Congratulations!! So, if the idea of a ‘one size fits all’ ceremony, conducted by a stranger in a suit doesn’t appeal to you, then consider enlisting the services of a Celebrant for your wedding day. In the light of the recent revelation from the Duke & Duchess of Sussex that they had 2 ceremonies, then what’s stopping you? Owing to the fact that Celebrants cannot carry out the legal part of your marriage, you will need to do exactly that – have 2 ceremonies. Until the law changes – and …
A Fresh look
Many of my wedding couples who have been forced to postpone their wedding day due to the virus have said to me that, even though it was stressful and disappointing; even though they were upset and didn’t want to delay; in the end it was a good thing because they had a chance to reflect on what they really wanted for their special day, rather than feeling pressurised into doing things in a certain way. Is this you? If so, take a step back and take another look at your …
Let’s get this right…
Are you being told by your venue that the only option for your ceremony if you don’t want a church service is to have the registrar come out? This is inaccurate and misleading, because there is a third option – choosing a Celebrant to create a truly bespoke ceremony, as unique as you are, and with no restrictions. So please don’t be told what you ‘must have’ – this is your day, your vows, your money!! – have it your way. If your venue tells you that they ‘don’t use …
A blend of cultures and faiths…
The start of 2020 saw me at a gorgeous wedding in Conwy at The Manor Restaurant – this was a blend of cultures and faiths, with the groom being Indian and the bride English. It was absolutely beautiful, with a rose petal circle created for the ceremony, the only light was from everyone holding a tea light, and a perfect 6 ribbon hand-fasting to tie the knot. Calm, peaceful and spiritual with a lovely vibe.
Weaving symbolic elements into your bespoke ceremony
An increasingly popular wedding ceremony ritual is where the couple drink to each other from a traditional Scottish Quaich. The Scottish word ‘quaich’ comes from the Celtic word meaning ‘cup’. It is a wide, shallow two-handled bowl, and in very ancient times it was used to welcome guests, to establish trust, putting them at their ease about accepting food and drink from their hosts. And then in 1589 a quaich was given by King James VI of Scotland to his wife, Anne, from the royal house of Denmark, on the …
Use a check list to reduce your stress levels!
As wedding season approaches I imagine stress levels might be running a little high – use a checklist and make sure you keep in regular contact with your suppliers. If your wedding is in 2020/21 and you’re just setting out on the planning journey, please ensure you choose and book your Celebrant early – good celebrants get booked up way in advance, and we all hate to tell you that we’re unavailable! Remember that choosing a celebrant to create and conduct your ceremony means that you have so much choice …
Cheshire Bride magazine ‘Something Old, Something New’, featured in their 2019 edition
I was recently contacted by the editorial department at Cheshire Bride to write a contribution to their article about wedding traditions and different elements from around the world that can be woven into ceremonies. They used a great photo of a couple whose ceremony I conducted at Cheshire Woodland Weddings – a beautiful setting at Blakemere Village. The couple had a hand-fasting and drank from the Quaich or Loving Cup as a symbol of trust and sharing.
Featured in County Brides latest edition – February 2019
Check this out! – a lovely write up in County Brides magazine, featuring a ceremony I officiated at Vale Royal Abbey. The lovely Kirsty and Matt got married last year at this beautiful location, choosing me to create and conduct their bespoke ceremony. They talk about the choices they were able to make in personalising their ceremony, and included a Celtic hand-fasting so that the ceremony was completely unique to the two of them. Take a look at the gorgeous photographs and get in touch to find out more – …
You’re engaged? Congratulations!
No doubt the vision for an Instagram wedding is well under way. With increasing choices as to how we say I Do, it can be tough to decide who will officiate such an important ceremony. In our view, couples might do well to consider the role of a Celebrant. We’ve teamed up with Susan Foxall, an OK! Magazine featured, award-winning Celebrant, to enlighten our How to I Do readers on how accessible, fun and meaningful a bespoke wedding ceremony might be. Planning Your Wedding Ceremony When planning a wedding, it’s …
Spending your wedding budget
There are so many demands on your wedding budget, that you could be forgiven for forgetting the one reason that all your guests are there. Yes, of course you want a beautiful venue for them – and you two – to enjoy. Naturally you want sumptuous food, glorious flowers, and fantastic photographs. Not to mention the dress, the cars, the cake, the music… the list can seem daunting and endless if you’re to do justice to your special day. But… go back to that question – exactly why is everyone …