‘I Do’ Your Ceremony

Each wedding is special and memorable in their own way. However, the most unusual ceremony was one held in a storm, with torrential rain diverting streams coming off the moors straight into the ceremony barn where I was performing a lovely wedding! The puddles in the entrance became a lake and at the end, we had to make a bridge out of hay bales for the bride to make her exit without ruining her dress! Meanwhile, along with the groom and their guests, I was ankle deep in cold water but we all took it in good spirits. It was certainly a memory in the making!

Engaging. Professional. Reassuring. Confident. Smiley 😊

That I manage the whole process of crafting a genuinely bespoke ceremony in a timely way with the couple truly involved and their wishes respected. The way that through the rehearsal I am able to reassure those involved in the ceremony, so everyone knows who is going to do what, where and when, with nerves visibly melting away. But the thing I am most proud of is that my calming, smiling approach helps brides and grooms visibly relax and enjoy their ceremony, rather than it being a source of stress and anxiety for them.

Invest in your ceremony, making it a priority in your wedding planning - it is truly the beating heart of the whole event and should be meaningful, special and a true reflection of your personalities. It is the first thing your guests experience and sets the tone for the whole day!

When a couple write their own vows (with lots of ideas available from me for inspiration if they wish) and keep them a secret from each other until the ceremony. It is so romantic and moving. Guaranteed to trigger happy tears!

- A no-obligation initial meeting, either in person or via zoom call, to help them decide if I’m the Celebrant for them. I listen carefully to their vision for the style of their ceremony, whether it be very traditional in format or truly quirky - and anything in between!

- If they say yes, a £200 non-refundable deposit secures the date and I provide a hard copy of a contract, reassuring them of my qualifications and insurance.

- On confirmation, I send a couple questionnaire to help me write their love story so far, to set the scene for their wedding day. I weave their answers into the ceremony script. I also send a collection of readings for them to consider.

- Within a month I provide a first draft I have written especially for the clients.

- We then have a series of email exchanges where they are invited to make any edits or include any of their own ideas, so it is a truly collaborative process. Some couples are very hands-on, whilst others are content for me to do all the writing apart from their questionnaire replies. Over the weeks or months, the ceremony script evolves, with me providing ideas and helping it come together in a timely way, until it is perfect for the couple.

- Along the way, the couple can have unlimited text, email or zoom call support.

- As we approach the big day, we have a last review of the ceremony script to finalise it, and arrange a dressed down walkthrough rehearsal usually on the late afternoon of the eve of the wedding involving those with an active role. Four weeks before the wedding my final invoice is due.

- On the wedding day, I arrive at the venue an hour before the start time so everything is calm and runs smoothly. I then perform the couple’s bespoke ceremony, without the need for a microphone, indoors or outside and for any size of gathering.

- After the ceremony, I have a photo taken with the couple (and usually a hug!) then I slip away and leave them to the rest of their celebrations. I walk away with a huge smile on my face in gratitude that I have the most joyful, uplifting and satisfying job in the world!

The most unusual ceremony was one where, during the telling of their love story so far, the couple asked me to do the big reveal that they had secretly been married in Las Vegas during a visit about eight months previously! It was a shock (especially for their parents) but it went down a storm! Phew!

Listening to the couple from the very beginning so I get to know them and how they would prefer the process to be paced, the level of support they expect and what their worries are. Communication is key in managing stress. I pride myself in being approachable and responsive, so if I feel a client is having a bit of a wobble during the wedding planning, I will suggest a catch up meeting or zoom call to provide a reassuring presence and to lighten the load. I find the rehearsal, which is included in my fee is the support most couples say was the most stress-relieving part of the process. During the ceremony I am very mindful that sometimes the couple just need a moment to breathe and gather themselves - it’s a very emotional time and I am told that my mature, motherly presence helps them to feel comfortable and supported.

People! I love getting to know my couples. I am a natural storyteller and I am fascinated by the journey of couples to the joyful milestone of committing to spend the rest of their lives together. I love how I have a wealth of experience, ideas and contacts for suppliers to support couples with.

The benefit of being a Celebrant rather than my former role as a Registrar is that I get to share their love story so far to set the scene for their vows. This is where they’re true personalities and what makes them tick as a couple really shines through! Including how they met, their first impressions, how love grew, the proposal story and what they love about their partner, I also ask what are the really annoying habits they’re prepared to tolerate for the rest of their lives!

This makes for some light-hearted fun moments in the ceremony before we enter the very dignified and serious moments at the exchange of vows. The feedback I most consistently receive from couples is that the telling of their story was such a lovely way to make the ceremony feel truly authentic and personal. The storytelling is consistently my favourite part of a the ceremonies I craft with couples.