreme emotions it involves can sometimes be challenging, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The opportunity to play a role in celebrating and commemorating so many of the key stages of family life, from birth to death and everything in-between, is something that I feel both honoured and privileged to be able to carry out.
I help people share and celebrate people’s stories at all of the major milestones in their lives. Everyone has a story, and every story deserves to be told. And I tell those stories with a song in my heart and a twinkle in my eye.
From celebrating the arrival of a new baby; to bringing couples together in ways that they will remember forever; right through to the chance to tell someone’s life story when it’s reached its end – at each of these stages, families deserve to be supported appropriately, and that’s a role I’m proud to play.
Outside of work, I’m a keen musician, singer, songwriter and poet, and I like to bring the creativity from those areas into the ceremonies that I produce.
I’m a former Bard of Stony Stratford, and a regular performer at local poetry and spoken word events as The Sixty Second Scribe.
I sing and play keyboards in The Sound of the Crowd, who are probably the UK’s finest 80s Synth Pop Tribute Band, and play regularly at venues around the local area, and across the country.
I also sing as part of the Singspace Musical Theatre Choir, so my Monday nights are usually spent immersed in the joys of harmony singing to songs from the shows. We perform all round the area, and also nationally at venues like Cadogan Hall.
Since I completed my initial celebrant training in 2019, I’ve continually worked to improve my skills. I have attended trainings and other events with The Association of Independent Celebrants, The Celebrants Collective, Civil Celebrant Connection and many more.
If you decide to work with me, you’ll be in the hands of a professional who will do what it takes to create and deliver the ceremony that you want and deserve, but I’ll also relate to you on a personal level, so that between us, we get it right.
To contact Michael Gurner – The Milton Keynes Celebrant, call 07941 974710 or email michael@mkcelebrant.co.uk. Alternatively, you can use the contact form below.