Woman named best wedding celebrant

A WOMAN from Nettlebed has scooped an industry award for best wedding celebrant.

Suzi van der Mark, 48, won the award for the south central region after she was shortlisted as a regional finalist in the Wedding Industry Awards in October.

She has also just been announced as a finalist for best celebrant in the 2026 Weddings and Honeymoon Magazine Awards.

Mrs van der Mark, who lives with her husband Ryan and two children, became a celebrant two years ago after ditching her 25-year career in corporate communications.

She has officiated 24 weddings across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire at venues including Notley Abbey in Aylesbury, Burnham Beeches Hotel in Slough, Hadsham Farm in Banbury and Old Luxters Barn and Vineyard in Hambleden. It is her second regional award after Mrs van der Mark received the best newcomer award last year following feedback from her couples.

She was handed her award by Damian Bailey, the founder and managing director of the awards which were held at Froyle Park in Alton and has secured a spot in the national finals in Liverpool in January.

Mrs van der Mark said: “It’s a double whammy of excitement and when I heard ‘Celebrations by Suzi’, I was shocked as well as ecstatic and then I needed to try and walk in these ridiculously high heels that I never ever wear in front of all of these people.

“To hear my name being called out was just magical because it’s so early in this new career of mine.”

Mrs van der Mark said her bookings have doubled year on year since she started the job. She said: “I’ve already got the same amount in my diary for next year as I have done this year and quite a few couples are in the pipeline. I’m taking bookings for the 2027 diary.”

Mrs van der Mark decided to become a celebrant after the sudden death of a close friend. She said: “I’ve been able to harness all the skills I’ve developed in the corporate world and pivot into storytelling for my couples.

“What I’ve learned most is that if you really want to do something and put your mind to it, you can.”

Along the way, she has been part of memorable ceremony moments including the traditional practice of handfasting.

She said: “I try and do every single ceremony differently.

“For a handfasting I did recently at Aldermaston, the family members each placed the ribbon individually over my couple’s hands and then we bound the hands. Usually, we would use a pre-plaited ribbon so that was lovely.”