Professional Training, Rigour & Human Sensitivity
We bring together our individual experience and a shared professional approach to create ceremonies with depth, confidence and care.
Our team brings together professionals from academic, creative, educational and organisational backgrounds, combining specialist training with extensive experience in communication, working with people and ceremonies.
From ceremony creation and delivery to professional training and coordination, we share the same commitment to thoughtful preparation, human sensitivity and professional rigour.
Anabela Lança
A sociologist by training at ISCTE-IUL, professional trainer and APC UK trained and certified celebrant, Anabela is the Creative Director of Celebrantes · Bespoke Ceremonies®.
She creates and conducts bespoke symbolic ceremonies, including weddings, elopements, vow renewals, family celebrations and ceremonies marking significant moments in life.
Her work brings together a sociological perspective on contemporary ceremonies with thoughtful writing and careful attention to each individual story, creating ceremonies with their own voice, identity and meaning.
Joana Raio
An actress, drama teacher, trainer and professional celebrant, Joana brings extensive experience in performance, communication and expression to her work as a celebrant.
She specialises in symbolic and bilingual ceremonies in Portuguese and English, combining confident presence, sensitivity and spontaneity with a perceptive understanding of each moment and the people in front of her.
Her background in theatre and drama education gives her a particular command of voice, rhythm and expression, allowing her to conduct ceremonies with warmth and confidence while preserving the authenticity of each celebration.
Rafael Martins
Holding a doctorate in Languages and Literature from the University of Oxford, Rafael Martins is a university lecturer, academic and celebrant, and a member of the training team at Academia de Celebrantes Portugal.
His academic and teaching experience brings intellectual depth and a strong humanist perspective to the training of professional celebrants, with particular attention to language, communication and the meaning carried by words.
As both an academic and a celebrant, he contributes to a multidisciplinary approach in which critical reflection, sensitivity and a deep understanding of language support the practical craft of creating and conducting ceremonies.
Coordination Team
Our coordination team provides the administrative and organisational support behind Celebrantes · Bespoke Ceremonies®, ensuring that each service is managed clearly and professionally from initial enquiry through to completion.
The team supports client communication, contracts, invoicing, scheduling and internal coordination, working closely with our celebrants and other professionals involved whenever required.
For clients who separately engage our civil marriage support services, the team also assists with the administrative coordination of the process in Portugal and liaison with the relevant authorities.
Would You Like to Talk to Our Team?
Tell us your date, location and what you have in mind for your ceremony or event, and our team will guide you through the next steps.
Talk to Our TeamFrequently Asked Questions
About our celebrants, preparation process and multilingual ceremonies.
How Is the Right Celebrant Chosen for Our Ceremony?
We consider the type of ceremony you are planning, your preferred language or languages and the tone you would like to create. We then introduce you to the celebrant whose experience and approach are best suited to your ceremony.
Will We Meet Our Celebrant Before the Ceremony?
Yes. Your preparation includes dedicated conversations with your celebrant to hear your story, understand what matters to you and develop the ceremony with you. You will also have the opportunity to review the script and discuss the practical details before the day itself.
Do You Conduct Bilingual and Multilingual Ceremonies?
Yes. Our ceremonies can be conducted in Portuguese, English, French, Spanish, German and Catalan. We also create bilingual and multilingual ceremonies, carefully integrating each language so that guests can follow the ceremony without unnecessary repetition or disrupting its natural flow.