Uncertain Times
At the beginning of 2020 many people all over the world were looking forward to celebrations big and small. I was looking forward to a very special trip with dear friends to celebrate my birthday, couples were putting the finishing touches to their long planned for wedding days, parents were looking forward to introducing their long awaited baby to the members of their family., couples had booked the venue, celebrant and caterer for the Renewal of Vows Ceremony to celebrate their twenty fifth wedding anniversary - Oops!
None of us could have known what was to happen, so many of us have had to put our plans on hold. - people have been amazing in their resilience and acceptance, but as the world begins to take small steps towards returning to some kind of normality what do we do?
I know that engaged couples are taking different approaches - some will postpone until next year, others go ahead with the permitted number of guests, families are thinking about 2021 and I am stiil waiting to see if the holiday company will even be around to re-book my holiday for next year.
I am very open to providing any kind of ceremony and would be delighted to help you make those all important decisions.
Call, or email me to see what we can do to make your ceremony come to life.
www.celebrantservicesandmore.co.uk
Naming Ceremonies
What’s that all about? I hear you say. Well, we live in quite secular times,, many people will not choose to have their children baptised, but may want to celebrate the birth of their baby and mark the occasion with a Naming Ceremony. Many parents like to choose a number of special people who will take the role of Guardian or Protector - a similar role to that of God Parent without the commitment to any particular religion.
If you choose an Independent Celebrant to lead your Naming Ceremony can take any form, be as intimate or large as you wish. and be held at home or at a venue of your choice. Many parents take the opportunity to host a celebratory party with particular focus on the children present. I have many ideas of how to create a great day, (big or small, formal or informal, at home or on the beach, bouncy castle or Jenga - the day is yours. See my contact details for ways of getting in touch, I would be very happy to have an informal chat.
Registrar, Celebrant, Both?
Registrars will often carry out a number of ceremonies each day so they will insist on keeping to the designated time. ... A Celebrant is self-employed and will take time to get to know you and work with you to craft a beautiful, bespoke, non-legally binding ceremony that reflects your ideas, values and personalities.6 Sep 2019 The Celebrantdirectory.com
Why engage a Celebrant, I hear you say when we can just have the registrar? Since the 1994 Marriage Law came into play, couples have had much more choice about where they can get married. The new law enabled couples to marry in hotels, barns, manor houses etc and this change meant that they could also create a far more individual and personalised ceremony led by an independent Celebrant rather than relying only on the legal exchanging of vows led by a council authorised Registrar.
It is necessary in the United Kingdom for all couples to have their marriage registered by a Registrar who is employed by the registry office. There are, however a number of ways that this can be done.
The first option is one that many couples now opt for. The legal ceremony is carried out with the minimal number of witnesses - (quite often parents or close friends) prior to the ‘Big Day’, in fact many see it as extending the celebrations and follow the registry office ceremony with a lovely lunch or dinner.
The Legal ceremony can take place at the Registry Office on the morning of the couple’s wedding day with all their guests present - everyone then moves on to the couple’s chosen venue for their Celebrant led, personally written ceremony, which can include music, readings, live performance and even a prayer should they they so choose.
A third option is to have the Registrar and the Celebrant conduct the ceremony together. The legal requirements of a marriage ceremony are actually very brief and this option can enable you to combine your personal wishes with the legal declarations. The only restrictions are that the ceremony must take place under a permanent structure and there must be no religious content, whether that is words, music or prayers.
Couples can have their wedding led by a registrar at a venue authorised to hold marriage ceremonies.
The decision of what to do is incredibly personal and all choices can work extremely well. I led a ceremony working with the registrar from the local council. I was initially a little concerned about the ceremony being a little ‘clunky’ but the three way conversations between the couple, registrar and myself ensured that it flowed beautifully.
If you would like to know more about the options for your ceremony please contact me for an informal chat.
How to Find the Right Celebrant
How to Find the Right Celebrant for You?
As you are visiting Celebrant Services and More, I guess you may have decided to look into hiring a Celebrant for your upcoming ceremony? Whether it is a wedding, naming ceremony, renewal of vows, or possibly a commitment ceremony I am here to help, but, I hear you say, how do we know that we are booking the right celebrant? Well, lets think about that one!
Where to Look?
Ask friends and family for recommendations, they may have been a guest at a Celebrant led ceremony, or they may have engaged one.
There are numerous Celebrant websites and nowadays Wedding sites include listings for Celebrants in their suppliers section. Good old Google will also point you towards Celebrants in your chosen location, venues will also very often have celebrants on their preferred suppliers list.
What do you want for your ceremony?
You have decided to engage a celebrant and started to look around, celebrants will probably be keen to know how you would like your ceremony to be. You may be thinking that you have no idea, but try to think about your wishes for the occasion, what impressions would you like your guests to go away with?
What’s your style - relaxed, light hearted, fun, formal, informal? I begin by asking any potential clients a few questions that will open up the conversation and start to give me some feelings for what people would like the style of their ceremony to be.
What to ask celebrants?
You Me
Do you create every ceremony from scratch? Yes
Can we include music, poetry, symbolic ceremonies? Yes
Can we include some religious elements in our ceremony? Yes
Can you help us to find music, musicians, readings? Yes
Does your fee include everything? Yes
Trust your instincts, based on what you want for your ceremony.
I’m a great believer in first impressions, so if you like the sound of a celebrant when you first speak to them, see their images, take things to the next step. Ask if you can arrange to meet to gain a good understanding of whether a Celebrant is the one for you.
Things to think about:
Can you imagine them leading your ceremony and engaging with your guests?
Do they make you feel comfortable?
Do you feel they are a safe pair of hands?
Are they fun, but sincere at the same time?
Do they listen to you?
At the end of the day, whatever your ceremony is, your Celebrant should be totally committed to making it the best possible experience for you and your guests and your instinct should tell you who is the right one for you.
https//.www.celebrantservicesandmore@gmail.com