The Hull Hub Issue 22

SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON
Michelle Knight
What is your
company/profession?
Moonflower Ceremonies
/ Celebrant
What did you want
to be when you were
growing up?
My father worked offshore when I was young, so I was
always aware of jobs which were out of the ordinary.
I had hoped to do something out of the ordinary too,
but life sometimes has a habit of getting in the way.
Right up until now. Now I have my own out of the ordinary
job, and couldn’t be happier!
What inspired you to do this?
I’d been to a couple of funerals,
which were fairly nondescript.
Following one I’d been
to a few years ago, which had
been…wait for it…fancy dress!
Yes, you did hear that right –
Fancy dress – it was the best
funeral I’ve ever been to. Choc
full of emotion, but also the best, most fitting, send
off for an amazing man.
So, the following ones which weren’t truly reflective
of the person, I felt, could have been done better. Cue
me thinking, “I would have had tons of ideas for how
to do this better.” Although I didn’t think about it too
much more, because at that point I had no idea that
Celebrancy was a thing.
It was only by chance, whilst reading an article online
about a really gorgeous elopement in a magical woodland
setting – the photos were stunning, sun beams
filtering through the trees onto a small clearing, wild
flowers carpeting the floor, beautiful floaty, almost
fairy-like dress, you get the idea. And I thought, “hang
on. surely this couldn’t be a licensed venue?”
I’d had my own wedding the previous year, and had
been disappointed with the level of choice, both in
licensed venues and in type of ceremony available
for non-religious weddings. Don’t get me wrong, our
wedding was amazing because of all the elements
we introduced. The venue we chose, the guests we
invited, but the actual ceremony was (aside from
our readings, and our vows) a bit blah, and over very
quickly.
It also wasn’t the festival we’d imagined when we
first thought about getting married, and that was because
of the cost of everything. As everyone knows,
the wedding industry is just that, an industry which
is uber expensive. Take for example just one thing – I
took my dress to be professionally cleaned, the price
was £130 for cleaning, and £40 for a cardboard box to
keep it in afterwards - £40!? For a cardboard box!?
Can you believe that?! So, standing on the other side
of the counter with my mouth hanging open at this
information, my brain went into overdrive, and my
bank card shrivelled up!
“Erm.” I said. “Erm...” And then an idea! “How much
is it to clean an evening dress?” “£29.50.” “Oh, yes. I’ll
have that then!” And that was it - £29.50. No box and
the deal was done. This sort of thing happens all over
the place. And although it’s expected, I don’t believe
it’s right.
Anyway, back to Celebrancy. The article covered the
couple’s story, and talked about how they had decided
that this was how they wanted their wedding. Rather
than go the traditional route, they had booked an incredible
photographer (and he clearly was, from the
photos) and a Celebrant who had created a ceremony
absolutely unique to them and their wishes, including
a flower blessing, a circle of love, and a handfasting.
“Whoa!” I thought, “How is this possible?!” No witnesses,
no licensed venue, having exactly what they
want for their ceremony? And so the research began!
As I started looking into the role of a Celebrant, I
started to feel more and more drawn to it, thinking
that if I had all of these ideas about how to personalise
things, and I already knew how chatty I am (I know –
shocker, right?) and how much I love hearing people’s
stories about where they came from and who they
are, I thought maybe?
But I wasn’t sure. It’s one
thing feeling it in your heart,
and entirely another to be
any good at it. I mean, every
Christmas I visualise how
pretty my presents are going
to look, all wrapped perfectly
with bows and
ribbons, and every
Christmas I use an
entire roll of tape,
just trying to keep
the presents inside
the paper! I really am
rubbish at that! So I
started looking into
training providers,
so I could have a chat
with them and find out exactly what was involved.
The day I found Veronika Robinson, I knew I had
found ‘the one’. Her ethos fits perfectly with mine,
she is the most wonderful woman, as well as being a
top notch Celebrant and Author, and a brilliant trainer.
She was also ruthless in ensuring that every piece
of work I produced for her, through her Heart-Led
Training programme, was outstanding. She taught
me the difference between ‘that’s great’, and ‘that’s
incredible’. How to use words to create something
personal and full of emotion, how to set the tone and
how to use elements within ceremonies to fix the
moment in people’s minds.
I couldn’t have chosen better, because not only did I
get all of that from Veronika, but the option I chose,
also included voice training from the wonderful Paul
Robinson, excellent voice over artist and Celebrant,
who taught me how to then deliver what I’d written.
How to use my breath, how to infuse emotion, how
to make the script appear as if it is just occurring to
me, truly a skill I did not know I needed, but it has
made such a difference to my delivery. And is also the
reason why I now, as completely tone deaf and unmusical
as I am, croon along to all the songs on the
car radio, to help condition my voice for speaking –
other car drivers must think I’m
a nutter when they pass me, because
I really get into it!
What is the hardest part of your job?
Marketing myself – it is a necessary evil, otherwise
no-one would know who I am, or what I can offer, but
it doesn’t come easy to me.
Have you always lived in Hull?
Yes, in and around Sutton Park, West Hull, Woodmansey,
Cottingham, City Centre, East Hull, Beverley,
East Hull Villages.
Whats your favourite part of the city?
Difficult choice. East Park is wonderful, so many different
areas, so many different sides to it. Humber
Street is a joy, from shopping to eating, to nightlife,
it’s a micro city all of it’s own. But possibly my top favourite,
because of all the memories it holds for me,
is Kingston Square outside Hull New Theatre. As children,
my cousin and I would hang out, hidden from
view on tree branches, watching the world go by and
thinking up new ruse’s we could get into trouble for!
Do you support any local teams?
Of course! Hull City, and both of our kickass rugby
teams! Although, at the risk of alienating half the City,
in a derby, I’d be wearing black and white!
Do you have any hobbies? What are they?
I love to read. I’m lucky enough to have a log burner at
home, so on the rare occasion I get the time, putting
my feet up with a gin cocktail in front of a roaring fire
with a fantasy novel is definitely my favourite way to
relax.
What is your favourite music/film?
Avatar is my all time favourite film, I could watch it
again and again and still marvel at the imaginations
which came up with all the flora and fauna on Pandora.
I can’t tell you how much I wish I had a dragon
and a connection to the tree of souls – I’d have a good
long chat with my grandparents.
If you could pass on a
piece of advice what
would it be?
Don’t wait until you are 50
years old to find the thing
that you can honestly say
makes your heart sing –
even if that means trying
a 101 other things to get
there!
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