This heartfelt comment came from a family for whom I recently officiated a funeral service.
There are a plethora of good reasons to seek out a Celebrant when you are deciding on whom to choose to officiate the service for your loved one. Of course, many families will call up their local faith or belief leader. Others who have no faith, are not be sure what to include in the service or who have decided that they want their loved one to be remembered in a very personal service will be directed to or seek out a Celebrant.
A Listener: I am there to support the family by listening when they speak to each other and to me about their loved one. Sometimes I don’t speak while family members search their thoughts or sometimes cry . Or I ask or answer questions. Maybe to clarify for example ‘who is Ted?’ as families tend to forget I don’t yet know everyone. Or sometimes I ask a negative question: ‘what don’t you want?’ when family members are struggling to untangle their thoughts.
A writer: my mission is to get to know as much as possible about the loved one; their life and their personality, sharing their photos with the family, finding out if had they asked for anything to be included in their funeral service: something which is happening much more these days. As well the adding in the wishes of close family who are left to grieve. This is important too.
I am starting to build up a picture in my mind of the loved one and their personality. I take the information from the family meeting then from follow up messages and emails as well as Eulogies and Tributes written by family members and friends. This picture develops over time before the funeral day and when I have received everything then I write the script for the service.
A Sounding Board: there are many decisions to be made when a loved one dies. When it comes to choosing music and poems . I am there to assist if the family are unsure of what to choose or how many to choose. Also, supporting them in deciding whether to write a Eulogy or have the Celebrant write one on their behalf.
Will they have personal Tributes? These can be personal memories or a particular poem that resonates for the family member or close friend.If I haven’t met the person giving the Tribute then I call to offer assistance and answer any questions. These are three questions out of many that I am there to discuss and help them to answer.
Over time family will start to feel that their loved one is well represented and as I gain a better understanding of their loved one; their personality and their life, it will ensure that we have together created a funeral service that is respectful and truly bespoke.
I absolutely love it when couples choose to have the handtying ritual as part of their wedding ceremony. It is such a beautiful and romantic way to share their love and commitment to one another with their family and friends.
What Is Handtying?
Handtying is an ancient ritual that dates from over a thousand years ago across Britain and Ireland. Handtying is sometimes called handfasting but that is very different ceremony of which handtying is one of the elements. More about that another day.
Stories about The Origins of Handtying
One story says that the act of tying a couple’s hands together was to signify them being engaged and then having to wait ‘a year and a day’ until the priest returned to see if they were still keen to marry. Another story says that the couple would have their hands bound and the cord would be tied in a ‘love knot’ and this ritual was used as part of a wedding ceremony.
Handtying continued up to the eighteenth century in England and Wales. This is whence the expression ‘tying the knot’ originates. How wonderful that we still use this term which is rooted in our past.
Choosing to have a handtying
Handtying has become a very popular ritual for bespoke wedding ceremonies. There are a myriad of ways that the tying can be done. I’ve focused here on wrapping the hands and tying with a bow and the infinity knot.
So Many Choices!
The Celebrant is usually the person who conducts the ritual and ties the cord. However, family members such as children, siblings, mums and dads etc. aswell as friends may place cords or ribbons, tie them or add additional ones as this is the beauty of the Celebrant-led ceremony – it’s your choice! In fact with a small intimate ceremony everyone could take part and tie one.
Vows And Ring Exchange
Some couples choose to say their vows or their ring promises to each other as part of the handtying. Thus sealing their love and commitment to each other.
Cords, ribbons and lace
What makes the handtying unique to each couple is their choice and use of materials. They may choose one chord, two or three; loose or bound together. One couple chose single boat cords because of a family link to sailing. There may be ribbons matching the colour theme of the wedding or chosen to underpin the meaning of the couple’s vows. Sometimes a couple choose to have one single ribbon or ribbons, other times they will have a set of 3, 4 or 5 ribbons bound together.
Couples create their own ribbons and cords adding charms Sometimes family members include other materials: one couple chose to include a piece of material from a beloved parent’s clothing. It’s these personal touches that make the handtying ritual unique to couples and makes special memories of their Wedding Day.
Do get in touch. I’d love to chat handtying with you both! It’s a magical part of the wedding ceremony!
‘May your love and marriage be everlasting and as tightly bound as your lovers’ knot.’
This heartfelt comment came from a family for whom I recently officiated a funeral service. There are a plethora of good reasons to seek out a Celebrant when you are deciding on whom to choose to officiate the service for your loved one. Of course, many families will call up their local faith or belief…
The year 2022 was very much back to business with family celebrations , except it wasn’t – because of the ever present threat of Covid and the fallout – so if anything, there was more emotion, hugging and smiling and tears too at all of the Naming Ceremonies I officiated last year. People wanting to…
The five tips focus on your wish to find a celebrant who can deliver your ideal ceremony and is someone you both get on with. You then develop a strong and positive relationship together which will culminate in the creation of your wonderful wedding ceremony!
As an experienced funeral celebrant, I regularly work with families at this very sad time in their lives to create a funeral ceremony that will give their loved one the very best ‘send off! ‘ As an independent civil celebrant I am able to support all families: families who want to include religious elements in…
A Sustainable and Bijou wedding Already being married at the Register Office some months before, My husband Chris and I decided that we wanted to celebrate our marriage and my 60th Birthday with fifty family and friends and have one big party this summer. We wanted to keep to a reasonable budget as we were…
Having a Naming Ceremony is a wonderful idea to introduce a new baby into the family. It is a meaningful and unique celebration for all concerned where the child is named in front of family and friends. ‘Susan – a big thank-you for making it so special!’ Time to Celebrate A ceremony that I conducted…
Such an wonderful afternoon with the family celebrating their son’s bespoke Naming Ceremony officiated by Susan the Celebrant
The year 2022 was very much back to business with family celebrations , except it wasn’t – because of the ever present threat of Covid and the fallout – so if anything, there was more emotion, hugging and smiling and tears too at all of the Naming Ceremonies I officiated last year. People wanting to come together, to welcome the baby and have a big celebration where they could enjoy the family time: kicking up their heels and catching up on news.
All the Naming Ceremonies were held in local venues such as a pub, a hotel and a sports ground; very much community-based. At one of the ceremonies there was a drinks festival being held on the same day so everyone was able to enjoy the entertainment later on after the reception.
A wonderful cake made especially for the baby boy and his family with muffins and treats to enjoy!
There are so many variations on a theme of how you can plan your baby’s or child’s Naming Ceremony whether it’s linked to the venue, favourite toys, family traditions; the choice is yours – Naming Ceremonies are very much a blank canvas. They might be thought of as a non-religious alternative to a Christening BUT that is not the case.
if you want to include a prayer or a religious reading, a blessing: you can choose one or all of these or if you prefer no religion that is fine too; being an independent Celebrant I follow your wishes and create the ceremony that suits you, the family, your lifestyle and ideals and your dreams and aspirations for your baby and their future life.
A super balloon installation in the ceremony room at the venue
All the Naming Ceremonies I officiated in 2022 were totally unique and personal to the family and to their group of wider family and friends. I am there to create, support and advice with the ceremony and the script. This might not always be fully needed as was the case in these Naming Ceremonies as all sets of parents were keen to be involved.
I see my role as being a co-creater with the parents and the guardians and the wider family who are playing a part in the creation of the ceremony’s elements and/or in the ceremony on the day.
Two of the elements of this Naming Ceremony were the lighting of the candles as the guardians made their promises to the baby and the petals that were used in the Petal Blessing which involved both parents and guardians.
I have been amazed by the loving poems and words written by Mums and Dads to their child. Also, we discuss the poems and readings that are read by other members of the family and the commitment promises made by the guide parents or guardians. There are so many fab poems out there; enough to suit everyone’s wishes. I am happy to help with the sourcing and I am also very happy to read a poem, reading or blessing on the day or write a poem or blessing for your child as part of the ceremony .
An awesome thank-you card from one of the families. Much appreciated!
We’ve had a Naming Ceremony combined with a birthday party! A Naming Ceremony following on from a Wedding Ceremony that I officiated myself only a few years before. A Naming Ceremony for a second child to be welcomed into her family! All of which I fully enjoyed being involved with: getting to know everyone and having the privilege to officiate such a memorable day in the babies’ lives was a total pleasure!
‘I had Susan do my daughter’s Naming Ceremony in September 2022 and what an amazing day it was! She is such a lovely lady… It was truly a wonderful day for my little girl.‘ edited version of Millie’s review on Google Maps
Photography: All photos were taken by family members or Susan Denton Celebrant
Smiles all round at the start of this Barn wedding ceremony
Choosing your celebrant can seem like a daunting task when you are organising your wedding day. This will probably be the first time you’re getting married and you want to get it right. I’ve created a simple guide to help you do just that!
So many personal elements to this ceremony!
Tips for Choosing Your Celebrant
The five tips focus on your wish to find a celebrant who can deliver your ideal ceremony and is someone you both get on with. You then develop a strong and positive relationship together, which will culminate in the creation of your wonderful wedding ceremony!
A super confetti run at the end of the Handfasting!
Compatibility
Your ideal celebrant is someone to whom you can relate. Someone who you have confidence in to do an awesome job. To be YOUR celebrant! This is why initially chatting via Zoom, WhatsApp or face-to-face is so important. Maybe the celebrant has been recommended by a wedding planner or venue owner. Maybe you have found them in a Wedding Directory and then you chat, and you find that you like the same type of music, experiences, or places. I met a couple very recently who will be having their ceremony in a village where I used to work. You find that ‘spark’ and soon you are laughing together like old friends.
After Trisha and Gary’s celebrant-led ceremony
Experience
You need to find a celebrant who is experienced in the key skills which make them an awesome celebrant. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they have been a celebrant for years and years, but they need to able to develop a good relationship with you, to be willing and able to collaborate with you. To create a beautifully written bespoke ceremony which they can then present, as an accomplished speaker, to your family and guests. They also need to be a listener as well as a storyteller: to take time to listen to your ‘Love Story’ and then be able to weave your back story, personalities and love for each other into the words of ceremony script.
Mark reading his vows during the outdoor ceremony!
Knowledge
This is all about being able to personalise your ceremony to make it yours so that your guests say after the ceremony that that was ‘so you!’ This comes through your celebrant getting to know you, through reading and listening to your thoughts, ideas, and your love for one another, as well as sometimes, what you don’t love! The best way to do this is face-to-face so that the celebrant can spend time with you both and sense the synergy of your relationship; pick up your pet names for each other and your personal sayings and stories that will make your ceremony so super personal and resonate to you and to your guests.
Celebrant and bride enjoying a special moment together
Then there is the body of the ceremony, the music, the poems, the readings, the vows or the promises , the ring exchange and the rituals or mini ceremonies: all the elements that make your ceremony, so you! Of course, you may need little support in choosing any of these elements, this might be something you’ve already decided upon years ago! However, your celebrant, as a member of their own celebrant organisation, is there to listen and give advice on all aspects of the ceremony and will have suggestions galore.
So excited about the handfasting!
Creativity
Creativity threads it way through the whole of your celebrant’s role. I can say without any exaggeration that a new mini ceremony is being invented or reinvented and shared every day of the week across the celebrant world and there will be at least one that will suit each and every couple – it’s as simple as that!
Such a lovely part of the ceremony!
The ceremony is very much a performance and your celebrant is the choreographer as well as the producer. This is an important part of their role. I believe that a rehearsal is important and always suggest one before the Big Day. Then you can confirm where all the key players will be walking and/or standing , where the chairs or bales can or need to be, where the items for the Sand ceremony or the ribbons for the Handfasting will be placed and so on. Also, where you, the couple will stand plus your celebrant would certainly be chatting beforehand with the photographer and the videographer to ensure that they get the best pictures/film of you, the couple, as the ceremony unfolds.
The ring exchange is such a special moment
Enthusiasm
Your celebrant will be an enthusiastic and super keen person who wants to do their best for you, who will be there over the months to lend an ear and to give you support when needed. She will be there to deliver your perfect bespoke ceremony and at the same time make you feel relaxed and super happy.
She’s got this!
Time for the celebrant to chat with the happy couple after a beautiful ceremony at Belgrave Hall, Leicester
Already being married at the Register Office some months before, My husband Chris and I decided that we wanted to celebrate our marriage and my 60th Birthday with fifty family and friends and have one big party this summer. We wanted to keep to a reasonable budget as we were planning a much-needed extension to our house and also wanted to make it as sustainable as possible. So we decided to have an outdoor wedding!
We held the Wedding Party, as it became known, in my mum’s garden which had been the venue for many happy family occasions over the years!
The venue: the garden and the ‘Bar’
So, with my mum’s blessing , we already had the venue which saved us a major expense. We did have some minor jobs to do to bring the garden up to speck but the main job was to turn the run-down garage into a Bar! This was furnished with a lot of the leftover wooden boards and planks by the super recycler, who is my husband, then painted and decorated with some of the old items left there which had family memories. I also trawled local antique shops in Leicester and Market Harborough for other key ‘Outlander’ and Bar items, some of which I ended up hiring .
A box of fun at the Flower Wall!
Choosing the photographer and other suppliers
One of the first decisions we made was to have the same photographer that we had had for our Register office ceremony. So Sammy got the job! She had been awesome on that day and had got to know us both well! Sammy, like the majority of our chosen wedding suppliers are members of the Leicester Wedding Network which means they are locally-based professionals. As I am also in the Network in my role as celebrant I felt sure that I had chosen the right people for the job!
The Dress
I went to Bridal Reloved Leicester for my wedding dress. I knew that Mel always has a lot of wonderful dresses to choose from and she is so knowledgeable and professional. I went there with my mum and decided on a beautiful new dress that reminded me straightaway in style to the dresses worn by Claire the character in ‘Outlander’ and with Chris being a Stuart – the ‘Outlander’ theme was born! The very talented Roisin added a bodice to the dress and I also bought a pretty lace-trimmed veil which matched the dress so well. My shoes were from Irregular Choice in Leicester. I was so pleased with them as they are pink and they had just the right heel shape I wanted to match the 18th century theme! I also still had my lovely blue garter from Extra Special Touches to wear!
The Kilt and the Bridesmaids
The kilt with all it’s accoutrements had been bought on holiday from a charity shop in Edinburgh as well the super highland dress which my sister-in-law had had made for herself there. The kilt was a purple, blue and black tartan. I bought a similar tartan ribbon called ‘Pride of Scotland’ for the bouquets and to decorate the garden. I’d been away on a Hen Party to Cardiff with bridesmaids or as I called them ‘Dishonourable Matrons! So, they’d all got to know each other. They were dressed in their own favourite dress to match the overall colour theme of pink, lilac, purple and dark blue.
Walking Down the Aisle!
The Flowers and the Confetti
The flower bouquets and the confetti were absolutely gorgeous! My hand tied bouquet was in a rustic style with pale pink peonies, mauve clematis, cream rosebuds, white thistle, white stocks and foliage. The bridesmaids bouquets mirrored mine and the button holes had cream rosebud, white thistle, purple clematis and foliage. The piece de resistance ; my mum’s thank-you bouquet was just amazing!
Sunglasses were de rigeur! It was such a sunny day!
Organisation
Chris and I were able to delegate on a grand scale! We were very lucky to have a lot of support and help from family and friends in the weeks and days before the event and afterwards as well to help tidy up! I planned everything: the colours, themes and items for the different outdoor ‘Rooms’ and shared this with close family, bridesmaids and the key suppliers on a private Pinterest board. We also had a private Facebook Guest Page where we organised the finer details of the Day and asked for help decorating the garden and laying out tables and benches the day before and managing the Bar, the tea making, and requested ‘Photo Booth’ accessories for the day!
The Ceremony
Chris and I had decided that we wanted to experience a celebrant-led ceremony ourselves. I chose Evelyn Silver as we had met , both being celebrants, on a number of occasions, so I knew what an enthusiastic and creative person she was and that we would be in safe hands. We talked through our Reasons for Marrying with her and decided to include a Handfasting using the tartan colours with my daughter and Chris’s two other sisters also taking part. As well as a Key ceremony based on an old Viking tradition of marking the joining of two ‘Families’ on the lines of ‘Game of Thrones’ , together; using a giant key.
Running the Confetti Gauntlet!
Dog Ringbearer Splendida!
Chris and I personalised and read our vows. Chris wrote his own and I chose the poem to read ; ‘Why Marriage?’ by Dena Acolatse which I felt matched me to a T! We also wanted to include our dog Storm in the occasion. She was the star of the show! Afterwards, she enjoyed a few sandwiches, in between getting her strength back for the rest of the day! We also enjoyed our daughter -in-law’s super reading of the poem ‘How Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog’ by Taylor Mali.
Afternoon Tea
The Afternoon Tea was organised by myself and my son, who also prepared it all except for the cakes which were made by talented local cakemakers, Debbie and Tracey . Tracey baked the delicious cupcakes and Debbie created the awesome wedding cake! The scones came from Occasion’s Teashop as well as a surprise cake from the neighbour next door. We were so lucky to be able to put together a cracking afternoon tea which everyone enjoyed. We had gradually bought a stock of alcohol and mixers in the months beforehand for the bar: mainly Pimm’s, prosecco, gin, cider, beer and juice. We followed the ceremony with a Pimm’s and then had a prosecco toast for the cake cutting.
The Bar
The Bar was one of the favourite places for all the guests, not just because of the alcohol! There was lots of chatting as well as catching up on old family photos and stories!
Cutting the cake and the speeches
The wedding cake did well in the heat and there was plenty to go round. There was a lemon buttercream one and the other tier was vanilla. We had a special rendition of ‘My Brother’ from Chris’s sisters and then we had the bouquet throwing We didn’t have any speeches as such which suited the day very well.
Super Succulents as Favours
Presents and Favours
I had lots of fun giving out thank-you presents and then
when the guests started to leave, they all had a super cute succulent plant to
take home with them.
Entertainment
There was plenty for the guests to do. It was great for everyone making friends and catching with each other and having photos taken at the Flower Wall – the basket of hats went down really well! There were lots of places to have a chat or relax around the garden and in the Bar. Then there was the Silent Disco with three different tracks to choose from. Adults and kids thought this was great and had a lot of fun dancing and singing together!
Silent Disco Time!
It was a real success!
It was a truly amazing day! Chris and I were both ecstatic!
The Day had taken a lot of preparation and organisation and it went off with hardly
a hitch. We did lose my hair comb but thankfully another was fetched!! All the
guests said that the day went really well and that they were so pleased to have
met up with family and friends that they hadn’t seen for years.
All the guests said that the wedding ceremony and party were
very different from anything they’d experienced before. It was very relaxed and
laid-back, and they really liked it! The Day was a real success!
Spot on!
Suppliers
A massive thank you to all the suppliers and shops!
Having a Naming Ceremony is a wonderful idea to introduce a new baby into the family. It is a meaningful and unique celebration for all concerned where the child is named in front of family and friends.
‘Susan – a big thank-you for making it so special!’
The happy parents and baby after the ceremony.
Time to Celebrate
A ceremony that I conducted recently, was a celebration to welcome the new baby and his family back to England from another country, in this case, Australia. Only the immediate family had spent time with him abroad and this was an opportunity for everyone to meet up and renew family links and for the other children to get to know their cousin or family friend.
”The ceremony was beautiful!‘
The arrival of the very special boy and his mum!
The Celebrant and the Family together create the ideal ceremony
The creation of a ceremony is a joint effort. I work closely with the parents to ensure that they are happy with the script and that we all see the whole ceremony as a collaboration between us all. I furnish the family with a questionnaire including questions about the child, his position in the family, his character, his pregnancy and birth and the dreams and aspirations his family hold for his future. We then discuss the type of ceremony they want and the venue and how it will be dressed. We talk about music, poetry and readings and gradually through a process of knowing what they don’t want as well as what they do want , this truly personalised ceremony starts to take shape. This could happen over a few days or weeks, sometimes months depending on the timeframe.
‘Great advice and ideas! ‘
This is a responsible time for parents and other members of the family such as the grandparents, guardians/guideparents and sisters and brothers. For this particular ceremony, the grandparents, who live in England, had organised the celebration and had met with myself on a number of occasions to share the family’s wishes and ideas and I had created it with their blessing.
Chatting with the guardian about his part in the ceremony.
The Role of the Parents and of the Guardians
The family normally choose a number of guardians or guideparents for the baby. They will make promises to care for and support the children alongside their parents. In this case, the baby’s aunt was one of his guardians as was a very good family friend who had come over for the occasion from Canada. This was in addition to the parents who had chosen to declare their love and their commitment to their child through personalised promises and hopes for his future life.
Involving the Rest of the Family
Other siblings could be involved in the ceremony depending on their age. They could sing, read a poem or play a musical piece. In this case, as she was quite young and in a strange environment, the baby’s sister sat and enjoyed the ceremony with her grandparents and at the end she came up and was very happy to be photographed with her mum and dad and baby brother.
Parents, baby and his new guardians!
Other types of Naming or Welcoming Ceremonies
Sometimes a family will take the opportunity to celebrate the Naming of more than one child and have a ceremony for two or more children. Again if they are older they may take a more central role in the ceremony, singing a song, reading some words or a poem about the special event.
A Naming ceremony may take place to welcome an adopted child into a family. Or if two people have or are going to get married they might decide to have a joint Wedding and Naming ceremony to demonstrate the blending together of two families into one.
Nanna reading her own special poem to her grandson
Special Moments During the Ceremony
As part of the ceremony , the family may choose to light candles to demonstrate their love for their baby or family members can enjoy taking part in a Sand ceremony where different colours of sand are mixed together in a glass container to demonstrate the coming together of the new family. There are other rituals such as preparing a Time Capsule for the baby’s 18th birthday or having a Memories Book which would include a photo of each of the guests at the celebration and alongside it a personal message for the baby. There are so many ideas to choose from.
‘You were very helpful and friendly!
The End of the Ceremony! An opportunity for photos!
These ceremonies can be performed in a venue or at home as an expression of love and togetherness. Inside or outside; in a private garden or in the grounds of a venue. They can be at the weekend or during the week , the couple can choose what suits them best depending on their lifestyle, their location and whether family and friends are local or further afield.
‘Everyone had a fabulous time too!’
My role as a Celebrant is to create a unique and personalised ceremony that each family will enjoy and remember with fondness.
‘We could not have wished for a better Naming ceremony! Once again, many thanks!’
I was very happy to conduct the wedding of Sarah and Andy this summer in a wonderful woodland venue at Cotesbach in Leicestershire! They wanted their wedding to have festival vibes and it certainly had those! There was a beautifully decorated marquee, plenty of tents to accommodate the guests over the weekend and a big field, woodland glade and a treehouse to explore and enjoy!
The ceremony has begun in the woodland glade.
The Wedding Ceremony
Sarah and Andy wanted a romantic and magical ceremony that involved their family and friends. We met at a super old hotel in nearby Lutterworth, the Greyhound Inn, one Saturday and discussed their ideas and dreams for the day. They decided to include a symbolic ceremony as part of the whole affair. This would be a Handfasting ribbon ceremony to seal their love!
The ribbon is doubled up and placed over the couples’ hands with the loop nearer the guests.
The Handfasting Ceremony
There are many types of Handfasting ceremonies and Sarah and Andy chose to have the Ribbon ceremony in which their hands would be tied together. As the groom’s family has Scottish roots they decided to have a tartan ribbon from their Clan. They wanted their mothers to take part in this symbolic ceremony too. So the two mothers tied on their own red ribbons to demonstrate their love and support for the newly married couple.
The ends are being pulled through the loop.
The Colours of the Ribbons
There are thirteen colours that are used for Handfasting and each has multiple meanings! By using a tartan ribbon Sarah and Andy virtually covered the whole range of colours! In addition, they chose red for their mums. This colour represents all these qualities: love, passion, health, courage, strength, fertility and vigour!
The ends are through and being tightened!
The Different Types of Fastenings
Ribbons of different colours, widths and materials can be used for the Handfasting. If the couple prefer they can have a twisted cord made up of three or more colours which can be made in advance of the ceremony or the ribbons/cords can be made into a cord during the ceremony with family and friends each adding a different coloured cord to represent their blessing for the happy couple.
The ribbon is fastened up.
The Background to Handfasting
The photos below demonstrate the ceremony. It can take five minutes: it can take fifteen minutes depending on the loving words and poems that the couple choose to demonstrate their feelings for each other and their future live together. This ceremony has no legal status but is an ancient custom that dates back over a thousand years and is from whence the expression’ tying the knot’ originates. This part of the wedding ceremony was wonderful as the woodland setting gave the Handfasting a magical and timeless aura.
The mums are tying on the red ribbons
Step by Step
Sarah and Andy faced one another and took each other’s right hand as if to shake it; with plenty of room for the guests to see. Then, the 2m long ribbon was doubled up and placed over both their hands with the folded part of the ribbon hanging away from me. I then took this and threaded the two ends of the ribbon through the loop. This then tightened the loop and allowed the two ribbons to be easily decorated by the two mothers. The red ribbons were about a metre long and each was tied into a bow which everyone could see. The couple kept the ribbon on and then at the end of the wedding ceremony , easily slipped it off and passed it over to their Maid of Honour for safekeeping.
On both sides.
May your love and marriage be as steadfast and tightly bound as your lovers’ knot.
World-wide Paris is known as the city of love.It is one of the most popular holiday destinations for couples. It is often the place where a proposal of marriage takes place and these days you can even elope there and have a Celebrant-led ceremony next to the Eiffel Tower!
Of course, Paris is full of tourists , especially in June, however, we took advantage of this and enjoyed sitting at cafes, people watching and enjoying the local food and drinks. At other times, we sauntered in the quieter streets of the city and at Versailles walked to the Petit Trianon and visited the beautifully restored country retreat of Marie Antionette.
Even, just in Montmartre there were so many places to visit , such as Sacre Coeur and Le Moulin Rouge and so many restaurants from which to choose.
Romance is something to cherish: first as a young couple in the first flush of love or as a married couple relishing all that such a city can offer!
It’s a place that we plan on returning to soon.
As Audrey Hepburn said in the film Sabrina: Paris is always a good idea!
As a celebrant I see the wedding ceremony as all about you! The sky’s the limit! Tell me about your dream ceremony and let’s get started!
So, when you get in touch with me, my first thought is am I the best person for the job? Initially, we always meet-up, face-to-face: in a pub, at the venue or via Skype. In this way we can all be sure that we get along and we have enough interests and ideas in common to make the relationship work.
So far, it’s been a 100% track record!
It is at this first and subsequent meetings or communications that I really get to know you both! Watching you interact together and listening to you talking about your hopes and dreams for the ceremony and how you fit together as a couple.
I can learn about your feelings for each other, what you love about each other, what you have in common such as a love of travel, hobbies or a TV programme. You will have the same values and will share dreams and aspirations for your future together. It is this information that helps me create your personal and unique ceremony.
My focus for writing the script will be this meeting and the details in the questionnaire I will send to you to complete. Here you will give me your vision of what the ceremony will be like. Maybe you will talk about a ceremony you have attended as a guest in which there was a Handfasting or you want to include members of your family in the ceremony, maybe your brother to sing a favourite song or a close friend to read a poem. These ideas help me to start to create the sort of ceremony that reflects your personalities and ideas.
Sometimes, you may not be sure about whether you want a symbolic element to the ceremony such as a unity candle, a loving cup or Jumping the Broom, the list of choices goes on and on… Maybe you want to have vows and ring promises but are not sure whether you want to write them yourself or even say them on your own. I can help! We can discuss these fundamentals over time and I can share my resources with you and then focus on what you are keen on and what you feel comfortable with.
As your celebrant, I can ensure that you remember the ceremony for all the right reasons with the people, animals! elements and emotions you want to share with your chosen friends and family.
I am passionate about making the ceremony totally yours!
It was a great experience! I was so pleased to share in the Renewal of Vows Ceremony for Kelly and Henry at Stapleford Park, Leicestershire on New Year’s Eve last year.
Kelly and Henry had married in Mexico eighteen months ago and wanted family and friends to share and experience together a traditional wedding ceremony at this amazing country house hotel!
The wedding party included all of their parents and brothers and sisters who were able to attend and this made the ceremony very special to Kelly and Henry.
The Orangery was perfect for the ceremony as the candles surrounded by beautiful white flowers shone in the winter twilight. The guests were animated and there was plenty of laughter as well as some tears. Afterwards the Wedding Party returned to the main house in their golf buggies to be joined by their guests ready to party the New’s Year’s Eve night away!
Congratulations Kelly and Henry and all the very best for your future life together!
Acknowledgements: Kelly and Henry and the staff at Stapleford Park, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
