A celebrant has received a highly commended award at The Wedding Industry National Finals last week.

Hazel Walsh, 35, who grew up in Bradshaw and now lives in Lower Darwen, received a Highly Commended Celebrant of the Year Award at The Wedding Industry National Finals last week in recognition of her excellent customer service and hard work over the last twelve months.

The prestigious awards saw the best wedding suppliers in the country head to The Shakespeare Underglobe Theatre in London hoping to be crowned the winner in each of the twenty five categories.

Hazel, The Rainbow Celebrant, as she's known by clients, was crowned the winner at the North West awards in Altrincham in January and headed to London to compete against six others for the title of National Celebrant of the Year 2022.

Although she didn’t take home the trophy for National Celebrant of the Year, Hazel was presented with a Highly Commended Celebrant of the Year Award.

Speaking of her win, Hazel said: "This past twelve months has been my busiest year to date with so many couples opting for a more fun and personal ceremony.

"It was such an honour to be a National Finalist with six other incredibly talented Celebrants, all of whom have also worked tirelessly to give couples the wedding ceremony they’ve always dreamed of.

"It means the world to me that my couples left me such fantastic feedback and that the judges deemed me worthy of this title.

"I am incredibly grateful to have worked with such wonderful couples over the last twelve months and to be heading into the 2022 wedding season with a fully booked calendar."

This year has already been a huge success for Hazel, as she has been awarded the celebrant of the year award as well as bring was also crowned the winner at a glitzy ceremony in Altrincham.

“I feel incredibly overwhelmed and grateful to have won against some amazing other celebrants in the area," Hazel added.

The Wedding Industry Awards is the only regional and national client voted awards in the wedding industry.