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Experience
What is your most memorable wedding?
They're all memorable but the most stick-out one would have to be the wedding I conducted from the Royal Albert Hall, live on ITV's 'This Morning', complete with the Kingdom Choir singing and my teen crush Phillip Schofield sitting just a few feet away! That was a nerve-racking one to say the least! But it was enormous fun and the the couple, Sarah and Shane, were just gorgeous people. You can see the whole thing in my videos section.
Describe your style in 5 adjectives.
Personal, relaxed, quirky, friendly, warm, rule-breaking.
What about your business are you most proud of?
That I was nominated and shortlisted for two categories in The Wedding Industry Awards in my first year of business - and when I received the feedback that my couples had given me for it, I cried with happiness. Then I went and won both regional and national awards for the new 'Celebrant of the Year' category the following year!
What is your No.1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Don't forget this is YOUR day - a day to celebrate your love, not to cater for the whims and opinions of the millions of people whose whims and opinions seem to get aired when anyone is arranging a wedding. So do what YOU want and don't compromise to keep Aunty Sue quiet - you'll always regret it if you do.
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
The couple's family dogs being present. One of them saw fit to take a swim in the lake just behind where the ceremony was taking place - and then shake himself over their guests' lovely clothes! But it was such a relaxed and friendly day that everyone saw the funny side and the dogs were welcomed as part of the family.
Describe your typical process with a couple.
We have a chat over a cuppa about the ideas you've had so far about your wedding, the 'feel' you want the ceremony to have, your hopes for the big day, and your worries too. You can ask me any questions you might have, and get a feel for whether you'd like to work with me. I'll throw in some ideas and ask questions that get to the heart of what's most important for you both.
We'll be in touch as often as you like in the run-up to your big day. I encourage you to use me as a 'human Pinterest board' and send me anything that's on your mind.
About 6 weeks before the big day, we'll have another meeting and I read you the first draft of your ceremony script. I know it's hit the spot if I have at least one of you in tears! We can tweak it as many times as necessary until it's absolutely perfect for you.
On the day, I rock up about an hour before your ceremony, make sure everyone's happy, then conduct your fabulous ceremony. Everyone laughs, cries and gets mushy before going on to party.
What is the most unusual thing you’ve been asked to plan?
I suppose it was the pagan-inspired handfasting in a field. The couple weren't pagan and didn't want their friends and family to feel alienated by a traditional pagan ceremony, but they liked the spirit and the feel of it, so we worked to incorporate that into a fully inclusive wedding that didn't feel like a watered-down compromise but that fitted them perfectly. Oh, and there was the one where three couples were having their wedding ceremony together...!
How do you ensure a stress-free wedding?
I'm not entirely sure that there is such a thing as a totally stress-free wedding, but I do think there's a lot less stress when people stay true to what's important to them as a couple and don't try to please everyone (and end up pleasing no-one). In terms of what I can do to help keep stress levels down, I always remind couples that I'm there at the end of the phone when it's all getting a bit much. I'm very happy to remind them of what they identified as being their big 'why' at the beginning of the process when they've lost sight of it themselves.
What is your favourite moment at a wedding?
The vows. Especially when the couple have written their own vows and kept them a secret from each other until the day (I can help them to do this, as well as advising on whether the vows 'match' in terms of tone and length, but without giving away the contents!) I love how they look into each other's eyes and everyone else is shut out for a moment, even though we're all still there. It gets my goosebumps going every time.