Holden So dressed in orange, smiling with a waterfall in the background

About me

Hey! I’m Holden So, my pronouns are they/them, and I’m in my early 30s. I was born in Hong Kong but I’ve spent most of my life in the UK. I live in Southwest London with my wife Olivia.

I can’t wait to hear all about you and your love!

Holden So exchanging rings with their wife during their elopement ceremony

All images from my elopement taken by the wonderful Caitlin Wilder

I’m a published author of queer romantic novels who’s been shortlisted for multiple awards and I’ve been writing love stories since I was a teenager filled with yearning. I’ve also been working in equality, diversity and inclusion professionally for over five years. Being a celebrant marries all my interests – my love for love, creativity, and uplifting other LGBTQ+ and marginalised people.

Let me take care of your love story and help you tell it in the most authentic way possible.

In June 2024, I got married to my wife Olivia. We eloped to Scotland and had a unique, magical ceremony by a stunning waterfall. Our celebrant (Gerrie Douglas-Scott from Celebrate People) was incredible and really understood the two of us. She crafted the perfect ceremony for us – inclusive, warm, personalised and filled with meaningful symbolic gestures. We laughed, we cried, we laughed some more, and we felt utterly ourselves and in love.

It was a life-changing experience. Within months of my own elopement, I trained as a celebrant myself because I want to be able to gift this feeling to other LGBTQ+ people – this feeling of being seen and held completely, without question. I want to craft bespoke ceremonies for them that embraces their identities and their beautiful relationship wholeheartedly. I want to help them celebrate their love in ways that feel true to them.

When I’m not writing ceremonies or my next novel, you might find me at the theatre enjoying a play or a musical, or at a restaurant shovelling down lots of food, or at home playing board games.

Some of my other favourite things include: travelling, fanfiction, poetry, D&D and other TTRPGs, escape rooms, museum dates!

P.S. Curious to check out my books? I’m published under the name Cynthia So!

Think I’d be the right celebrant for you?