About your celebrants & how to contact us

Orkney Pagan Weddings is run by Helen ("Magpie") and Mark ("Cudyll") Woodsford-Dean. They live in mainland Orkney, within view of the World Heritage Site at Brodgar, and have both been practicing Pagans for about 20 years. In April 2008 Helen and Mark got married at the Ring of Brodgar with Louise Park (Scottish Pagan Federation Celebrant) officiating - some of the photos on this page are of their own wedding! Helen and Mark moved to Orkney in summer 2009.

Helen and Mark are both approved Celebrants for the Scottish Pagan Federation and they offer life rituals for the Pagan community whom they serve. They are also the Scottish Pagan Federation Local Organisers for Orkney, they visit Pagans in hospital or legal custody on request, and they are the Scottish Pagan Federation Interfaith Officers for Orkney, being active members of an interfaith dialogue group. Helen and Mark also facilitate open rituals for the eight major Pagan festivals at The Ring of Brodgar and run a Pagan moot in Kirkwall, all of which are open to anyone with a warm heart and open mind to attend – more information on Open Rituals page. Helen and Mark both have CRB and Disclosure Scotland clearance at enhanced level.

Helen’s background is in hedgewitchcraft, but she is also an initiated Wiccan and is undertaking training through the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, at Bardic grade. Helen has also been trained in shamanic practice through the Scandinavian Centre for Shamanic Studies and has qualified as a herbal practitioner. She is a qualified archaeologist and teacher, and a published author ("Iceni" a novel about Boudicca plus a variety of articles, many reproduced in her Blog). Helen is a Scottish Tourist Guide Association Green Badge Guide for Orkney.

Mark’s background is a combination of Druidry and shamanism, and he is currently undertaking training through the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, at Ovate grade, and with The Four Gates Foundation. He has also trained with the Scandinavian Centre for Shamanic Studies. In addition, Mark is an initiated Wiccan. He is a qualified arborist, health care professional and archaeologist.

Helen and Mark are both experienced in composing and performing different styles of ritual and ceremony, including ones from most of the major strands of modern Paganism and ones which combine themes. They can assist you in producing a ceremony that meets your exact and personal requirements. They are also able to provide ritual tools, such as a sword or broomstick, which might otherwise be difficult to transport, on request.

Helen and Mark look forward to helping you to create the wedding of your dreams!

Email on info@orkneypaganweddings.co.uk or use the form on the Contact page.

This website is very much just to provide preliminary information and to let you know that this service is available, as well as to give you a brief overview of procedures and costs BUT Helen and Mark fully appreciate that all weddings are personal and your wedding is special, so they will do the majority of communication with you individually and in person, either by email or telephone - it's all part of their service!

The bottom two photographs on this page are of Helen and Mark's own wedding in 2008, with Louise Park officiating and Suzi Lee as photographer.