CHRISTINE O'MALLEY
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Giving a special gift to a child as a memento of their day is a wonderful way to remember the happy occasion. It also means that as the child grows older the significance of the gift can be explained. This is an extract from a ceremony I conducted in which a gift of a silver thimble was given. "In the story of Peter Pan, Peter and Wendy meet for the first time when Peter is attempting to reattach himself to his shadow. Since his attempt to stick it back with soap fails, Wendy offers to sew the shadow onto Peter with a needle and thread. Once it is attached she offers to give Peter a kiss and he holds out his hand. Not wishing to offend him Wendy places her thimble in his hand. So the thimble becomes a symbol both love and the capacity for compassion in a child."
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The reasons for choosing a Celebrant-led ceremony can be as diverse as the couples who choose them. However, the one thing which connects all of them is the wish to create a ceremony which is meaningful and personal. Choosing a Celebrant-led ceremony gives a couple more choice about the content to be included. It also means there are fewer restraints on time and place. So if you wish to celebrate your event at home, at an unusual venue or outdoors - a Celebrant-led ceremony would be ideal. Possibly, you would like to hold your ceremony as the sun rises, or weave together two different cultural or religious heritages. All things are possible. When considering the person who will lead your ceremony my advice would be to have a discussion with a number of Celebrants and then choose the person who you feel you can work with. Each Celebrant has their own style and approach so it’s just a case of finding the person you have a connection with. If you would like to discuss your ceremony please feel free to contact me. Each ceremony I create is unique. The starting point for any ceremony is a conversation. If it is possible I prefer to meet people face to face or via a video call. During our conversation we can discuss your ideas, I can make suggestions and we can get to know each other. Using all of this I then create a draft script. The script may go through a number of revisions until it is exactly right. I consider it to be very important that not only the words are right but also the flow and that the ceremony speaks of all those present. There are many elements which can be blended to make the perfect ceremony and these include
If I can help you with your ceremony then please contact me via my website. As a firm believer in celebrating life's important milestones with family and friends I can help you make your ceremony a truly unique and memorable occasion. Using my professional experience I can also provide additional ideas and practical advice, so that your event will be everything you dream it might be. I offer a free initial consultation, so that we can meet informally to talk about your plans, as I understand that getting the right person for your important day is a top priority. So please make contact via the contact page on this website. I look forward to hearing from you. I trained with Civil Ceremonies Ltd, one of the leading providers of the nationally recognised celebrant courses - NVQ level 3 Families and Couples. Prior to this I worked for many years in education. In recent years I have returned to Civil Ceremonies as a tutor working with students during the final assessment week of their training. I find this work very satisfying as it not only means that I get to meet a wide range of people, who are planning to become Independent Celebrants, but also it keeps my own practice up to date. In additon, I offer individual coaching to Early Career Celebarants. This is really wonderful too as I enjoy seeing them flourish and feel I am contributing in a small way to making the role of Independent Celebrant one that is seen in a positive light. One of the aspects of my work as an Independent Celebrant that I most enjoy is being able to creating bespoke ceremonies alongside my clients. I ensure that each ceremony is carefully crafted and work hard to find just the right words and tone to make each unique and meaningful. I specialise in Family ceremonies and these include
If you are planning an event, please feel free to get in touch. I a a
As Celebrant-led ceremonies are all bespoke it is possible to include all the people you wish to be included. Friends and family can be involved by reading poems or performing songs. You may also wish children from previous partnerships to be included and acknowledge the new roles and relationships that have been created. Where numbers permit you can also involve everyone using a symbolic action; within a Naming or Welcoming ceremony the invited guests may form a circle of support around the parents and child and a Ring warming is a good way to include guests when undertaking a Wedding or Commitment ceremony. Couples wishing to celebrate a Civil Partnership may wish to do so with a Celebrant led ceremony following the completion of the legal declarations at a Registry office. Within a bespoke ceremony the couple may wish to express their commitment to each other, make promises for the future and exchange rings, gifts etc. They may choose to use traditions and symbolic actions from a range of different cultures, beliefs or trends. There is no reason why you cannot have a Celebrant led ceremony at a licensed venue. The venue has paid a fee to hold Marriage Services which are conducted by a Registrar. This fee should be stated separately to other costs, as different Local Authorities make different charges and you can opt out. A Celebrant led ceremony can be conducted anywhere within the venue meaning you are not restricted to the areas which are licensed. So if the venue has woodland area or grotto or fabulous garden these can be used (weather permitting). Please remember that to ensure your Marriage is legal. for this you will need to undertake the legal requirements at your local registry office. All offices conduct statutory services which are very simple, cost effective ways of undertaking the legal requirements. I would suggest contacting your local authority for an informal chat. Commitment Ceremony A Commitment ceremony is very similar to a Wedding ceremony in its structure and can be offered where a couple wish to acknowledge their love and commitment to each other without undertaking any legal contract. There are lots of reasons why you might do this and it is a great way of having family and friends witness your promises for a future together. In the past, in some cultures, couples had a commitment ceremony or handfasting as a prelude to a marriage. Today some couples choose to have a Commitment ceremony as a sign of their commitment to marry at some point in the future whilst others are happy simply to celebrate their commitment and have others witness their choice to live as a couple. |
AuthorChoosing a Celebrant to help you create that special ceremony is an important step towards making your occasion a really memorable one. Why not take advantage of the free initial meeting I offer ? I believe it is important to meet informally to discuss your ideas and what I can offer. Meeting also gives us an opportunity to explore the type of ceremony that would best suit your needs. Archives
September 2025
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