Posts Tagged ‘Alternative Wedding’
Real Handfasting Ceremony at Stonehenge Wiltshire
A Handfasting Ceremony at Stonehenge Inner Circle Jessica and Philip celebrated their love with a special handfasting ceremony officiated by Glenda Procter known as the Queen of Handfastings. Torrential rain did not dampen their spirits nor take away any of the romance and love that radiated between them. The rain-soaked them through and the umbrella they shared did little to keep them dry… but they had their love to keep them warm. Glenda shared their story with us. Many couples look on a Handfasting Ceremony within the Inner Circle at Stonehenge as the ultimate venue for their spiritual Handfasting. Conducting a handfasting ceremony at Stonehenge within the Inner Circle is just so special. To be invited at short…
Read MorePros and cons of leap year proposals
Are leap year proposals outdated? The four-year wait is over and February 29 is fast approaching giving, traditionally, the female population the opportunity to propose to their other halves. Are leap year proposals outdated or a sweet tradition? The history of leap year proposals It is believed the history of leap year proposals dates back to the 5th century when an Irish nun called Bridget is said to have been rather upset at the length of time women had to wait for a man to ask for their hand in marriage. Upon discussing this with St Patrick, he told her that women could from then on propose on the leap year. Leap year traditions Weddings and tradition still go hand…
Read MoreAre same sex weddings any different to heterosexual weddings in the UK?
Ok so this is a question we often get asked, and it has a very simple answer, hell no! Bet you didn’t expect that…. ok so what we mean is every ceremony is different, unique, and personalised. Heterosexual, bisexual, gay or just a little bit barmy, it doesn’t matter who you are marrying, you can pick and choose the elements you like from a traditional ceremony and mash it up with your own style. On a serious note however, legally, a marriage is the recognized union between two people partnering in a personal relationship whether that be two people who are a man and women, two women or two men. It is simply two people declaring their love for one…
Read MoreThe secrets to a successful elopement
Celebrants are accustomed to responding to the warmth, energy and loving emotion of close family and invited guests surrounding their wedding couple. So how do you create the right atmosphere at a marriage blessing with just two people present? One Celebrant offers an insight into a real-life, modern elopement and shares the secrets as to what makes this most intimate of ceremonies successful. (Photographic journal by very kind permission of Pedro Bellido Photography) What is an elopement? Historically an elopement was when two people ran away to get married. Couples often eloped because of family disapproved of their union and for this reason would have a secret ceremony some distance from their home so as not to be found out. These…
Read MoreSo you think you’d like a Star Wars wedding?
Themed weddings are so on trend right now. Everyone wants some fun and laughter in their lives. When you use a celebrant at your wedding, we guarantee a totally unique ceremony that family and friends will always remember. But there is unique and then there is…….Star Wars! When fabulous couple Rachel and Paul wanted a Star Wars themed wedding, their lovely celebrant jumped at the chance. Read their real ceremony story below. May the force be with you We celebrants love themed weddings and one of the weirdest but best weddings I ever did was with Rachel and Paul, who told me they wanted a Star Wars themed wedding service. When I first met the couple, Paula’s parents were also…
Read MoreTop tips for planning your 2018 wedding
Getting married this year? Then here’s some useful advice on how to make your big day go with a bang… Remember, no matter what all those wedding and lifestyle magazines would have you believe; this is NOT a competition. Having the grandest venue, or the most expensive dress in the shop does not grant you the wedding of your dreams. In fact, budget-friendly, DIY weddings, full of everything heart-felt and home-made, are proving time and time again to be a winning formula. Let go of the ‘wedding blueprint’ and plan a day that is authentically ‘YOU’. Have your eyes open, and your ears ‘on slumber’ Look around you – are you and your partner really all about fine-wines and fancy-pants…
Read More5 Quirky Wedding Venues In Norfolk For Creative Couples
Are you looking for something a little bit different when it comes to a venue for your wedding day? Norfolk provides some extraordinary quirky wedding venues, from eclectic art rooms to safari themed barns. Self-proclaimed quirky celebrant Dawn Rees of Dawn Rees Ceremonies is a humanist celebrant with a zest for easy-going, offbeat yet sincere ceremonies. In her words, she’s “just as likely to have a tequila shot with the couple in the middle of a ceremony as I am to pass the tissues to a tearful bride or groom” Based in Norfolk and a regular celebrant at many of the venues she’s the perfect woman for the job. She gives us her top picks for quirky wedding venues in…
Read MoreTop Budget Ideas for a Wedding
A big factor and often the first hurdle when planning a wedding is the budget. Before couples can start getting into the exciting details of planning, money can dominate what is realistically achievable and often, people have to reconsider their original plans. There are so many key things to be factored into the cost of a wedding and it’s so easy to get lost in amazing ideas and put cost on the back burner. Every couple wants a day to remember and who wants it to be governed by cost?! The Celebrant Directory member Gerri Webb, Making Memories by Gerri, shares her thoughts on planning a wedding on a budget! What do you need to consider when crunching the numbers?…
Read MoreCelebrant secrets to a relaxed wedding ceremony
One celebrant shares a few professional tricks to make sure that your guests feel like they are a huge part of your day… from the ones you’ve known for 20 years to the ones who’ve been in your life for 20 months and even the new ‘plus ones’ that you haven’t met yet!. After all, there’s always one person at a wedding that’s never met the wedding couple, so read on for celebrant secrets to a relaxed wedding ceremony. The Welcome… May all who come as guests leave as friends Setting the right tone starts with making those people who don’t know anybody feel like they know everybody! A super shiny smiling celebrant will BE THERE for your guests as…
Read MoreWhat is a Micro Wedding and is it right for you?
So, what are micro weddings and why are they so popular? Micro weddings are weddings on a smaller scale – yes pretty much exactly what they say on the tin! They give the couple a chance to take the pressure off from a huge, 200 guest set wedding and scale back to what’s most important to them. Planning a wedding can be slightly overwhelming so micro weddings can offer a beautifully intimate alternative and offer greater flexibility. Once the pressure is off from trying to organise a big wedding, it can be liberating! You have the freedom to make decisions and spend time on the finer details that really reflect you and your partner. Here are just a few reasons…
Read MoreAlternative Wedding Ceremony Ideas – The Exchange of Gins
Forget the exchanging of rings, we’re loving the idea of exchanging gins! If you’re looking for an alternative wedding ceremony idea then this is definitely one to add to the list and can be performed with a number of different spirits or drinks of your choice! This alternative wedding ceremony was held by our wonderful directory member Celebrant India of India Bel Ceremonies who loves working with creative individuals and couples to create bespoke ceremonies that are full of personality. India says; “Your big day should be as special and unique as you – you deserve more than a ‘cookie cutter’ ceremony! I create ceremonies all about you, your story, and reflect who you are. I am passionate…
Read MoreWhat is unique about celebrant led weddings?
One Australian born officiant asks those all important questions to discover the unique elements of a celebrant led ceremony. All celebrants are passionate about their work and about creating the perfect ceremony. Talking personally here, I’m hardworking, I care, and I love to tell stories. Does that make me unique…nope! I can be creative, inspiring, flexible…does that make me unique? Not really. What makes the couple unique? What makes you unique? Now that’s the question I like to ask. I feel my skill is in finding out what makes you unique and then tailoring your ceremony around your uniqueness. Quirky, boho, simple, extravagant… working together we can create a beautiful and meaningful ceremony. Your ceremony could be for a few…
Read MoreHow do I include my children in my wedding ceremony?
Here’s a summary of our top ideas to include a child in your wedding ceremony Write your children into your wedding ceremony Give your child a meaningful gift A family wedding certificate Include a child in a Handfasting ceremony Involve your child in a Sand Ceremony When a couple has children, either from their relationship or from previous relationships, I ask how they envision including the children in the ceremony. Sometimes they consider a traditional wedding party role, though more often than not, they have limited ideas for how to involve their children. If the ceremony is celebrating the blending of a family through marriage, it’s not only a nice idea to include the children, it’s essential that everyone in…
Read MoreReflecting brightly coloured rainbow wedding celebrations in your ceremony
With summer just around the corner many couples are looking to style their special day with a little (or a lot!) of bright colour. Instagram is full of floristry and bridal party couture inspiration, but there are lots of easy ways to inject a rainbow of colour into the most special part of your day; the ceremony! This makes sure you kick your big day off with a clear shout that this is a bright, joyous, colourful occasion! Here’s a few ways you can ensure you walk down the aisle to a burst of brights… Shining happy people! Of course your bridal party will be a rainbow of colour, but the majority of brides don’t want to give up the…
Read MoreHow to plan a vegan wedding ceremony
Eco and ethical weddings: a vegan viewpoint Planning a wedding, as we all know, is not without its challenges. From finding the perfect venue to locating the most exquisite dress, the checklist grows every longer and the need for a wedding planner ever stronger! So you might think that planning a vegan wedding is even more demanding, requiring a much higher degree of research and organisation. Fortunately the reality is that it’s never been easier. A vegan wedding is so much more than the food Thanks to consumer-demand, the wedding industry is experiencing a huge growth in online resources for those brides and grooms wanting to reduce their carbon footprint and make better environmental choices for their most important day.…
Read MoreIt’s Dark Outside – Have your Wedding Under The Moonlight.
By Celebrant Louise Goode Could there be anything more romantic than saying your vows under the light of the moon and the stars? Everything twinkly and glowing. As a celebrant, there is nothing I love more Deep colour palettes or dreamy pastels all make for amazing images that will leave you and your guests with the most beautiful of memories. But there are also some very good practical reasons you might choose to have your wedding at night. To start with it allows plenty of time for guests to travel without an ungodly early start. It also allows you plenty of time to get ready without intense pressure. An evening only event also has the potential to be considerably less…
Read MoreGetting married second time around. I do, take two!
Debbie Skyrme shares her thoughts with The Celebrant Directory on saying I do, take two! Well here’s the thing, I marry people in love and I celebrate whatever your love is. I am a writer and a Celebrant and I love my craft. I was recently asked if I had a favourite wedding and my reply was “the second time a-rounders”. As a Celebrant I totally love writing wedding ceremonies for couples who have been married before – whether widowed or divorced, couples getting married for the second time around are extra special to me. So that got me thinking, why on earth do people get married again? And why do I love celebrating their weddings?! Why do people remarry?…
Read More5 Wedding Sand Ceremony Kits For Your Special Day
Adding a modern twist to a traditional day is a great way to make your wedding ceremony more personal. Adding a sand or unity ceremony is a visual and symbolic way to do this. So, if you’ve already decided on using this as part of your day, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together our recommendations on wedding sand ceremony kits to make your special day even more meaningful. (This post contains affiliate links) Lilian Rose Hourglass Lilian Rose Hourglass Wedding Sand Ceremony Kit This stunning traditional shape with a contemporary edge can be used in your wedding sand ceremony and can be displayed beautifully afterward. It includes three tubes of coloured sand in aqua, white and…
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