Privacy Policy

This privacy policy explains how Ceremonies By Stellan collects, uses and protects your personal information when you visit this website or get in touch about a ceremony.

Last updated: 4 November 2026

Who I Am

Ceremonies By Stellan is run by Stellan Jara, a humanist celebrant based in Bristol, UK. I am the data controller for the personal information described in this policy. If you have any questions, please contact me:

What Information I Collect

When you send an enquiry. The enquiry form asks for your names, email address and, if you choose to give them, your phone number, wedding date, venue and a message about your plans. I also receive any information you share by email, phone or text.

When you book a ceremony. To write your ceremony, I may ask about your story together, your families, the people taking part and other personal details you choose to share. I only ask for what’s needed to create your ceremony.

When you visit the website. Like most websites, this site automatically records some technical information, such as your IP address, browser type and the pages you visit. This is used for security and, with your agreement, to understand how the site is used (see Cookies below).

How I Use Your Information

  • To reply to your enquiry and check my availability.
  • To plan, write and lead your ceremony, and to keep in touch about it.
  • To send quotes and invoices and keep business and accounting records.
  • To keep the website secure and protect it from spam and misuse.
  • To understand how visitors use the website so I can improve it.

I will never sell your personal information or use it for marketing without your permission.

Legal Basis for Using Your Information

Under UK data protection law (the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018), I rely on:

  • Steps before a contract and the contract itself – to respond to your enquiry and provide the ceremony you book.
  • Legal obligation – to keep financial records for tax purposes.
  • Legitimate interests – to run and protect the website and my business in ways you would reasonably expect.
  • Consent – for analytics cookies. You can withdraw consent at any time.

Services That Help Run This Website

Some trusted third-party services process limited information on my behalf:

  • Website hosting – the website and its data are stored on my hosting provider’s servers.
  • Akismet (Automattic) – enquiry form messages are checked by Akismet to filter out spam. See Automattic’s privacy policy.
  • Google Analytics – helps me understand how visitors use the site, using cookies. See Google’s privacy policy.
  • Google Fonts – the website’s fonts are loaded from Google, which means your IP address is shared with Google when pages load.
  • Wordfence – a security service that records IP addresses to protect the site from attacks.
  • Google Drive – website backups, which may include enquiry data, are stored securely in Google Drive.
  • Email – enquiries are delivered to and stored in my business email account.

Some of these providers may process data outside the UK. Where they do, they use recognised safeguards to protect your information.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device. This website uses:

  • Essential cookies – needed for the website to work and stay secure.
  • Analytics cookies – set by Google Analytics (for example _ga) to count visits and see which pages are popular. These are only used with your consent.

You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings at any time.

How Long I Keep Your Information

  • Enquiries that don’t lead to a booking are deleted within 2 years.
  • Information about booked ceremonies is kept for up to 6 years after your ceremony, for accounting and tax purposes.
  • Your ceremony script may be kept so I can provide a copy if you ask for one.

Your Rights

You have the right to ask for a copy of your personal information, to have it corrected or deleted, to restrict or object to how it is used, and to withdraw consent at any time. To make a request, just email me. I will respond within one month.

If you’re unhappy with how I’ve handled your information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

Keeping Your Information Safe

This website uses a secure HTTPS connection, security software and regular backups, and access to your information is limited to me.

Changes to This Policy

I may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page.

Get in touch

Let’s Talk About Your Ceremony

Tell me your date, your venue and a little about the two of you, and I’ll let you know if I’m available. There’s no obligation – just a friendly first conversation.

    Your details are only used to reply to your enquiry. See my privacy policy.