Worthing celebrant Claire Bradford of Creating Ceremony was crowned ‘Celebrant of the Year 2018’ in the glittering National finals of The Wedding Industry Awards (TWIA), held at the legendary Café de Paris in Soho on Wednesday 17th January.

The TWIA awards are highly-anticipated amongst the wedding industry. After a series of regional events in November, which saw wedding professionals of all categories taking part, Claire won South East celebrant of the year, joining seven other regional finalists for the national title. The national winner was chosen by a panel of four expert judges independently.

The awards were presented by BBC news reader Rachel Schofield and TWIA founder, Damian Bailey.

This is the first year that The Wedding Industry Awards have had a ‘Celebrant’ category. This is great news for the fast-growing celebrant profession, who offer highly-personalised, bespoke wedding ceremonies.

Claire is a recommended celebrant at many venues in Worthing and the wider Sussex area, and her work sees her conducting all sorts of styles of wedding in elegant venues, rustic barns or muddy fields.

Claire said ‘I’m so pleased that TWIA have recognised celebrants, as so many creative couples are doing, and I’m honoured to be flying the flag for our wonderful profession with this award. I really do have the best job in the world and I’m so grateful to all the couples I’ve married who voted for me. I’m still reeling!’