Posts Tagged ‘Personalised wedding vows’

When it comes to weddings – you have choice. You choose your venue, your dress, your suits, your photographer, your florist, your stationary, your booze, your DJ, your band, whether you want your dog at your wedding, the colour scheme, will it be indoors or outdoors, what about the date of your entwining and what season? The choice is YOURS, it’s a given.

But did you also know that you have choice when it comes to HOW to have your wedding? Yes, there’s a church, there’s a country house, there are tonnes of beautiful venues out there. BUT did you know that you can also CHOOSE HOW to have your wedding? That’s where I come in.

A celebrant gets to know you both ages before your big day. We ask questions, we sit and have copious cups of tea or a pint in your local. We form a relationship that’s collaborative. As a celebrant, I’m not here to dictate, we don’t adhere to formal structures or belief systems, so for instance, if one person is from a Hindu background and one person is non-religious but you want to weave in both cultures to your day, we can definitely do that. If you want a portrait of your cat on the wall, we can do that. Do you want your dog as your ring bearer, BRILLIANT. How about symbolic elements such as ring warming or handfasting, using ribbons and ties of your favourite colours? Instead of hymns, how about a bit of Rick Astley or dancing out to ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ from Hairspray? Vows that WOW. I can help you write personal vows that mean something to you, your way. Funny and upbeat capturing your love for one another or more serious with pathos – there’s no right or wrong way.
At the heart f the ceremony is your story – that’s where the months of gathering your journey together comes to fruition.
A typical timeline when working with me, looks like this:

Our first meeting – 6-9 months before the wedding
In person over a brew or online if easier. This is where I get to know you – how you met, what makes you smile, your favourite places, the proposal, your families, funny anecdotes and we’ll explore what you’d like to include in your ceremony, such as readings, words, songs, poems and whether you would like my help with your vows or if you want to write your own – essentially, all those lovely things that make you, YOU.

Couples questionnaires – sent after the meeting to get even more info. Fill these out separately so I get both perspectives.

Once received I will go away and work my magic on the ceremony script – bringing together your journey into a memorable story on the day. This will also include a ceremony structure so we can all get a sense on how it feels.

Feedback your thoughts and we will review until perfect.

Final draft will be with you no later than two months before the wedding.

In the 2 months before your wedding I will liaise with your venue and suppliers, especailly your photographer, so we’re all aligned.

Officiating on your BIG DAY. This is the most special moment of all. I get to tell YOUR story, YOUR way, exactly as YOU want.

A registrar will charge quite a sum for coming out to your venue and conducting the legal ceremony – that’s why venues hold licences for purely that. Bear in mind that a licence generally covers a specific part of the building and not all areas.
For instance, in my local authority Waltham Forest approved venue prices, in other words if a registrar comes to you, range from £595-£895 depending on day of the week and time, e.g Saturdays are more expensive than Mondays and Bank Holidays are as much as £1,500.

A ceremony at Fellowship Square which is a wonderful Art Deco building in Walthamstow ranges from £270-£1,700 during the week and £470-£2,000 at weekends and depending on your room of choice.

However, IF you have a no-frills ceremony at your local register office, it’s as little as £62 in my authority. Now that to me is a BARGAIN. Some couples choose to do this a couple of weeks before the wedding with a small group, then save the more meaningful ceremony for the big day of celebration in the venue of your choice. You don’t even have to exchange rings at the register office ceremony – it’s not a legal requirement.

HOW to wed YOUR way –
Choose your venue, once this is done the world is your oyster.
Next, choose your celebrant, do your research because we all bring different flavours to the buffet. For instance, I used to be an actor so have a theatrical side and bring the (GOOD) drama your way.
Arrange a call – I offer a free no obligation call to see if we fit – this goes both ways.

So remember – you DO have choice and you and your guests will remember it for the rest of your lives, because it will have been entirely authentic and personal to you. SO

CHOOSE your Venue
CHOOSE your Celebrant
CHOOSE Freedom and flexibility – no boring ceremonies here
YOUR STORY, YOUR wedding, YOUR way.