Dana Schild

Independent Wedding Celebrant Dana Schild

A Ruhr Valley Girl with a Cologne Heart

I was born in Essen-Werden in 1991, the third child of a passionate musician and a full-time mum. Music has always been part of my life. Thanks to my dad, I started singing when I was just six years old—and I’ve never really stopped. After finishing school in 2010, adventure called, and I spent a year in Virginia, USA, working as an au pair. Back in Germany, I completed a degree in audiovisual media design before taking what many would probably consider an unexpected turn: I became a flight attendant.

Does that make perfect sense? Probably not. But I absolutely love travelling. Flying allowed me to experience countless cultures, explore the world, and learn how to stay calm when everything around me isn’t. Keeping passengers relaxed during unexpected situations became part of the job. Occasionally, singing did too—and every now and then, a few passengers even joined in.

It was during those years that I met the love of my life. Together we moved to Cologne, Germany’s carnival capital. Since then, Fastelovend has never been the same without him. We married in 2020 and are now lucky enough to have three wonderful children. These days we’ve returned to my hometown to be close to family, where you’ll usually find me teaching my little ones every Disney song ever written, introducing them to Harry Potter—or enjoying a serious binge-watching session with my husband.

So Why Did This Wannabe Hermione Become a Wedding Celebrant?

Because creativity simply overflows from me, and nothing makes me happier than using it to create meaningful moments for other people. I want my work to matter—and what could be more meaningful than helping two people celebrate one of the most emotional and important moments of their lives?

A couple choosing one another deserves a ceremony that’s every bit as extraordinary as the promises they’re making. I love finding the right words to honour that commitment. It’s a privilege to discover your story together with you and then share it—with honesty, warmth, and authenticity—with the people who love you most, exactly as you’ve lived it.

Why We Might Be a Perfect Match

Do you get ridiculously excited about great food? Do you cry during scenes that really shouldn’t make you cry? Do you casually quote Barney Stinson, Gandalf, Dobby or John McClane? If your answer is “yes”… we’re already getting along.

I’m fiercely competitive when it comes to board games (no matter what my husband tells you). I know almost every song lyric by heart, love filming and editing videos, and I’m absolutely terrible at remembering names. Instead, I remember people through the little details that make them unique. So tell me: if you were an animal, what would you be? Do you have a lucky number? A favourite colour? (Mine are squirrel, number two, and purple.)

Together we’ll create a ceremony filled with humour, depth, genuine emotion, and plenty of lightness—not just on your wedding day, but throughout the journey leading up to it. Yes, I sing. But during your ceremony, my voice has one purpose: to tell your love story. Although… I’m always open to a wonderful surprise.

Living in the Ruhr region also means I can reach almost anywhere with ease. And after more than 1,000 flights, I can safely say I no longer suffer from a fear of flying, so distance certainly won’t stand in the way of us working together.

If you see life’s glass as half full, don’t take yourselves too seriously, but still want every detail of your wedding day to feel beautifully thought through… if you love personal touches, music, heartfelt moments, and discovering new things about yourselves… if you want to celebrate your love naturally, joyfully, and exactly as you are… then perhaps you’re already creating your favourite melody together. I’d love to help you turn it into a ceremony no one will ever forget.