Weddings

When I was planning my Wedding I was presented with so much that was tradition, constraints around ‘that’s how its done’, where I could get married, legalities and formalities.

I knew there had to be another way and there is. Having a celebrant led wedding gives you the freedom to celebrate your love and commitment in any way you choose. Wedding ceremonies have been held in gardens, on boats, in castles, at home, on beaches, up mountains, in fields and on the banks of beautiful rivers. There is no need for a licensed venue so there are more opportunities to find somewhere special and meaningful to you.

Not bound by the hours prescribed by Registry Offices, you can hold your ceremony in the moonlight, at sunrise or sunset, or at any time of day that suits you. You can be as romantic and creative in your wedding design as you wish.

Your wedding ceremony can be as dignified as a church service, but with all or some of the religious elements replaced by words and music that have truly significant meaning for you. You can integrate elements from other religions and cultures, say your vows whilst ‘tying the knot’, have your wedding rings ‘warmed’ by the love and best wishes of your guests or mix cocktails in my exclusive unity ceremony. The choices are endless, all that matters is you truly have the ceremony of your dreams.

In order to complete the formalities you will need to visit your local Register Office. This is a simple, quick and reasonably cheap process, to make the appropriate legal declarations in the presence of two witnesses. If you like you can save exchanging rings and vows for your ceremony.

Carrying out the legalities separately enables you to declare your love and commitment to each other in more personal and creative ways. You can begin your new life together in a place, and in a style, that truly reflects who you are and celebrates your uniqueness as a couple.

To discuss your ideas for your ‘Big Day’ further, please get in touch.

Handfasting
A Celtic tradition where the hands are tied with ribbons / cloth in the shape of the infinity symbol to symbolise the bringing together of the two hearts in a marriage of strength and unity forever. It is the origin of the saying 'Tying The Knot' and it is believed that if it rains on your wedding day it is lucky as a wet knot is harder to untie than a dry one.

Unity Sand
The Unity Sand Ceremony is ideal for any wedding and is safe when there are children involved. The sand comes together in a unique way in each ceremony and can incorporate your theme colours. Once the sand is poured it can never be separated again and the layers also represent how those involved in the pouring will support each other during the marriage.

Wine Box
The couple write love letters to each other before the wedding which they will seal in an envelope, this is added to their favourite bottle of wine or drink of choice and placed with any other memorabilia in the wine box.

During the wedding ceremony, the couple will seal the box and vow not to open it until an anniversary of their choice. The only other time that the box can be unsealed is when they are having thoughts of separating at which time they will drink the wine and read the letters which will hopefully remind them why they fell in love and chose to be together in the first place.

Jumping the Broom
Based upon a time in history when taxes were to be paid for the windows and doors in your dwelling, the doors were often blocked with brooms that newlyweds had to jump over before moving into their marital home. It is also believed to symbolise the clearing away of negativity with a sweep of the broom and represents the togetherness of jumping into the next phase of life together with both feet.

Rose Ceremony
A Rose is presented to the mothers of the couple as a symbol of all of their love given over the years, however this can be adapted to giving flowers to any significant family member or turned on its head, all the guests can bring a flower to the ceremony to be used to make a beautiful bouquet or button holes for the wedding party.

Food and Drink Ceremonies
There are countless unity ceremonies involving food and drink. The simplest and oldest comes from the Old Testament and is the Salt ceremony were the couple pours salt from each of their bags to fully integrate the grains, never to be separated. Norse tradition has bread soaked in beer as a unity ceremony and Russian tradition has mothers baking elaborately decorated loaves to be eaten together at part of the wedding feast.

Alcohol is always popular, with Mead ceremonies, beer and wine mixing (though not together) or become fully contemporary with a cocktail making all of your own, which could be enjoyed by your guests at the reception.

Whatever your idea or cultural rite of passage, I’m sure we can find a way to blend in the ritual and its symbolism into your ceremony.

Whether you have made it to a significant anniversary, you didn't have the bells and whistles wedding you wanted first time round or you've had a tough time and wanted to recognise your commitment to each other as it continues, a Vow Renewal is always a special event.

It gives you an opportunity to introduce your children into your ceremony and celebrate as a family unit or you can use it as a bigger celebration if you married overseas or in an elopement. With weddings being impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic, couples are choosing a vow renewal ceremony to be able to invite the family and friends they weren't able to have at their original wedding when it was limited to six, fifteen or thirty guests.