2022 IS GO!

After a little winter downtime, I can offically say that 2022 is go!! The last few months have been packed with meetings and discussions for what are sure to be utterly glorious ceremonies but it’s now time for weddings, weddings and more weddings!

The beautiful Easter weekend saw me hit the road for my first ceremonies of the year and they could not have been more perfect. The sun was shining, the blossom was blooming and everyone was most certainly in the mood to celebrate. It feels great to be back, conducting ceremonies for the loveliest couples and, when I flick through my diary, there’s certainly so much to look forward to in the coming months. 2022 will be overflowing with celebrations and, after the last few years, what could be better?

“Just a quick note to thank you for last weekend... we loved having you with us and you made the ceremony so special and personal.”

— Hannah & Adam, April 2022

On that note, I’m now fully booked until November 2022 with some dates late over winter ‘22/’23. 2023 is filling up too so if you’d like to work with me to create a ceremony that will be totally unlike any other, do get in touch.

A little look back to a ceremony in summer 2021 - Naomi & David at Euridge Manor. Planned by Jennifer Louise Weddings with photography by Poppy Carter Portraits.

ANDREA & DAVE AT ASYLUM CHAPEL

I can’t tell you how good it feels to be able to share some of this year’s amazing weddings after such a long time! Every ceremony this year feels so incredibly special and there’s a real atmosphere of love, gratitude and pure enjoyment in the air at every single one and Andrea and Dave’s July wedding at the extraordinary Asylum Chapel in London was one I won’t forget.

As you can see from the images in this post, not only is the backdrop to this ceremony stunning but Andrea and Dave make the most gorgeous couple and the ceremony was such a delight. Personal vows, beautiful readings, laughter, tears and every emotion in between - what more could you ask for?!

“We just wanted to say thank you so much for being there on our day!!

We had so many comments about how fantastic the ceremony was, about how well you spoke and how you made it just the right amount of funny and emotional. You really were an absolute dream to work with and you made it so special for us from start to finish - we honestly can’t thank you enough! We’re so glad you could be with us for the day, you really are so sensational at what you do!”

— Andrea & Dave

TIPS FOR OUTDOOR WEDDING CEREMONIES

There are so many reasons why couples choose to work with a wedding celebrant. However, when I speak to my lovely clients, there’s one reason that comes up time and time again - outdoor wedding ceremonies. As a celebrant-led wedding can take place anywhere, everywhere is a potential venue. I’ve led ceremonies in woodlands, in gardens, in a vineyard and even on an island in the middle of the River Thames! If you like the thought of taking your vows outside, here are a few tips to make sure that your ceremony is absolutely perfect.

Image: Dominique Bader

• Always have a Plan B. Whatever your plans, you can’t control the weather. Always have a back-up plan in case of showers and make sure that all your suppliers know what this is. Also, decide who’ll make the decision to move to the alternative plan and when they’ll make that call.

• Get creative with your seating. To make sure that everyone feels part of the ceremony, you could seat everyone in a circle around you or even let some guests stand whilst others sit. Of course, if you like the traditional format, that works perfectly too.

• For summer weddings, consider where the sun will be when you work out the layout of your ceremony space. You might want to make sure you’re standing in shade or that you’re not facing into the sun and squinting throughout your vows! Little details but they’ll make a big difference.

• Think about microphones. I’m pretty good at doing ‘the big voice’ when needed but if you want to make sure everyone will be able to hear your readers, or your vows, you might need to think about mics, particularly if you’ve got lots of guests.

• Consider your backdrop. It might be that you’ve got a particularly pretty spot in mind that will form the backdrop for your ceremony or you might install a super cool backdrop to frame you both. A great backdrop really does make a difference and really brings the wow-factor.

• Don’t be afraid to sit down! Standing up throughout your ceremony, particularly on a hot summer day, wearing a big dress or heavy suit, can get hot and tiring. Why not set out two seats so that you can sit down for part of your ceremony?

If you’d like to talk to me about your own outdoor wedding ceremony, do get in touch. I have a real soft spot for al-fresco ceremonies and would love to work with you to create something super special.

YOUR VERY OWN WEDDING CEREMONY

The term ‘wedding celebrant’ is one that you’re probably going to hear a lot more of over the coming year, even if you’re not quite sure what it means right now! You see, over the last decade or so, we’ve all become rather brilliant at personalising every aspect of our wedding days apart from the most important bit – the ceremony itself.

Now I know that you can choose your readings and choose your music but aside from that, the format of your ceremony has remained pretty much untouched for years. It’s true that more locations have become registered for ceremonies but there are still a whole heap of restrictions in place that could well stop you from having the style of ceremony that you want in a spot that means the world to you at a time that suits you best.

Victoria & Jon, 2018. Image by River & Fern.

However, with a celebrant-led ceremony, you can absolutely throw that rulebook out of the window. If you want to hold your ceremony in a park, on the beach or in a meaningful location that’s not legally registered, you can. As the saying goes - any time, any place, anywhere.

Now as great as that sounds, that’s not even the best bit. What makes a celebrant-led ceremony so very special is you. Instead of repeating standard words in a ceremony led by someone you might well not have ever met before, your wedding ceremony becomes totally and utterly yours when you work with a celebrant.

Vows written by Wild & Oak. Image by Hannah Duffy.

When you work with a celebrant, your ceremony is extra special. Instead of a script drafted by government bureaucrats, someone who’s got to know you and your amazing, wonderful, personal story writes yours with care.

You can include elements from various religions and cultures that are significant to you, you can involve many people in many ways and if you’ve got children, pets, extra special friends or adored family members who are no longer with you, they can all be included and honoured in a way that works for you.

Compare that with a ‘traditional’ ceremony where to become legally married, you need less than fifty words. Your history, your relationship, your hopes and dreams for the future don’t have a place in what should be the centrepiece of your wedding day.

Lucy & John, 2019. Image by Sanshine Photography

I can also promise you that your ceremony will still ‘feel’ like a wedding. We’re so conditioned to believe that weddings can only follow a certain pattern in certain places that it’s easy to think that anything else will somehow feel ‘wrong’ or ‘less’.

But this is your day, your relationship and most importantly, it’s your love story. You do have the option to tell it in the way you want and when it’s such a unique and special thing, doesn’t it just deserve the most personal celebration ever? I’m very sure it does.

GOODBYE 2019

As we head towards the end of the year, I so hope that you’re finding time to relax and wind down over the festive period. Whatever you’re up to, have a marvellous time.

2019 was an absolutely fantastic year for Wild and Oak - I conducted my weddings than ever before and I was lucky enough to work in some truly stunning venues with the most amazing, loved-up and downright gorgeous couples. Every wedding was special and I have so many wonderful memories of all these happy occasions.

Lucy & John, 2019. Image by Sanshine Photography

There’s also no doubt that, for so many reasons, 2019 gave us all cause to think. Whether you’re worried about climate change, upset by Brexit or dealing with any kind of family or personal ‘stuff’, the past 12 months might not have been easy. I think that in the midst of all manner of upheavals, there’s something brave, admirable and utterly hopeful about a wedding. Two people choosing to go forward into the unknown together is nothing short of a miracle and it’s a joy and an honour to be part of those miraculous moments.

So, when those New Year bells bong, let’s raise a glass to love and lovers everywhere.

Sarah & Nick, 2019. Image by Dominique Bader

WILD & OAK ON COUNTRY HOUSE WEDDING VENUES

I absolutely love the fact that more and more people are getting excited about celebrant-led weddings. Over the last few months, I’ve definitely notice a growing interest in personal, unique and individual ceremonies from couples and wedding professionals. The fabulous Country House Wedding Venues group are part of this movement and they invited me to talk about personalising your ceremony with a celebrant.

My feature is now live on their brilliant website so why not have a read here? When you’ve finished, I thoroughly recommend browsing through their collection of inspiration articles or taking a look at their collection of wedding venues if you’ve not yet found the perfect spot for your wedding.

Here’s a little snippet from my article to whet your appetite…

“When it comes to weddings, one size absolutely does not fit all and as everyone has become very used to personalising every element of their wedding day to make sure it absolutely suits who they are, why not personalise your ceremony too? It makes total sense doesn’t it? The highlight of your wedding day, the big moment, the focal point for the entire celebration should suit you. It should be yours, and yours alone. It should be a beautiful reflection of your lives, your story, your hopes for the future and, most importantly, it should be all about you.”

A huge thank you to Country House Wedding Venues for asking me to talk about ceremonies with celebrants and here’s to individuality!