Couples
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You don’t want a church service, but don’t want your big day to be a Register Office affair either. You want a quick Register Office ‘I do’ followed by your dream wedding celebration with bespoke vows and exchanging of rings. Many couples are choosing to create ‘do it yourself’ weddings and just about any venue is possible from glamping sites to orchards at sunset, walled gardens of an old Manor house, and Pagan celebrations such as a Hand Fasting are really increasing in popularity. A good celebrant works with you to realise the ceremony that is just right for you.
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You want a wedding ceremony that is not the usual ‘set script’, and because they mean so much, you’d really like to have a go at writing your own vows, but don’t know how to get started and would just like some help to express the feelings that you have, converting these into the pledges that you wish to make. With a celebrant you get to say exactly what you want to get across, with them helping you to express the sentiment you might struggle to put into words, and writing as little or as much as you need them to, and you get to tweak the ceremony until you are satisfied it is just as you wish it to be.
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You would like a wedding ceremony that does not have the constraints of a time slot. Perhaps you want to be a bit creative with your celebration? You receive a very personal service, with the celebrant getting to know you and creating a very personalised and befitting ceremony. A good celebrant builds relationships, forming a bond of trust, and strives to deliver the very best ceremony, to the highest standards of professional conduct. No one ceremony is ever the same with a good celebrant, because they are written for each unique life story. This makes choosing a celebrant special. The good celebrants often end up delivering all of a family or social circle’s funeral, wedding, renewal and naming, ceremonies there after.
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If you want an outdoor evening wedding for sake of argument, held on a Sunday maybe, you would probably need a celebrant to write and conduct this, having got married in a Register Office beforehand. Registrars are not able to operate outside of certain hours and can only marry you at licensed venues. Civil Celebrants can, if willing, do any time, anywhere. Do be clear though, a Civil Celebrant can only conduct a wedding or civil partnership ceremony, once you have completed the legal side of things beforehand.
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Perhaps you’d like to raise a glass at the end of your ceremony. Choosing a Civil Celebrant means that you can make a toast at the end of a Civil Ceremony such as a baby naming or a wedding celebration, should you wish to. Registrars are prohibited from doing this by law.
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Choosing a Civil Celebrant means that you choose choice. Ceremonies and celebrations are very personal and significant times in all our lives, they hold great meaning. Civil Celebrants can help you to create, or create for you, a ceremony that is exactly as you would like it to be, making the process feel smooth and reassuring. You only get to do the real thing once, so you want it to be the best, and a good celebrant will achieve this with ease.
Six reasons for choosing a Civil Celebrant to conduct your wedding celebration
Wedding Celebration Ceremony
Many people are now choosing a quick ‘I do!’ in a Register Office, with a larger gathering for a much more ‘do it yourself’ bespoke ceremony following on afterwards. Whether you wish it to be just the two of you and your dog, making your vows in the middle of a meadow, or in front of two hundred guests at Aynhoe Park, we can work together to make your ceremony just how you wish it to be.
A Wedding Celebration Ceremony can be held just about anywhere, at any time, but only after the legal formalities have already been completed (either the same day or earlier in the week, perhaps overseas). The ceremony can include all of the traditional aspects such as processing up the aisle, making vows, and exchanging rings, as well as incorporating any cultural or religious rites, or other rituals such as Hand Fasting, ring warming, candle lighting (these add ons are listed further down this page).
Call me to arrange a free of charge consultation – just a brief chat or meeting, giving you the opportunity to size me up, see if I am the celebrant for you. If you live a long distance away we can always arrange a Skype call.
Guide price £550-900
What is included in the price?
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£550 is more a price covering most of Devon and Cornwall. Up to £900 is the guide price for a London area Wedding. Dependant on location, this fee might also include a rehearsal. Otherwise £60-80 is charged.
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An initial meeting, about 2-3 hours long, to get to know you and what you want to achieve, gather enough information to be able to start writing the script, find out what you need help with, e.g. vow writing, choosing poems. (A 50% deposit is invoiced at the first meeting to secure the booking and get work underway, the balance due 4wks before the ceremony)
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I can write the full ceremony if required, or help you to write aspects such as the vows, that you’d like to pen yourself but perhaps you don’t feel all that confident. Ultimately you have to be happy with the script. We’ll go back and forth tweaking anything you wish, until you are completely satisfied with what is going to be said on the big day.
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Planning the logistics and stage management of the different elements, to ensure an effortless and seamless ceremony.
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Conducting the ceremony on the big day.
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Use of a double ring box or cushion if required (choice of designs)
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Wedding certificate complimentary – certificate boxes are add ons, card box £5, silver plated tube £25.
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And when the big day is over, the wonderful memories are there for all time, and your vows to one another are for always. A crafted souvenir copy of your script will be posted to you after the ceremony as a commemorative record of your special day.
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Depending on the venue location, a rehearsal might be included in this fee. The rehearsal usually happens the afternoon/evening before the ceremony and can take up to two hours.
Do read the sections below explaining the different symbolic actions and rituals that you might wish to add into your ceremony, and if you need to hire large tents ideal for outdoor ceremonies or compost loos, click on the ‘Other Services’ page. If you are planning a very do it yourself wedding, you might also want to look on the ‘Other Services’ page and read about my Master of Ceremonies Service and why it makes your wedding day a more relaxing experience.
A Blessing Circle is a great addition to a Hand Fasting. Look for ‘Ring Warming & Blessing Circle' down further down this page. After the Hand Fasting you can choose to Jump the Besom (broom) and/or carry out the Mead & Cake ritual. Jumping the broom, although a tradition originally from Africa, has become a common part of Hand Fasting celebrations. It symbolises the couple taking a leap of faith and stepping from their old life into their new one.
During a Mead & Cake Ritual the guests line up for the happy couple to hand out sips of Mead and small pieces of cake – “May you never go thirsty. May you never go hungry”. Call me to arrange a free of charge consultation – just a brief chat, giving you the opportunity to size me up, see if I am the celebrant for you. If you live a long distance away we could always arrange a Skype call.
If you need to hire large tents ideal for outdoor ceremonies or compost toilets, click on the ‘Other Services’ page.
If you are planning a very do it yourself wedding, you might also want to look on the ‘Other Services’ page and read about my Master of Ceremonies Service and why it makes your wedding day more relaxing.
£550 is the price for a full Hand Fasting Ceremony in most of Devon and Cornwall. It can cost up to £900 for Hand Fasting elsewhere in the country.
A ‘tying the knot’ symbolic action can be added to any wedding ceremony for no extra charge, but many people today are opting for a quick Registry Office ‘I do’ before having an amazing full Hand Fasting Ceremony as their main focus.
What is included in the price?
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An initial consultation, about 2 hours long, to get to know each other, and I’d explain more about Hand Fasting and run through a ceremony, find out what you need help with, e.g. vow writing. (Slightly different to weddings. A 50% deposit is required before the first meeting to secure the booking and work gets underway immediately. The balance is due 4wks before the ceremony)
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I can help you to write aspects such as the vows, that you’d like to pen yourself but perhaps you don’t feel all that confident. I’m there to make it as easy for you as possible.
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A site visit and advising on site locations.
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Planning the logistics and stage management of the different elements, to ensure an effortless and seamless ceremony.
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Use of double ring box or cushion if required (choice of designs.
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Conducting the ceremony on the big day.
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I provide the props and items required, including a double ring box (choice of designs)
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The Hand Fasting Candle that you keep.
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Complimentary Hand Fasting Certificate if requested – certificate boxes are add ons, white card box £5, silver plated tube £25.
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And when the big day is over, the wonderful memories are there for all time, and your vows to one another are for always. A crafted souvenir copy of your script will be posted to you after the ceremony as a commemorative record of your special day.
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Depending on the venue location, a rehearsal might be included in this fee, otherwise cost £60-80. The rehearsal usually happens the afternoon/evening before the ceremony and can take up to two hours.
Hand Fasting Ceremony
Hand Fasting is an ancient rite, linking us back to our ancestors, and because it pre-dates the Roman invasion when things were started to be recorded, traditions having previously been handed down aurally, there is no written evidence. However it continued to be practiced, especially in Scotland, right up to the reformation era in the 16th century. Having said that I don’t have a favourite ceremony, I think Hand Fasting might come pretty close.
If you are really looking for something bespoke and a bit different, that perhaps captures a bit of a festival vibe, something that is deeply profound and can have great meaning for both the couple as well as the guests, a ceremony whereby you are very much a part of the proceedings rather than have it happen around you, then Hand Fasting could be for you. These are truly beautiful ceremonies in terms of the sentiments expressed and the links to nature, as much as the aesthetics (plenty of fantastic photo opportunities).
Guide price £550-900
What is included in the price?
£550 is more a price covering most of Devon and Cornwall. Up to £900 is the guide price for a London area Wedding/up country. Dependant on location, this fee might also include a rehearsal, otherwise the fee is £60-80.
-
An initial meeting, about 2-3 hours long, to get to know you and what you want to achieve, gather enough information to be able to start writing the script, find out what you need help with, e.g. vow writing, choosing poems. (A 50% deposit is invoiced at the first meeting to secure the booking and get work underway, the balance due 4wks before the ceremony)
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I can write the full ceremony if required, or help you to write aspects such as the vows, that you’d like to pen yourself but perhaps you don’t feel all that confident. Ultimately you have to be happy with the script. We’ll go back and forth tweaking anything you wish, until you are completely satisfied with what is going to be said on the big day.
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Planning the logistics and stage management of the different elements, to ensure an effortless and seamless ceremony.
-
Conducting the ceremony on the big day.
-
Use of a double ring box or cushion if required (choice of designs)
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Commitment Ceremony certificate complimentary – certificate boxes are add ons, card box £5, silver plated tube £25.
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And when the big day is over, the wonderful memories are there for all time, and your vows to one another are for always. A crafted souvenir copy of your script will be posted to you after the ceremony as a commemorative record of your special day.
-
Depending on the venue location, a rehearsal might be included in this fee. The rehearsal usually happens the afternoon/evening before the ceremony and can take up to two hours.
Do read the sections below explaining the different symbolic actions and rituals that you might wish to add into your ceremony, and if you need to hire large tents ideal for outdoor ceremonies or compost loos, click on the ‘Other Services’ page. If you are planning a very do it yourself wedding, you might also want to look on the ‘Other Services’ page and read about my Master of Ceremonies Service and why it makes your wedding day more relaxing.
Committment Ceremony
Perhaps you deeply wish to declare your commitment and love for one another in front of friends and family, exchanging vows and rings, but preferring not to be bound by the legal formalities. A Commitment Ceremony can be everything a wedding is, it just won’t be legally binding. You can choose a typical wedding ceremony style format or, to mark this significant milestone in your relationship, create something unique.
A Commitment Ceremony can be held just about anywhere you fancy, and at any time of day. The ceremony can include all of the traditional aspects such as processing up the aisle, making vows, and exchanging rings, as well as incorporating any cultural or religious rites, or other rituals such as Hand Fasting, ring warming, candle lighting, (these add ons are listed further down the page).
Call me to arrange a free of charge consultation – just a brief chat or meeting, giving you the opportunity to size me up, see if I am the celebrant for you. If you live a long distance away we could always arrange a Skype call.
Civil Partnership or Marriage Celebration Ceremony
So you want a civil partnership or marriage, but you had hoped for something much more extravagant or a bit more exciting than plain legal formalities and the Register Office time slot is somewhat restrictive for what you had in mind! Exactly the same as the wedding celebration, call it what you like, have what you like, where you like it, and say your own words as you wish. I am here to help you create the perfect ceremony in whatever form it is to take.
A Civil Partnership or Marriage Celebration Ceremony can be held just about anywhere, at any time, but only after the legal formalities have already been completed (either the same day or earlier in the week). The ceremony can include all of the traditional aspects such as processing up the aisle, making vows, and exchanging rings, as well as incorporating any cultural or religious rites, or other rituals such as Hand Fasting, ring warming, candle lighting, (these add ons are listed further down this page).
Call me to arrange a free of charge consultation – just a brief chat or meeting, giving you the opportunity to size me up, see if I am the celebrant for you. If you live a long distance away we could always arrange a Skype call.
Guide price £550-900
What is included in the price?
£550 is more a price covering most of Devon and Cornwall. Up to £900 is the guide price for a London area/up country wedding. Dependant on location, this fee might also include a rehearsal, otherwise the fee is £60-80.
-
An initial meeting, about 2-3 hours long, to get to know you and what you want to achieve, gather enough information to be able to start writing the script, find out what you need help with, e.g. vow writing, choosing poems. (A 50% deposit is invoiced at the first meeting to secure the booking and get work underway, the balance due 4wks before the ceremony)
-
I can write the full ceremony if required, or help you to write aspects such as the vows, that you’d like to pen yourself but perhaps you don’t feel all that confident. Ultimately you have to be happy with the script. We’ll go back and forth tweaking anything you wish, until you are completely satisfied with what is going to be said on the big day.
-
Planning the logistics and stage management of the different elements, to ensure an effortless and seamless ceremony.
-
Conducting the ceremony on the big day.
-
Use of a double ring box or cushion if required (choice of designs)
-
Civil Partnership/Civil Marriage/Wedding certificate complimentary – certificate boxes are add ons, card box £5, silver plated tube £25.
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And when the big day is over, the wonderful memories are there for all time, and your vows to one another are for always. A crafted souvenir copy of your script will be posted to you after the ceremony as a commemorative record of your special day.
-
Depending on the venue location, a rehearsal might be included in this fee. The rehearsal usually happens the afternoon/evening before the ceremony and can take up to two hours.
Do read the sections below explaining the different symbolic actions and rituals that you might wish to add into your ceremony, and if you need to hire large tents ideal for outdoor ceremonies or compost loos, click on the ‘Other Services’ page. If you are planning a very do it yourself wedding, you might also want to look on the ‘Other Services’ page and read about my Master of Ceremonies Service and why it makes your wedding day more relaxing.
Renewal of Vows
A popular occasion when a couple might wish to commemorate their wedding day, is on an anniversary year, or maybe you have overcome some hard times and wish to celebrate your continued love for one another and reaffirm your vows, and this time of course, you will probably have the younger generations of your family around you to share in the special day. This ceremony can be as formal or informal, and as traditional or bespoke as you wish it to be, and can be held just about anywhere at any time.
Call me to arrange a free of charge consultation – just a brief meeting, giving you the opportunity to size me up, see if I am the celebrant for you. If you live a long distance away we could always arrange a Skype call.
Guide price £550-900
What is included in the price?
£550 is more a price for Devon and most of Cornwall. I am happy to travel anywhere but travel expenses would be extra and agreed on any booking being made official. Dependant on location, this fee might also include a rehearsal, otherwise the fee is £60-80.
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An initial meeting, about 2-3 hours long, to get to know you and what you want to achieve, gather enough information to be able to start writing the script, find out what you need help with, e.g. vow writing, choosing poems. (A 50% deposit is invoiced at the first meeting to secure the booking and get work underway, the balance due 4wks before the ceremony)
-
I can write the full ceremony if required, or help you to write aspects such as the vows, that you’d like to pen yourself but perhaps you don’t feel all that confident.
-
Ultimately you have to be happy with the script. You will get a draft script and we’ll go back and forth tweaking anything you wish, until you are completely satisfied with what is going to be said on the big day.
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Planning the logistics and stage management of the different elements, to ensure an effortless and seamless ceremony.
-
Conducting the ceremony on the big day.
-
Use of a double ring box or cushion if required (choice of designs)
-
Renewal of Vows certificate complimentary – certificate boxes are add ons, card box £5, silver plated tube £25.
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And when the big day is over, the wonderful memories are there for all time, and your vows to one another are for always. A crafted souvenir copy of your script will be posted to you after the ceremony as a commemorative record of your special day.
-
Depending on the venue location, a rehearsal might be included in this fee. The rehearsal usually happens the afternoon/evening before the ceremony and can take up to two hours.
Do read the sections below explaining the different symbolic actions and rituals that you might wish to add into your ceremony, and if you need to hire large tents ideal for outdoor ceremonies or compost loos, click on the ‘Other Services’ page.
Free Hospice Renewal of Vows Ceremonies
I offer free vow renewal ceremonies (and baby namings) for people staying in any of the Devon or Cornwall Hospices.
Do get in touch if this is something that you wish to discuss. Some cash towards travel would be gratefully accepted but if you insisted on paying any sort of a fee, I would donate it to the Child Funeral Charity (Reg 1156387).
Joining Hands Ceremony
This is a simple ritual whereby the couple hold hands, which are tied together with a long cord or scarf, and this is where the saying ‘tie the knot’ originates, as it was part of the Hand Fasting ceremonies that were common many moons ago. This is still practiced today in some religious ceremonies and was performed at both Prince William and Kate’s, and Prince Harry and Megan’s weddings. This ritual can be incorporated into any type of couple’s ceremony.
No extra charge and I provide the scarf.
Jumping the Besom Broom
This often happens after a Hand Fasting, but you can choose to Jump the Besom (broom) after any couple’s ceremony. Jumping the broom is actually a tradition from Africa and symbolises the couple taking a leap of faith as it were, and stepping over the broom handle, from their old life into their new one together. This can be a really fun way to round off a ceremony.
No extra charge and I provide the decorated Besom broom.
Honey & Mead Ceremony
Another fun way to round off a wedding or renewal celebration. Another ancient tradition whereby the couple hand out sips of Mead and small pieces of cake to their guests, with the words “May you never go hungry”, “May you never go thirsty”. I supply the Quaich bowl, the couple supplies the Mead and cake. It doesn’t have to be Mead, it could be any drink.
No extra charge
Sand Jar Ceremonies
This can be a really fun and inclusive part of a ceremony, especially when children are getting involved. There is added value here too, because you get to keep the sand jar/s as a physical reminder of the special day. You might choose to just have the two of you pouring the sand, or perhaps you already have children and wish to bring them into the ceremony. Basically you can have any number of people join in!
Each person pours a different coloured sand into the glass jar or bottle (or picture frame) symbolising a coming together or union, the coloured sands never easily separated ever again. Words are written and spoken during the pouring, to affirm the symbolic action being carried out. Each bottle has a lovely label attached, with any names, dates, promises, or the words used on the day written on them.
From £8 depending on the jar chosen.
Candle Lighting
There are several different formats of candle lighting ceremonies, befitting a naming ceremony, funeral or wedding celebration. The thing I like about the candle lighting, as with the sand ceremonies, is that you have something tangible to take home to keep the warmth of that day alive. The candle are special because they can be lit on anniversaries, the light that first shone on the big day, shines again and again years later. You can light a Unity Candle, two flames lighting the one candle. If you wish to bring step children for example, into the ceremony, you can light candles with multiple wicks. Words are written and spoken during the lighting to affirm the symbolic action being carried out.
From £15 upwards depending on the ceremony/candle requested.
Ring Warming or Blessing Circle
During a Ring Warming ceremony the wedding rings are passed around those gathered, and each person who wishes to, holds the rings for a short time and makes a silent wish or blessing on them. This happens too in a Blessing Circle, except in this case the rings are threaded onto a circle of ribbon, and passed around the circle along the ribbon. A Ring Warming is usually going on as the beginning of the ceremony is taking place or whilst a piece of music is played. The Blessing Circle happens before the vows and exchange of rings. Both simple and beautiful, and a great way of including special people in the ceremony.
No extra charge and I provide the ribbon.
Stone Ceremony
Centuries ago, couples could often not afford to exchange rings, so they would choose stones and toss them into the sea or a river. Of course this is not always practical at most ceremonies. At most ceremonies the couple throw their stones into a large bowl of water. These are usually retrieved and taken away on honeymoon to be thrown into water there, marking it as a special place for you both, and following on from our ancestors, this Act symbolises remaining together forever, whilst the water, like the tides of time, ebb and flow over your lives. I hand paint and bless the stones that you choose, one hand sized stone to keep forever, and two smaller stones for you to take away and carry with you on honeymoon, until a special time and place shows itself. All three stones are painted in a matching design.
£25 for the personalised, unique hand painted stones. One to keep and two smaller ones to throw.
Sharing a loving Cup
(also known as Unity or Quaich) Ceremony
This action is about love, trust, partnership, sharing and generosity of spirit. A goblet of wine or Quaich is symbolic of the cup of life. As the couple shares the wine (or other drink) they promise to share all that the future will bring. You can either each take a drink, passing it from one to the other, or you can both hold a handle of the bowl each, whilst each of you in turn takes a sip. The latter is a popular Scottish tradition where the Quaich is also used for friendship as much as toasting love and partnership.
No extra charge although your chosen tipple will need to be provided. I provide the use of a traditional pewter Quaich Cup, unless you want to buy your own because you wish to keep it to perhaps renew each year on your anniversary.
Other Bespoke Symbolic Actions
There are many other ways of adding to a ceremony, ways to include special individuals or the entire congregation, such as wishing trees, ribbon ties, tree planting, finger/hand painting, oil/water bottles, sharing of the honey spoons. The added bonus of many of these symbolic actions, are the keepsakes created in the ceremony, that you get to have as a constant reminder of the special event in your lives.
Prices on application